The Deane Osborne Preserve is an 85-acre lot on the east side of Lake St. Catherine. The trails lead through the forest and over ledges to the beautiful views from the vista on St. Catherine Mountain.
From the parking, follow signs and SVT blazes on the West side of the parking lot to the brook and you will cross a beautiful bridge constructed by the landowner, William Osborne. Look for an informational kiosk ahead on the left at the edge of the mowed paths in the meadow.
The Yellow Trail, which was the original trail to the viewpoint, is steep one-mile jaunt with rocky sections that can be slippery when wet. The Green Trail is slightly longer at 1.25 miles and switchbacks up the slope to make for an easier hike. The trails can be combined to make a loop or used as out-and-backs.
The Deane Osborne Preserve was donated to Green Mountain College in 2002 by Bill and Linda Osborne of Poultney, but when GMC closed in 2019, the preserve returned to the Osbornes. The preserve is used by students and the community for education, research, and outdoor experiences.
All visitors to the preserve are asked to follow these guidelines:
For more information about the Lewis Deane Nature Preserve, visit the Slate Valley Trails website or contact:
Loon and Otter LodgeFrom Poultney, head southwest on VT-30 for 3.1 miles. Turn left on Endless Brook road and proceed for 0.8 miles. The gravel parking area will be on the right across the road from Slate Valley Trail's Endless Brook Trailhead, and just past Toad Hall, but before the driveway for The Loon and Otter Lodge.
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Great view at the top. Nice stream to play in on the way down the less steep route. Good hike for kids.
With regard to accessibility, I found this trail a good test of my ongoing recovery from knee surgery (3 ½ months post TKR.) I did the full loop, only 2 miles. The knee did fine on the steep uphill, and coped on the less steep downhill. (Going down is harder!). Don’t forget hiking poles!. #accessibility