Hubbard Park

This nearly 200-acre gem is right in the middle of the city of Montpelier, the state capital, and is easily accessed by seven miles of trails, open all year round. In the winter, the parks crew grooms trails for XC skiing and in the fall the stunning foliage provides a backdrop for the gold dome of the Statehouse. A 50-foot stone tower graces the height of the land and provides views for the surrounding valleys and mountains. Hundreds of people use this park every day of the year. The park was a sheep meadow without many trees until the late 1890s so most of the growth can easily be dated. Stone walls still weave their ways through the park and a few old trees (or their remains) that pre-date the end of grazing can still be found. The main park now connects by trails to the North Branch Park, another 200 acres with river frontage. In the center of Hubbard Park is a stand of Hemlock, roughly 30 acres in size, that is confirmed to be over 200 years old. A number of samples have been taken from downed trees throughout the stand, and several have been found to be 200-250 years old.