NEWS RELEASE

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the Quechee State Park Picnic Area Parking Lot on Friday, August 5th.

Quechee, VT – The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) and the Quechee State Park organizations have teamed up to open a new trail connecting the Quechee Visitor Center and Quechee Gorge Bridge walking traffic to the VINS Nature Center. The trail, which cuts through the woods behind the Quechee State Park Picnic Area directly off the Quechee Gorge Bridge, provides a convenient walking path to the VINS Nature Center Welcome Building. The two organizations began plans for the trail over a year ago shortly after the opening of the VINS Nature Center last June. “We felt it important to provide visitors to our area a safe walking path from the Gorge Bridge and the VINS Nature Center, given the bustling Route 4 traffic and the lack of sidewalks on our side of the bridge.” said PJ Skehan, Director of the VINS Nature Center. “And now with the opening of the new Quechee Visitor Center on the other side of the bridge from us, we hope even more visitors will use the trail to come visit VINS and stay in the Quechee Gorge area a little longer. The new trail also allows VINS the opportunity to incorporate the Gorge Bridge in our daily guided hikes of the Quechee Gorge, which we offer at 2 p.m. every day and at both 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.” he continues.

The VINS Nature Center is located ? mile west of the Quechee Gorge on Route 4 in Quechee. It is open 7 days a week, 362 days a year. Hours from May through October are 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from November through April. Admission is $8 for adults and $6.50 for children (ages 3-16).