No season is more anticipated than Spring in New England. Spring means Winter has ended and sunny warmer days lie ahead. Spring brings challenges especially early spring. Mud, bugs and even big heavy snow storms are common obstacles. However, as the calendar hits late May, there are more warm days and the nights while cool still, are comfortable – just the bugs get worse. If you find yourself in Vermont between mid-May and the end of June, it’s clear why Vermont is named the Green Mountain State. The thick, plentiful foliage that offers such a robust fall display is a neon green during late spring. By the time the heat of July and August roll around the rich greens start to take on a more yellowish tint on its way to its amber hues of Late September and Early October.
One of my favorite spring locations are the heavily wooded areas of central Vermont. The starting point for me is the Connecticut River Valley just north of White River Junction all the way to the northern regions around Montpelier and Stowe. This broad swath of the state provides deeply wooded areas with plenty of streams, ponds, and lakes. So much of Vermont’s photographic appeal are the farms, barns, and picturesque villages that dot the hills and valleys. These are the subjects that most tourists come to see and photograph and that is fine because they are iconic New England landmarks. I prefer the spend my time shooting the wilderness, and part of Vermont provides me all that I can handle. My favorite location is Groton State Forest. The State Forest encompasses 26,000 acres and contains seven state parks within its borders and eight lakes and ponds. The hiking trails are extensive, and there is plenty of seasonal activities available. The surrounding towns offer places to both eat and stay.
There is enough subject matter to keeping you shooting throughout the day, but my favorite time is early mornings. There are no real good pre-dawn/ first-light locations; however, after sunrise, there are plenty of dynamic compositions. The hills and the valleys hold the morning light well allowing you to visit multiple sites before the light gets too harsh. The best locations for morning photos are Kettle Pond, Owl’s Head Overlook, and Ricker Pond. The small gate to the Owls’ Head parking area is not opened until late morning, so if you are going there for the sunrise plan on an extra hike. There are plenty of other locations and miles of wooded trails but these locations are a good starting point or if you have limited time and still wish to see what the forest has to offer.
My most recent trip was just this May (2018). I planned to arrive mid-week just before the busy Memorial Day weekend crowds. I enjoy the late spring in the forest because of the lush green vegetation, and the water levels are high due to the winter melt. I hope you get to visit if you ever find yourself in that area. Please take a look at the gallery below for some of my images from this recent visit.
