By most measures, Vermont is small, and to most outsiders, the entire state seems very homogenous. Native Vermonters are a hardy group. Staunchly independent and forever resourceful. The landscape features Rolling green mountains dotted with dairy farms and covered bridges. Only when you spend time in Vermont do you begin to see its unique qualities – the individual parts that make the whole. The Northeast Kingdom, or just “The Kingdom,” as it is known to Vermonters, is one of those unique places.
Located in the state’s northeastern corner and comprised of three counties (Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans), it stretches nearly 2000 square miles and is home to 64,000 residents (2022). Fifty-five towns are incorporated within the region, making up twenty percent of the State. It is the most rural part of one of the most rural states in America. What it lacks in modern urban amenities, it more than makes up for in natural beauty and warm hospitality. The Green Mountain range borders the western edge, the Conninect River on the eastern edge lines the border with New Hampshire, and the White Mountain range. Its northern border is an international one with Canada, its northern neighbor. The nickname “Northeast Kingdom” was first mentioned in a 1949 speech by former governor and US Senator George A. Aiken. Legend has it he coined the phrase at a public meeting in Lyndonville, VT. Whether he originated the term or just popularized it, he was expressing his love for the beautiful landscape.
As a person who loves photographing natural landscapes, I visit the region often. The landscape is draped with green rolling hills dotted with farms, livestock, and a few covered bridges. The northern section along the Canadian border is the most densely wooded. It is not mountainous but offers good views of the White and Green mountain ranges. Burke Mountain and Jay Peak are the two most popular peaks within its borders. At 3,858 feet of elevation, Jay Peak is the highest summit in the region. It is home to two sizable lakes, the fjord-like Lake Willoughby and Lake Memphremagog, which it shares with Canada. Lake Willoughby, at 328 feet deep, is the deepest lake in the state. Island Pond is a popular recreational area, especially for snowmobilers. Those looking for some of the more urban comforts can visit the towns of St. Johnsbury, Derby, Newport, Danville, and Harwick.
Weather is a popular topic in this area; ignore it at your peril. It’s colder than you think but not as snowy as you may have imagined. Tucked between two mountain ranges allows the warm air to flow above it, leaving the coldest air to settle in its hills and valleys. The coldest recorded temperature ever in Vermont, minus 51 F, was recorded in the Kingdom town of Bloomfield in 1933. There have been lower unofficial temperatures reported. The region receives roughly 117 inches of snow a year, and most of it sticks around too late April. Frost has been recorded here in every month of the year. The summers are mostly comfortable, springtime is very muddy, and the autumns are spectacular.
Most photographers visit the area during Autumn. The entire state and the region, in particular, are known around the globe for its robust fall foliage display. While photographing one of the many lakes or ponds, sharing it with a van full of photographers from Europe or Asia is not usual. Autumn photography in the Kingdom happens a bit earlier than most of the central and southern parts of the state. If peak foliage is your target, then plan your trip for the last week of September and the first week of October. Be sure to make your lodging reservations months in advance for autumn trips since its is both popular and limited. Autumn may get all the ink; winter and summer are just as photogenic. Spring starts wet and muddy, but the last couple of weeks of May and June can be productive photographically.
Whatever your favorite photographic activity, the Northeast Kingdom can nicely accommodate you. If you like to hike, there are countless trails. If you want to photograph from a kayak or canoe, there are plenty of lakes and ponds. Plenty of roadside vistas exist if you don’t wish to leave the car. The kingdom is a photographer’s playground. Make a plan, hop in the car, and don’t forget your camera.
