Best gorge-ous hike

Sometimes called "the Grand Canyon of the East," Quechee Gorge isn't quite as big or deep as its Colorado counterpart, but it's probably the best gorge New England has to offer. Quechee is a great little town in east-central Vermont, and just to the east on Route 4 is what the locals simply call "the gorge," a deep and rocky mass forged during the Ice Age. The Ottaquechee River continues to crawl over and around the rocks, wearing them down, making the gorge a bit deeper every year. The bridge that stretches across and overlooks the gorge is not for the acrophobic. Just look forward: the gorge stretches on for quite a distance and looks particularly stunning when gazing south. On the east side of the gorge is a half-mile walk through the woods down to the bottom, where you can amble along the river (precariously) and see unique and picturesque rock formations. After the somewhat tiring hike back up to Route 4, treat yourself to a snack at the Ott-dog stand next to the bridge.

Quechee Gorge, Quechee, Vermont.