Downer State Forest

Downer State Forest, also known as Charles Downer State Forest, covers 705 acres (2.85 km²) in Sharon, Vermont in Windsor County.^[1] The forest is managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to establish a forestry demonstration area.

Downer State Forest
Type	State forest
Location	Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont
Coordinates	43.7872°N 72.3879°W / 43.7872; -72.3879
Area	705 acres (2.85 km2)
Created	1910
Operated by	Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Status	Open For Public use
Website	Website

Activities in the forest include hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hunting and wildlife viewing.^[2] It is also managed for timber resources.

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers grooms the forest road as a snowmobile trail in the winter.

History

The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to create a forestry demonstration area. The forest features conifer plantations he planted. The state forest highway, Camp Downer, and fishing pond were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.^[3]