Discover the breathtaking views of Chittenden Reservoir

IrinaJul 31, 20201 min read

Have you ever seen beautiful pictures of a place and thought this would be a nice place to visit. Then when you finally make it to the destination you realize those images don't actually capture the magnificence of it in real life? This is one way to describe Chittenden Reservoir.

Located eight miles northeast of Rutland, Chittenden Reservoir is a hidden gem. The 750-acre reservoir is surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest in the midst of the Crossroads of Vermont region. There are a handful of private cottages which are clustered to the west of the dam; the remainder of the shoreline is heavily-wooded and virtually untouched.

The small area near the dam has been turned over to Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service to serve as a parking area and boat launch site. The parking area serves both Chittenden Reservoir and adjacent Leffert's Pond. Click here for a map of the area.

Leffert's Pond is a small, 49-acre impoundment wholly within the Green Mountain National Forest and is used for fishing, canoeing and kayaking from the shared parking lot. Only 12 feet deep, tiny Leffert's Pond is centerpiece for a large wetland area, and no motorized boats are permitted. Chittenden Reservoir, however, permits motors up to 15 horsepower, but are limited to a 5 mph restriction. Species caught include yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and sunfish. A second access point is provided for non-motorized craft only at the south end of Leffert's Pond.