Chittenden Reservoir

Chittenden Reservoir is a quiet and pristine high-elevation lake surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest only a few miles from Rutland, Vermont.

Because Chittenden Reservoir lies within the National Forest, there is little lakefront development and much of the seven-mile shoreline remains unspoiled and rugged. There is the Mountain Top Inn open year-round for visitors and a handful of private cottages, but these are clustered near the dam. The lake is used for motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming during the warmer months, and ice fishing during the winter.

A small area near the dam is managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service to serve as a parking area and boat launch site, although smaller informal sites exist elsewhere.

Nearby is Leffert’s Pond, a small 50-acre lake and wetland that is used for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

The reservoir was formed by the Central Vermont Public Service in 1909 by damming East Creek for power generating purposes and flood protection. The land was bowl-shaped and fed by numerous streams, making it an ideal site for impoundment. The hydroelectric power station soon after the dam was finished, which could provide electricity to 2,500 residences.

The reservoir was named after Thomas Chittenden, Vermont’s first governor.

Around 2001, the Central Vermont Public Service sold 2,000 acres of land surrounding the lake to the Green Mountain National Forest in an effort to preserve the land and develop further passive recreational opportunities.

Gallery

Trails

Leffert’s Pond Trail

Leffert’s Pond Trail begins at Wildcat Road and follows a fairly defined footpath going north and east for .8 miles before ending along the northern tip of Leffert’s Pond.

• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 78 feet
• Route Type: Out-and-back
• Map: Via AllTrails
• Directions: From Rutland, follow US Route 7 north for 2 miles. Turn a slight right onto East Pittsford Road and follow for 3.1 miles. The road then becomes Chittenden Road. Follow for an additional 2.8 miles where the road then becomes Dam Road. Follow Dam Road for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Wildcat Road and follow for 1 mile to a gravel pull-off.

Directions

From Rutland, follow US Route 7 north for 2 miles. Turn a slight right onto East Pittsford Road and follow for 3.1 miles. The road then becomes Chittenden Road. Follow for an additional 2.8 miles where the road then becomes Dam Road. Follow Dam Road for 2 miles.