For those looking for a casual walk this route is the perfect choice.  The route follows wide gravel and woods roads and a lovely section of trail through the forest.  There are nice open vistas, good forest edge habitat for birding, a bridge crossing over the lovely Poultney river and very little elevation change.

Cue Sheet

• From the parking lot kiosk, walk down the trail paralleling Town Farm Road.  Cross through the gates in the fences at Town Farm Road and bear right on Maple Sugar trail, a wide gravel road.  
• At mile 0.4, just before entering the large open meadow, turn left (look for the large slate stone arrow) and follow the trail down to the paved road.  
• At mile 0.5, cross over Rte. 140 and walk a few yards to the right to pick up the trail on the other side.  Go around the gate and continue across the Poultney River on the wide Ringmaster trail.  
• At mile 0.7, bear right onto the Cotton Candy trail.  This trail enters the forest and meanders along the edge of the large meadow on your left.  This meadow is referred to as “the fairgrounds” – a onetime site of the Rutland agricultural fair in 1853. As you stroll along the forest edge you’ll undoubtedly see and hear many birds especially in the spring.  
• At mile 1.7 you reach an intersection and the end of Cotton Candy at the Ringmaster Trail. Turn left on Ringmaster and return to Rte. 140 enjoying the open vistas as you walk through the open meadows.
• At mile 2.3 turn right and walk on the shoulder of Rte. 140.  
• At mile 2.4 turn left on Town Farm Rd and then right on the trail paralleling the road to return to the parking lot.