Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation

Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area (NRA) was renamed to honor the late Vermont Governor and Senator, Robert T. Stafford. The NRA includes Big Branch and Peru Peak Wilderness areas and is located in Rutland, Windsor and Bennington Counties. This 22,624 acre National Recreation Area was established by Public Law 98-322 for the purpose of preserving and protecting “existing wilderness and wild values and to promote wild forest and aquatic habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, opportunities for primitive and semi-primitive recreation, and scenic, ecological, and scientific values.”

Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area provides a range of winter and summer recreational opportunities to include hiking, snowshoeing, bicycle use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, picnicking and fishing. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is coincident with the Long Trail in this area and provides access to Little Rock Pond and Griffith Lake and several overnight shelter facilities. There are other developed recreation facilities in the NRA including Big Branch Observation Area, trailheads, and White Rocks Picnic Area where both the Ice Beds and Keewaydin trails are accessed.