8.5 miles /1 hour. Climb/loss: 259 feet.

This hour-long meander connects the two villages of the Town of Brandon and heads out past the golf course to working agricultural land and the village of Forest Dale. The 1856 smokestack visible from Newton Road and the Forest Dale blast furnace later on are enduring reminders of the early industry pursued in this part of town.

• Head south on US 7: Grove St. becomes Conant Square, then Center St. 0.4 mi
• LEFT at Monument on Park St. (VT 73 East) and straight at stop sign. 1.1 mi
• LEFT on Country Club Rd. 0.5 mi
• CROSS VT 73 and head past the golf course on Town Farm Rd. 1.2 mi
• RIGHT at the cornfield on Newton Rd. 0.8 mi
• LEFT on North St. and immediate RIGHT on Furnace Rd. (P.O. & market). 0.4 mi
• Where Furnace Rd. makes a sharp bend to the right, there is a small parking area. Hike in the trail a hundred yards and visit the historic blast furnace on the right.
• Continue on Furnace Rd. and then go RIGHT downhill on VT 73 (Forest Dale Rd). 0.7 mi
• After cemetery on right and church on left, LEFT on McConnell Rd. 1.1 mi
• RIGHT on Smalley Rd. 0.7 mi
• RIGHT on Country Club Rd. then immediate LEFT on Park St. Extension. 1.1 mi
• Park St. meets US 7, turns RIGHT, and becomes Center St. 0.1 mi
• Continue onto Conant Square (still US 7). 0.2 mi
• Continue to Brandon Visitor Center, 4 Grove St. 0.1 mi