What to Expect

The Packard Trail is a 2-mile trail network designed to support year round activities such as hiking, running, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and wildlife observation. The route is punctuated by innumerable scenic features including views of South Pond, several marshes, and North Hill, as well as a dozen or so significant glacial erratics, and small waterfalls along two prominent streams.

The parking area and trailhead are located 1.2 miles south of Route 117 on the east side of the Sodom Road, which is maintained by the town in the winter. Note: When driving east from South Paris on Route 117, after crossing over Streaked Mountain, drivers should slow down as soon as Frechette’s shop is in view. The right turn onto the Sodom Road is very sharp.

The 2-mile loop trail has a mechanically prepared tread surface with a width of about four feet, which allows two people to walk abreast. The overall grades of the trail are kept to a minimum, offering gently rolling hills that are suitable for the very young as well as the elderly. The trail network offers five short side trails to various scenic points including an historic family cemetery. A 0.5-mile outer loop trail departs the main loop at its southern end offering access to a waterfall on the South Pond outlet and birdwatching in the marsh.