Putney: Hiking Trails, Craft and Theater

Putney, Vermont, offers a range of reasons to visit: trails along the Windmill Hill Ridgeline, an annual hawk watch, farmland in the hills above the village, and culture in a renovated barn theater. There’s also the Putney Craft Tour, which offers a look inside studios and businesses. The experiences that interest you most can help you decide whether Putney is the right destination for your stay.

Hiking the Windmill Hill Ridgeline

The Putney Mountain Association manages more than 1,000 acres of protected land and over 15 miles of hiking trails along the Windmill Hill Ridgeline. It also maintains its section of a ridge trail that runs the entire length of the preserve, along with access facilities and side trails. This makes a variety of hiking trails and the ridge trail concrete nature-focused options to consider when planning your trip. The figure of over 15 miles applies to the trails along the ridgeline, not to the ridge trail.

If you’re interested in hawks, consider the fall Putney Mountain Hawk Watch. The Putney Mountain Association hosts the watch every year in the fall. It shares scientific information about hawk migration patterns, adding a seasonal nature experience to the hiking trails. In the fall, you can choose between a hiking-focused stay and an interest in bird migration patterns.

Hills, Orchards and Outdoor Activities

Green Mountain Orchards is located in the hills above the village of Putney. It grows apples on more than 125 acres and blueberries on just under 18 acres. Visitors can hike, snowshoe and picnic at Green Mountain Orchards. The combination of these activities and the different areas under cultivation gives the place a distinct agricultural character. If you want to focus on nature and outdoor activity, these options are part of the Putney experience, along with the Putney Mountain Association’s hiking trails.

Craft, History and Theater

The 48th annual Putney Craft Tour takes place November 27–29, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It invites visitors into studios and businesses. Participants include painters, jewelers, potters, weavers and glassblowers, as well as a cheesemaker, woodworker, aromatherapist and winery. This range makes the tour a specific cultural event for travelers interested in different kinds of craft and local businesses. If you’d like to include the tour in your trip, the three dates and daily hours are important to keep in mind.

Sandglass Theater stages performances and teaches in its own renovated barn theater in Putney. The venue has 60 seats. Both performances and classes are part of the theater’s offerings. For a historical perspective on the town, there’s also a walking tour of Putney. A map is available at the Putney Historical Society, Putney General Store, Putney Co-op and other locations in town; it can also be downloaded.

Your travel group’s interests can help you choose among these options: hiking trails and hawk migration, activities at Green Mountain Orchards, or craft, history and theater. When looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Putney, you can start by considering which of these experiences is the reason for your stay and whether a specific event, such as the Craft Tour, matters for your trip.

Explore More Places

You can also explore Halifax, Rockingham, Whitingham, Stratton, Brattleboro, Dummerston, Newfane and West Dover.

For the broader travel overview: Windham County.