This weekend my wife Megan and I spent a short part of the afternoon checking out yet another waterfall in our hometown of Stowe. Having visited both Bingham and Mos Glen Falls, we decided to see what was going on at Sterling Falls Gorge. You can view a video of our visit on our Facebook page. In short, Sterling Falls is worth the trip, but if you’ve visited Bingham and Mos Glen you could be in for a minor disappointment. It’s kind of hard to beat Mos Glen, considering it’s the largest waterfall in Vermont. On the other hand, the hiking is much easier at Sterling which might be better for children and there’s a recreation area for your pets to roam as they please. One unexpected viewing bonus at Sterling is the French, chateau-like, all stone estate to the North of the falls, just off the access road. It’s a private residence so you’ll want to keep some distance, but the view from the road is all you’ll need to revel in its beauty. The best thing about all of these waterfalls is that they’re easily accessed and take only 15 minutes or so to complete…did I mention they’re free? Pack a lunch and some tasty beverages (Lost Nation Vermont Pilsner accompanied us) and you’re set for a nice stroll in the Vermont outdoors. Surrounded by ranges to the East and West of the town, Stowe sits in somewhat of a bowl, which lends itself to dramatic, geological appeal. As the buyer of craft beer and other beverages at Stowe Mercantile, it’s nice to get out and see, in action, the component that makes up anywhere from 85-98% of these products-water! However beautiful and pristine Vermont’s waterways may seem, the protection of our state’s most valuable resource has recently come under scrutiny in regards to the Lake Champlain water quality. Year after year of unregulated, agricultural runoff by the hundreds of farms that line Lake Champlain have lead to toxic, summer algae blooms. Anyone who lives in Vermont or the thousands that visit know that summer time is not the time for water quality complications. In 2015 the state responded by putting up $16 million dollars in order to improve the lake’s health and overall impact on the economy. Brewers, tourists, and locals alike can find some solace in the fact we’re finally doing something about this unfortunate reality.Until then, our recommendation for the cleanest bodies of water is to seek out those in constant circulation-waterfalls! We can’t wait until it’s actually warm enough to jump in.
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