| Downer State Forest | |
| Type: | State forest |
| Location: | Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont |
| Coords: | 43.7872°N -72.3879°W |
| Area: | 705acres |
| Created: | 1910 |
| Operator: | Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation |
| Status: | Open For Public use |
| Website: | Website |
Downer State Forest, also known as Charles Downer State Forest, covers 705acres in Sharon, Vermont in Windsor County.[1] The forest is managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to establish a forestry demonstration area.
Activities in the forest include hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hunting and wildlife viewing.[2] It is also managed for timber resources.
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers grooms the forest road as a snowmobile trail in the winter.
The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to create a forestry demonstration area. The forest features conifer plantations he planted. The state forest highway, Camp Downer, and fishing pond were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[3]