title: Downer State Forest
text: # Downer State Forest
  
  Downer State Forest, also known as Charles Downer State Forest, covers 705 acres (2.85 $km^2)$ in Sharon, Vermont in Windsor County. 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. It is also managed for timber resources.
  
  The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers grooms the forest road as a snowmobile trail in the winter.
  
  ## History
  
  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.
  
  