Travel

2 ‘perfectly placed’ New England trails for viewing the solar eclipse, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy

You'll find them in Vermont and Maine.

By Kristi Palma

March 26, 2024

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Email
• 1

For those who dream of viewing the April 8 total solar eclipse from a prime spot in nature, two New England trails are well worth a visit, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

The conservancy recently released a list of 5 far-out trails for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse and included the Island Line Trail in Burlington, Vermont and the Meduxnekeag River Trail in Houlton, Maine.

During the total solar eclipse, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the face of the sun from the Earth. 

“This total solar eclipse is a not-to-miss moment — with the next one not occurring in the continental United States again until 2044!” wrote the conservancy, calling the trails on its list “perfectly placed pathways to view this fabulous phenomenon.”

About the Island Line Trail, the conservancy wrote: “Perched on the Lake Champlain shoreline, the city offers a picturesque place to await the celestial show. Get a front-row seat along the 13.4-mile Island Line Trail — a Hall of Fame trail that traverses Oakledge Park, Waterfront Park and Leddy Park, all official eclipse-viewing sites for the city.”

The conservancy wrote the following about viewing the eclipse in Houlton, the last U.S. town in the path of totality: “Right in the heart of this small town, Riverfront Park will serve as an “Official Star Park” for totality viewing. Aptly named, the park also serves as the starting point for the scenic Meduxnekeag River Trail, a 4.4-mile gravel loop along the waterway’s wooded banks.”

Architectural Digest recently named Burlington and Houlton among the two best cities in America for viewing the total eclipse.

Still need travel plans for the eclipse? Check out our guide of solar eclipse getaways across New England.