Everett Cave

September 10, 2025 – Bennington, Vermont

Problem: Straightforward

Size: Roughly 1.2 miles

Max elevation: 1,100 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 200 ft.

Route sort: Lollipop-Loop

Map: Bennington Space Path System – BATS

Trailhead parking: Mountaineer Athletic Heart – Mansion Dr, Bennington, VT 05201

Ample parking obtainable at Mountaineer Athletic Heart.

Overview:

Tucked away within the scenic fantastic thing about Bennington, Vermont, Everett Cave gives a charming mix of pure marvel and out of doors exploration. Recognized for its hanging rock formations, a number of chambers, and the tranquil sound of dripping water, the cave offers a memorable expertise for guests of all ages.

Considered one of its most praised options is its accessibility, with the cave reachable by way of a brief hike. It’s best for informal hikers searching for journey with out intensive preparation. Although the path features a quick steep part, the hassle is properly rewarded when you’re on the cave.

It is suggested to put on sturdy footwear and produce a powerful flashlight or lantern, because the cave’s inside is pitch black. Should you dare to enterprise inside, you may spot bats and get an up-close take a look at fascinating geological options.

Typically described as a hidden gem of Southern Vermont, Everett Cave is a rewarding vacation spot for anybody trying to join with nature and revel in a novel out of doors expertise.

Historical past:

Everett Cave is a pure limestone cave fashioned via a solutional course of, the place water dissolves the encircling rock. It’s positioned on the previous Southern Vermont Faculty campus in Bennington, Vermont. Recognized for its hanging underground formations, the cave is accessible by way of the Bennington Space Path System (BATS). Though detailed historic information are restricted, the cave’s origins hint again tens of millions of years to historical seabeds. Over time, it turned a well-liked landmark alongside the school’s path community.

Everett Cave

The property was initially the property of Edward Hamlin Everett, often called The Orchards, who bought 500 acres from the John Holden property in 1910. In 1926, it was acquired by the St. Joseph Enterprise Faculty, which turned St. Joseph Faculty in 1962 after which Southern Vermont Faculty (SVC) in 1974. SVC closed on the finish of the educational yr in Might 2019. Southwestern Vermont Well being Care (SVHC) bought the 371-acre former SVC campus in late December 2020.

Mount Anthony, standing at 2,346 ft, overlooks the Bennington Monument and serves as a scenic backdrop to the City of Bennington.

Mount Anthony

In line with unverified experiences, Everett Cave is considered one of 5 caves on the mountain and it’s not the biggest. The cave encompasses a quick entrance passage resulting in a primary chamber, a small aspect room, and a climb to 3 smaller rooms—two of that are sometimes stuffed with water for a lot of the yr.

Trails Overview:

The Bennington Space Path System (BATS) is a community of multi-use trails on the wooded slopes of Mount Anthony, simply south of downtown Bennington, Vermont. Winding via the Inexperienced Mountains, the paths supply numerous terrain for mountain climbing, mountain biking, and path operating. Highlights embrace scenic views, open meadows, forested switchbacks, and connections to different BATS trails throughout Mount Anthony, together with entry to pure and historic landmarks.

BATS Path Map

The community of trails via the meadows consists of mowed paths with out navigation markings. These paths are maintained by SVHC. Within the woods, nevertheless, trails are marked with coloured blazes and signposts at junctions, and are maintained by BATS.

Fieldhouse Path

Cave Path

Parking:

The parking space on the Mountaineer Athletic Heart/Fieldhouse serves as a trailhead for the BATS trails, together with the Cave Path resulting in Everett Cave. The Mansion Drive lot (subsequent to the Fieldhouse) is at the moment one of many permitted public entry factors and gives the shortest path to Everett Cave.

Mansion Drive Trailhead

The car parking zone is massive, so discovering a parking area shouldn’t be an issue.

Mansion Drive Trailhead

Hike Overview:

I used to be touring to the Bennington space for some sightseeing and got here throughout an simply accessible, fascinating cave that I wished to take a look at. To keep away from aimlessly wandering via the woods like I’ve on previous explorations, I did some analysis to seek out its actual location. I do the legwork so that you don’t need to.

There’s lots of outdated details about the paths and parking since SVC closed and new homeowners took over. Nonetheless, the paths are nonetheless accessible, and parking is on the market on the Mountaineer Athletic Heart/Fieldhouse on Mansion Drive.

This can be a lovely hike, with the cave being the spotlight. Nonetheless, the perspective we visited was additionally fairly spectacular. General, it’s a simple path, with the one steep part being the strategy to the cave. With a community of trails crisscrossing the fields in all instructions, I used Gaia GPS to assist navigate.

This can be a quick hike that may be prolonged utilizing the BATS path community. The purpose of this path report is to information you to the cave—and as a bonus, to an important viewpoint. With extra time, I’d have explored further trails.

The Hike:

Head to the best aspect of the Mountaineer Athletic Heart/Fieldhouse and stroll round to the again of the constructing. Search for the “Fieldhouse Path” and observe the mowed path west towards the tree line.

Parking for Everett Cave

A effective view from the car parking zone.

View from the car parking zone.

Mountaineer Athletic Heart/Fieldhouse

Fieldhouse Path

When you enter the woods, you’ll attain a T-intersection with a yellow-blazed path—that is the Cave Path. Flip proper (north) and observe the slender footpath a brief distance to a fork.

Cave Path

Though the yellow-blazed path continues straight, take the left fork and observe the path because it climbs steeply uphill by way of switchbacks.

Flip left on Everett Cave Spur Path

Everett Cave Spur Path

The path ends a brief distance forward, close to the doorway to Everett Cave. Should you plan to enter the cave, use excessive warning. I solely went in briefly earlier than listening to unsettling noises from inside.

Everett Cave

You must bend down—and, relying in your top, you could even must crawl—via a brief entrance passage to achieve the principle room. At that time, I heard unusual noises coming from contained in the cave, so I made a decision to not go any farther.

Everett Cave

When you’re able to proceed, retrace your steps again to the Cave Path and switch proper (south). Stroll previous the junction with the Fieldhouse Path.

Carriage Path

On the four-way intersection, proceed straight on the yellow-blazed path.

Carriage Path

Most of those trails have been initially constructed as logging roads to assist the Everett household accumulate and transport gas for his or her wood-burning furnaces.

Carriage Path

A brief distance forward, a path to the left results in a small pond and the Valley of Vermont Overlook, providing views to the north, east, and southeast. Take a second to benefit from the view.

Valley of Vermont Overlook

When you’re able to proceed, proceed forward on the mowed path which heads northeast throughout the sphere. You’ll be able to see the pink roof of the Fieldhouse down beneath.

Valley of Vermont Overlook

We took the best fork, however each paths lead again to the car parking zone. Neither of those two mowed paths seem on the present path map.

Hayfield Path

Quickly, you’ll attain a T-intersection with the Hayfield Path. Flip proper and observe the path downhill, again to the car parking zone, the place the hike started.

Hayfield Path

Evaluation:

A brief, however candy hike with fabulous views and naturally a cave. I’d have favored to discover the cave a bit extra, however after listening to some noises coming from inside, I wasn’t going to stay my head in there.

Execs:

Everett Cave, attractive views, scenic panorama.

Cons:

None.

Take a hike!