Things to do
Walk the historic center, see where Grafton cheddar is made, choose a seasonal trail, and follow the Williams River roads toward Chester and Bellows Falls.
Start around the Grafton Inn, the white clapboard church, and the compact green. Main Street is short enough for an easy walk, and the building lines and mature trees are easier to see on foot than through a windshield.
The Grafton Village Cheese viewing room is at 533 Townshend Road, outside the village center. Weekday daytime visits offer the best chance to see production. The company's retail store is in Proctorsville, so buy village provisions at MKT rather than expecting a cheese shop on the green.
Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center has warm-season hiking and mountain biking, along with swimming and disc golf. Summer trail use is complimentary. Groomed Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and tubing are winter operations; check the current season and trail rules before arriving.
Route 121 follows the Williams River through Saxtons River and toward Bellows Falls, while the Chester side adds village streets and access to Rockingham-area covered bridges. Treat unpaved side roads and bridge approaches as condition-dependent, especially during mud season and winter weather.
Village Park has year-round paths through hemlocks, ferns, and rocky outcrops. The Nature Museum manages the park and provides local trail information, making this the easiest low-key outdoor choice near the center of town.
Check The Nature Museum →Winter visitors need the current opening date, pass rules, and grooming report. Foot traffic is restricted on groomed ski trails, and the most recent winter season ended March 14, 2026.
Current Grafton Trails information →Second Star gear guide
Mountain Town Day Kit
Mountain-town packing list
Light trail shoes, water, rain backup, a fleece, sunscreen, binoculars, and car pieces for town-to-trail mountain weekends.
Trail Running Shoes
Guide pick
Daypacks & Packs
$99.99
Packable Rain Jackets
$65.99