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Environment & Outdoors
A Long Tradition
Dartmouth has a long history of involvement with the out-of-doors. The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the country, the College's interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Program is among the oldest in the country, and we're proud of our tradition of environmental stewardship.
The Ideal Location
The Appalachian Trail runs right through campus, the Connecticut River is just a few steps away, and the campus lies between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Students can incorporate hiking, biking (and mountain biking), skiing, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and other outdoor activities into their day without straying too far from campus. Our surroundings also provide a unique outdoor laboratory for students studying earth sciences, ecology, environmental studies, environmental engineering, and geography.
Outdoor Facilities, Opportunities & Resources
The DOC and the Office of Outdoor Programs oversee an array of trips, educational programs, and facilities:
- The DOC's First-Year Trips programs introduce new students to Dartmouth and outdoor opportunities here. No matter what your level of experience—or comfort—with the natural world, there's a trip for you.
- Dartmouth has 17 cabins and a student-built lodge that students can reserve for use. Located at the foot of Mount Moosilauke (about 45 minutes from campus), the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge is a popular destination for student groups, alumni and families.
- The Second College Grant is a 27,000 acre wilderness in northern New Hampshire that offers great recreational opportunities—and provides the wood used in many of Dartmouth's buildings.
- The Dartmouth Skiway, 13 miles north of campus, offers 30 trails for skiing and riding. Students can join Ski Patrol or to work as instructors in the ski school.
In addition to all of the other recreational opportunities listed above, Dartmouth also offers a ropes course, an 18 hole championship golf course, and an equestrian center close to campus. There is also an indoor climbing gym on campus.
Dartmouth's connection to the outdoors also includes a commitment to sustainability. "Pursuing the great American road trip with a purpose," each summer, the student crew of the The Big Green Bus makes a cross-country tour to spread the word about biofuels and simple ways that everyone can conserve energy and save the planet. The student-run Dartmouth Organic Farm provides opportunities to pursue independent research and gain hands-on experience raising food.
