By Guy Page

The tallest tree in Vermont is a cottonwood located near remote Colchester Pond in Colchester, near the Essex town line. 

Situated next to railroad tracks (offering plenty of sunlight) and near the pond (offering plenty of water), the thirsty softwood dwarfs all other Vermont trees with a height of 127 feet.

At least it’s the biggest on the Vermont Big Tree List, a searchable and sortable map maintained by the Vermont Big Tree Program, operated by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Progarm. Check it out to view location, photos and see the latest measurements on nearly 80 Vermont Big Trees. The cottonwood and the other 100+ ft. tall trees are listed below:

Height isn’t the only important measure for the Big Tree List. The Vermont Big Tree Program uses American Forests’ formula to determine whether a tree is a champion. There are three measurements that are taken into consideration:

• Circumference in inches, taken 4.5 feet above the ground (unless root swell, low branches, or multiple stems require adjustment);
• Height in feet, from the ground to the highest branch; and
• Crown spread, averaged from the longest and shortest points across the tree’s canopy.