Vermont Trails and Greenways
Recreation, trails and conservation in partnership with public land managers.
https://web.cvent.com/event/05241344-be80-46bd-9af5-36ab5ee8ab06/summary
https://web.cvent.com/event/05241344-be80-46bd-9af5-36ab5ee8ab06/summaryRecreation is more than a pastime, it’s an integral part of the human experience, with widespread advantages in preventing, alleviating, and managing disability and chronic conditions. That’s why the Great […]
WCAX
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – As the weather warms up and you lace up your hiking boots, there are some things to remember while hiking during mud season.
Staffers with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Rec say hiking or biking on wet trails during mud season can cause erosion and harm sensitive plants.
“Usually, people don’t walk through the mud, they walk around it which leads to vegetation trampling. So, that widens trails and then also can impact the growth of different vegetation,” said Kathryn Wrigley, an outdoor recreation specialist with Forests, Parks and Rec.
Here are some things to if you’re going hiking or biking during mud season:
Check the trail status. You can check Trailfinder.info, Green Mountain Club Visitor Center or VMBA Trail Conditions to find out what trails are closed or open near you.
Turn around in muddy conditions. Avoid stepping off the trail.
Find trails with durable walkways, like gravel roads, paved roads, rail trails and bike paths. These are more resilient to mud season.
Avoid hiking in the alpine zone. Many plants there can only grow in that zone, making them rare and fragile vegetation.
Respect trail signage.
Check weather reports.
VT Digger
Walking on muddy trails can cause long-term damage since excess foot traffic creates soil compaction. This leads to increased flood risk, and makes it difficult for vegetation to grow.
https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-03-13/nearly-500-acres-private-land-conserved-perpetuity-near-appalachian-trail-wallingford
Nearly 500 acres of private land at the entrance to the popular Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area in Wallingford have been conserved in perpetuity as public land.
That’s according to the Trust for Public Land, which secured funding for the acquisition.
The property is home to the popular Ice Beds Trail network and features views of Otter Creek, the Taconic Range and the Green Mountains.
“It’s just a remarkable place, in part because of the really fascinating geology of the White Rocks area’s quartzite cliffs,” said Shelby Semmes, who leads the Trust for Public Land’s work in Vermont. “It’s a great destination in late summer when it’s very hot and humid. When you walk on the Ice Beds Trail, you feel like you’re walking into a refrigerator because ice gets stored there.
https://vtdigger.org/2025/03/14/vermont-towns-continue-to-grapple-with-allowing-atvs-on-local-roads/
Last week, two towns approved ballot items in favor of either developing or expanding ordinances to allow ATVs on town roads. Two others voted against creating such an ordinance.
The State of Vermont is proud to announce the launch of Move Forward Together Vermont, a strategic vision for the state’s outdoor recreation economy over the next five years and beyond. This guide to the future of outdoor recreation in Vermont comes after extensive engagement with thousands of Vermont residents, business owners, outdoor recreation planners, funders, and users. Over an 18-month period, focus groups, surveys, and feedback sessions yielded an unprecedentedly robust set of data that shaped the vision and prioritized actions for strengthening Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy.
This website was created in collaboration with the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC). This project was supported by a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission. Funding for this project was made possible in part with a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development.
Vermont Trails and Greenways Council
PO Box 183
East Montpelier, VT 05651
info@vermonttgc.org
EIN: 22-3075047
