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Vermont is a small state but the CVT is a grand idea. It spans
the state from Burlington to Newbury, crossing through 17 communities
and providing direct, on and off-road links between 10 village
centers, 10 state parks and recreation areas, and at least 10
schools.
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The trail, when completed, will make 50% of Vermont's population
only a bike ride away from our state capital!
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When completed, this trail will be a tremendous asset for Vermont
as a safe bicycle and pedestrian route, an alternative to cars,
a recreation resource for communities, and an economic contributor
to local economies.
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The trail, when complete, will parallel the Winooski River from
its confluence with Lake Champlain to its headwaters in Groton
State Forest in central Vermont.
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Crossing the watershed divide, the trail will continue along
the length of the Wells River to its terminus at the Connecticut
River.
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In Chittenden County, the trail builds on the momentum generated
by the 1989 Chittenden County Greenways Plan which calls for an
inter-municipal recreation and alternative transportation path
roughly parallel to US Route 2 (through Burlington, South Burlington,
Wiliston, Richmond, and Bolton).
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Heading east from Richmond, it follows recreation paths and
paved and unpaved roads through Duxbury, Waterbury, Moretown and
Berlin.
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In Washington, Orange, and Caledonia Counties, the trail follows
portions of the former Montpelier-Wells River Railroad bed. This
mostly-intact, 36-mile route connects the towns of Montpelier,
East Montpelier, Plainfield, Marshfield, Peacham, Groton, Reygate
and Newbury.
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| 1. Innovative Design and Construction:
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Proposed to be 75 miles, the CVT is a long-distance trail, and
yet most long-distance trails are north-to-south. The CVT runs
west-to-east.
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At an average gradient of less that 2%, the CVT is definitely
accessible to people with disabilities.
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Whereas many long distance trails in the Eastern US tend to
follow mountain ranges, the CVT follows river valleys. This provides
users with a very different experience than that found on many
trails.
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| 2. Connection with other
significant trails: |
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The CVT connects to two nationally famous trails – the 300-mile-long
Catamount Trail (ski/snowshoe) and the 270-mile-long Long Trail
(hiking).
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This trail also connects with the Catamount Family Center, a
mountain bike and X-C ski network in Williston, VT. In addition,
it joins with the Lake Champlain Bikeway (LCB), which is a 363-mile
bike route that circumnavigates Lake Champlain and passes through
Vermont, New York, and Quebec. The LCB also provides access to
a 1,187-mile network of bicycle routes in the Champlain Valley.
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In Richmond, Vermont, the trail connects with Richmond’s 5-mile-long
Rivershore Trail.
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In Bolton, VT, the trail junctions with the Honey Hollow Trail,
which creates a 7-mile mountain bike and XC ski loop in conjunction
with the Catamount Trail.
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The Groton State Forest contains over 30 miles of snowmobile,
skiing, hiking and biking trails; and the CVT passes right through
the middle of this forest.
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In the Village of Wells River, the CVT joins with the 1.5-mile-long
Boltonville Nature Trail, the 1-mile-long Blue Mountain Nature
Trail, and a 5-mile network of cross-country running trails.
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Just over the Connecticut River from Wells River, VT is New
Hampshire’s Ammonoosuc Rail-Trail. This may connect to the CVT
via a proposed bicycle/ pedestrian bridge.
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| 3. Accesses
Outstanding Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources: |
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The Montpelier and Wells River Railroad. From 1873-1956, this
railroad hauled granite, pulpwood, people, mail, dairy products,
and livestock along its 38 miles of track. Although several bridges
have been removed since the railroad was discontinued, much of
the railbed remains as it was 100 years ago, including some granite
mile markers, which gauged distances between towns. What also
remains are the towns along its length, which are still connected
by a corridor which once served as a conduit for people and supplies,
but which now provides an invaluable means of recreation for the
eight towns through which it passes.
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The Winooski River flows from its headwaters in Cabot, Vermont
to the town of Winooski, where it empties into Lake Champlain.
The Cross Vermont Trail Follows this scenic river for nearly 90%
of its length. In the Town of Bolton, this river and the glaciers
that came before it have carved a 3,700-foot-deep valley between
two of Vermont’s largest mountains – Camel’s Hump and Bolton Mountain.
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The Wells River begins at its headwaters (Lake Groton and Ricker
Pond) in Groton State Forest and flows for approximately 15 miles
to the Village of Wells River, where it empties into the Connecticut
River. The Cross Vermont Trail follows this river along its entire
length.
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The Green Mountains. This chain of mountains runs north-to-south
for the length of Vermont from Quebec to Massachusetts. They contain
scores of peaks above 3000 feet elevation, and six that are above
4000 feet. Forest types range from Northern Hardwood to Boreal
to alpine tundra. The CVT accesses these mountains via two trail
systems – the Catamount Trail and the Long Trail.
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Groton State Forest. This 25,000-plus-acre forest is the third
largest contiguous landholding by the State of Vermont. This rugged
and scenic place supports a wide variety of wildlife, including
black bear, moose, deer, beaver, mink, otter, fisher, grouse,
loons and herons. It also contains one of the largest bogs in
Vermont (Peacham Bog) and a number of granite peaks and glacially
carved lakes and ponds.
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| 4. Serves a Broad Population:
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Accessible trail design – Rail-trails are by nature accessible
to a wide spectrum of users. 38 miles of the CVT is rail-trail;
the rest is dirt and pavement, but also follows a river corridor,
and therefore has an average gradient of less than 2%, which is
well within ADA requirements.
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A wide range of user groups – What can you do on the CVT? How
about running, walking, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, Nordic
skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling? People have even skijored
(Nordic skiing while being pulled along by a dog on a leash) and
mushed dogsleds on our trail.
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| 5. Uses Cost-effective Management
Strategies: |
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The Cross Vermont Trail Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. This means that it is run by a volunteer board of
directors who generously donate their time and efforts to create
what is rapidly becoming one of Vermont’s finest trails.
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Town-centered trail development/ownership – the ownership and
development of the trail sections is accomplished by the towns
in which the trail exists. The Cross Vermont Trail Association
exists to provide technical assistance to these towns in their
efforts to achieve this goal.
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