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Many local trail groups and municipalities are already building shorter trails. We are inspired by the idea to connect community trails together and create a continuous statewide network.
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River valleys form natural corridor for long distance east to west trail at this latitude. The western half of the route is made possible by the unique geology of the Winooski River as it originates to the east of the Green Mountains, then flows through a narrow, 3,700 foot deep valley carved between Camels Hump and Bolton Mountain to Lake Champlain. This water gap creates a natural east to west corridor across the state, with a gradual grade even through the mountain range. (We're not the first to think of this, of course. A still functioning railroad, US Rte 2, and I-89 all crowd through this gap as well.) To the east, the Wells River conveniently picks up where the Winooski ends and flows the opposite direction to the Connecticut River, providing another gradual river valley to follow.
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A historic railroad exists that can be converted to a trail in many places.The eastern half of the route, from Montpelier to Wells River, is galvanized by the possibility of using significant portions of a historic railroad bed for much of the trail. From 1873-1956, this railroad hauled granite, pulpwood, people, mail, dairy products, school kids and livestock along its track. The railroad generally followed the most gradual possible route, and so parallels the upper part of the Winooski River and then follows the entire length of the Wells River. Many miles of the railbed are currently open as public trail. Some parts of the old railbed are not open for public use; while other portions are public but have fallen into disrepair and are not useable in their current state. What does remain are the towns along its length, still connected by a corridor that can provide an invaluable means of recreation and alternative transportation.
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Because it's fun, and healthy, to get outside and ride, run, glide, stroll along a trail that starts near your house and goes so many interesting places. It may be 20 minutes with the dog after work, it may be riding your bike to school, it may be an expedition to explore across the whole state - it's all fun.
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And for what it's worth, numerous studies of other long distance trails over the years have documented that trails can have a positive impact on economic activity and home values in the communities along them. (Studies are catalogued online at Rails to Trails Conservancy.)
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Statewide summary - at the western end, the trail route begins in Burlington on the shores of Lake Champlain, then generally parallels the Winooski River through Waterbury and Montpelier to the town of Marshfield, where it crosses out of the Winooski Watershed in Groton State Forest. Meeting with the head waters of the Wells River in the State Forest, the trail continues along the length of the Wells River through the villages of Groton, South Ryegate, and Wells River to the east end at the Connecticut River.
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Another way to visualize the general route of the trail is to look at a Vermont Highway map. From west to east, the route of the Cross Vermont Trail generally parallels Rte 2, Rte 232, and Rte 302.
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In Burlington, South Burlington, and Williston, the trail route mostly follows the excellent municipal bike path networks created by these communities. This network is the fruit of many years of work, with some original momemtum 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. Local Motion in Chittenden County is spearheading the effort to "Close the Gaps" and make this network complete.
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In Richmond, Bolton, Waterbury, Moretown, Berlin, and Middlesex our route is formed by a patch work of recreation paths, quiet dirt roads, and some scenic stretches of Rte 2 and Rte 100B .
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In Montpelier we join with the Central Vermont Bike Path. This is an ongoing project with several pieces completed and more in the planning stages. Currently the Cross Vermont Trail route connects together the existing portions of path with local streets to create a through route.
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In East Montpelier the route mostly follows Rte 2 and Rte 14; high speed roads in busy areas. Cross Vermont Trail Association is working now to create an alternative off road path. This is a large job - contact us if you are interested in learning more!
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Finally, starting at the eastern part of East Montpelier and running through Plainfield, Marshfield, Groton, Ryegate, Newbury, and Wells River the trail route alternates between open sections of path created from the historic railbed of the old Montpelier - Wells River Railroad and sections of Rte 2 and Rte 302. (The town of Groton maintains a website with recreation information for path users.) CVTA is working towards the long term goal of moving the entire route off of state highways. In some places this can be achieved by repairing portions of the old railroad. In other places the old railbed is not available and we are talking with interested landowners about alternative corridors where we can build new path from scratch.
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Our mission is to build a four season, non-motorized, multi-use trail. Because the statewide route is a patchwork quilt of local trails and roads, specific uses appropriate for each segment are detailed in the trail maps and cue sheets. However, here is some general information . . .
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(Whether or not there is also motorized use on a trail segment is a decision made by the land owner. If the land owner agrees with motorized use, and if a motorized user group wants a trail there as well, then CVTA partners with them to share the work of caring for the trail. We currently work together with two local snowmobile clubs.)
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Bicycling. All designated portions of the Cross Vermont Trail are useable by ordinary bikes. Any reasonably solid bike with medium sized tires will do. (You do not need a high performance mountain bike; but it might be too rough for a skinny tire road bike.) Biking is one of our basic rules of thumb - if it works for bikes, then it works as the Cross Vermont Trail; if it doesn't work for bikes, then we have some work to do.
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Hiking, dog walking, baby strolling. The entire route is open to foot traffic. The trails are wide and gradual, so they are convenient for young and old alike. Dogs (under the immediate control of their owners) are welcome on all the open trail segments.
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Equestrian. Currently, equestrians use and enjoy the segments of trail that have been made from the old Montpelier-Wells River Railroad bed. See maps and cue sheets for detailed locations.
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You name it. Over the length of the statewide route, the trail takes many forms. Opportunities for all kinds of trail users are available at different spots along the route. See the maps and cue sheets for detailed description of each section.
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Get out in Winter! All trail segments are open to winter use. Type of maintenance varies from groomed snowmobile trail, to plowed municipal paths, to places where you just tromp through the deep snow.
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Get out in Spring! Spring is an OK time to use many segments of the trail. Most recreation trails in Vermont are closed in the spring, because of wet trail conditions. However, Cross Vermont Trail segments tend to be thoroughly constructed, with good drainage and firm treadway, even where they pass through woods and nature areas. As a result, many segments can be kept open for those who want to get out on trails during mud seaon.
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Universally Accessible. The Cross Vermont Trail is a great chance to build long stretches of real trail that meet Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and run for miles, taking users from town centers on out through dramatic terrain and into open natural areas. The "ADAAG" guidelines are pretty straightforward. Essentially, the trail has to be gradual, several feet wide, with a smooth, stable tread. We're excited to make a true long distance accessible trail!
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At the western end, the trail route joins with the Lake Champlain Bikeway, over 1,100 miles of mapped bike routes circumnavigating Lake Champlain through Vermont, New York, and Quebec.
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In Williston, pass by the Catamount Family Center, a mountain bike and cross country ski area in Williston, VT.
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In Richmond, form a loop with 3-mile-long Rivershore Trail, off of Cochran Road. Description posted at Local Motion's Google based online trail finder.
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In Bolton, junction with the Honey Hollow Trail, which creates a 7-mile mountain bike and XC ski loop with the Catamount Trail. We also overlap with the route of the Long Trail on a town dirt road along the banks of the Winooski. These trails give access to the 20,000 acre Camels Hump State Park and forest reserve.
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Montpelier City Parks maintain great trails that climb from our route down town and loop through Hubbard Park and North Branch Park.
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The Cross Vermont Trail forms one leg of the East Montpelier Loop trail.
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In Groton State Forest, the Cross Vermont Trail runs the length of the Forest, connecting with many miles of snowmobile, skiing, hiking and biking trails that loop through the area. This 25,000-plus-acre forest is the third largest contiguous landholding by the State of Vermont. The trail winds between granite peaks and glacially carved lakes and open forest supporting a wide variety of wildlife, including bear, moose, deer, beaver, mink, otter, fisher, grouse, loons and herons.
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The Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area can be accessed from the Cross Vermont Trail at a gateway parking area on the Groton-Ryegate town line.
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In the Wells River Conservation Park, behind Blue Mountain Union School, the Cross Vermont Trail joins with the Boltonville Nature Trail, Blue Mountain Nature Trail, and a 5-mile network of cross-country running trails. CVTA helped create this local trails network by leading a major project from 1999 - 2003 to build a recreation path underpass beneath the interstate highway (under the bridge the highway uses to cross the Wells River).
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In the Village of Wells River our route intersects the Connecticut River Byway; a scenic corridor of highways, byways, and waterways along the Connecticut River in Vermont and New Hampshire.
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Just over the Connecticut River from Wells River, Vermont is New Hampshire’s Ammonoosuc Rail-Trail. The highway bridge over the Connecticut River has a sidewalk so trail users can safely cross to New Hampshire and connect to the trails there.
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The Cross Vermont Trail has qualified for listing as a member of the Vermont Trails System, and as a National Recreation Trail. Designations recognize the merit of the work we are doing on the Cross Vermont Trail, and document that this work meets certain basic State and Federal standards.
(The Cross Vermont Trail Association is a private, non-profit corporation. The trail is not a State or Federal project. Because the state wide trail network is a patchwork of many different pieces, we work with a wide variety of partners - including private landowners who choose to allow a trail on their land, as well as many local towns, and also State and Federal agencies in some locations.)
Vermont Trails System
On May 21, 1996, the Cross Vermont Trail was designated by Howard Dean
(then Governor of VT) and Conrad Motyka (then Commissioner of Forests, Parks & Recreation) as a part of the Vermont Trails System.
The Vermont Trails System was created in 1994 when Governor Dean signed
legislation creating the Vermont Trails System Act. Here is a list of some of the things the VT Trails System Act established:- The Act made it possible for various Vermont trails to apply for this designation.
- The Act also created the VT Trails and Greenways Council as an advisory board to oversee designations of trails as part of this system.
- The Act also established the VT Recreation Trails Fund, which is awarded by the VT Trails and Greenways Council, and administered by the VT Agency of Natural Resources.
- A trail that becomes part of the VT Trails System could apply for and be eligible for funding through the VT Recreation Trails Fund grant program.
- The Act stated that: "No public or private owner of land which is a part the Vermont trails system shall be liable for any property damage personal injury sustained by person using these unless intentionally inflicts injury."
National Recreation Trail
On June of 2003, the Secretary of the Interior designated the CVT as a National Recreation Trail.
The National Trail System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543) authorized creation of a national trail system comprised of National Recreation Trails, National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. While National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an act of Congress, National Recreation Trails may be designated by the Secretary of Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to recognize exemplary trails of local and regional significance in response to an application from the trail's managing agency or organization. Through designation, these trails are recognized as part of America's national
system of trails.
The National Recreation Trail Program supports designated NRT's with an array of benefits, including promotion, technical assistance, networking and access to funding. Its goal is to promote the use and care of existing trails and stimulate the development of new trails to create a national network of trails and realize the vision of "Trails for All Americans."
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Updated January 29, 2010
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