The Green Mountain is Vermont's National Forest. Hills and mountains, ponds and brooks, it is a recreation jewel. With over 350,000 acres, it represents 50% of all public lands in Vermont. The Forest is among the region's leading attractions for outdoor enthusiasts, yet at the same time, a carefully supervised supplier of timber, wildlife habitat and clean water.
The Forest's scenic beauty along the backbone of Vermont's Green Mountains offers unlimited recreation opportunities any season of the year. Whether you are a hiker, skier, camper, fishing or hunting enthusiast, or wildlife watcher, the Green Mountain National Forest can provide the recreational experience you are seeking!
The Appalachian Trail leads through the Green Mountain National Forest. The Trail is a public footpath, which is 2,155 miles long. It follows the Appalachian Mountain ridgelines from Georgia to Maine. A portion of the Appalachian Trail that passes through Vermont coincides with the Long Trail which runs the length of Vermont.
The Green Mountain National Forest contains six designated Wilderness Areas. Big Branch Wilderness Area is part of the White Rocks National Recreation Area located on the northern half of the Manchester District. The White Rocks National Recreation Area also includes the Peru Peak Wilderness Area. The total White Rocks National Recreation Area lies within the towns of Dorset, Peru, Mt. Tabor, Wallingford, Mt. Holly, and Weston. The 21,480-acre Breadloaf Wilderness is the largest wilderness on the Green Mountain National Forest. The 3,740-acre Bristol Cliffs Wilderness has no designated trails. The few rough footpaths leading into Bristol Cliffs soon fade away. Aitken Wilderness has no designated trails. This Wilderness sits on a plateau above 2,300 feet in elevation. Lye Brook Wilderness offers lakes, streams, and bogs which are scattered throughout its heavily forested 15,680-acre landscape.
The Forest has numerous scenic auto tours. On the north half of the Forest look for Brandon Gap, Bingo Road, the Robert Frost Memorial Drive, Texas Falls Recreation Area and the White River area. On the south half of the Forest, look for the Kelley Stand Road, Danby Road, State Road #9, and the Somersett Road. These roads and areas offer scenery and recreation opportunities.
The Green Mountains receive ample snow for winter recreation activities. Sugarbush, Mount Snow, Bromley, Stratton, and Killington are the 5 ski areas in the Green Mountains.
