Cross Vermont Trail

Documented

Bicycle Excursions

Ryegate to Groton

Kettle Pond to Marshfield Pond

The Cross Vermont Trail, when complete, will span 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. The Trail will utilize old rail beds, new trails, class 4 roads, and existing roads as necessary. The challenges are in obtaining the necessary permissions to cross private property, and the construction of new trail segments where necessary. Of the 10 towns the 75 mile long trail crosses, Groton with 10 miles has the longest segment and Groton State Forest is a major highlight of the Trail. The route through Groton is on the abandoned bed of the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad. At an average gradient of less that 2%, the CVT is definitely accessible to people with disabilities. Whereas many long distance trails in the Eastern US tend to follow mountain ranges, the CVT in general follows rail beds and provides users with a very different experience than that found on many trails. To see a state-wide map of the trail, click here. Currently the trail is poorly marked or not marked at all, so a map and annotated directions are provided below. If using bikes, one definitely should use one with off-road tires.

Permitted uses: include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Winter users yield to snowmobiles; summer users yield to horseback riders.

The CVT can be easily accessed at many points where there is ample parking. These parking areas include within the State Forest: the snowmobile parking at New Discovery, Kettle Pond, the Nature Center and Ricker's Pond Campground. Just east of Groton, Trail users can park at the Mills Memorial Field in South Ryegate.

The following map shows the CVT route through Groton and shows the use of the CVT from the New Discovery snowmobile parking area in Marshfield through Groton to the Mills Memorial Field in South Ryegate. An written annotation of this route follows the map. With two exceptions, which are noted on the map, the grade is very gradual throughout.

An annotation of the Trail from the New Discovery snowmobile parking area (just north and opposite the State Forest maintenance Shop on 232) in Marshfield east through Groton to the Mills Memorial Field in South Ryegate (14.2 miles) is as follows:

From the snowmobile parking area, turn right on route 232

0.8 miles on 232 to the 1st right which is Lanesboro Rd – turn right

0.4 miles on Lanesboro Rd to the Rail Bed which is also the Cross Vermont Trail – turn left

0.8 miles on the Rail Bed to the crossing of 232 – go straight

(this section of Rail Bed has a short, medium steep hill

2.0 miles on the Rail Bed to the crossing of Boulder Beach Rd (blacktop)– continue straight

(View of Owl's Head Mountain on left is 0.1 miles)

(Stillwater Campground is 0.5 mile to the left on Boulder Beach Road – steep hill)

(Forest Country Store is 0.5 + 0.2 mile, open during July and August)

(The Nature Center is 0.5 + 0.2 + 0.8 miles, open July and August, parking all year)

(Boulder Beach is 0.5 + 0.2 + 0.8 + 0.6 mile, open July and August - entrance fee)

2.8 miles from Boulder Beach Crossing to Ricker's Pond Campground – continue straight

(View of Lake Groton on left through trees at about 1 mile)

(Ricker's Pond Campground office is to the right)

0.9 mile to the Crossing of 232 at Ricker's Mill Road intersection

(through the Ricker's Pond Campground)

(Ricker's Pond on left) – continue straight (Rail Bed is to the right of 232)

1.4 miles to the end of this section of trail on the Rail bed - take sharp left down hill to 232 (100 feet) - Turn right

(Side trip: left on 232 0.1 mile is a very cool pullout on the Wells River)

0.1 mile on 232 to Route 302 - Turn left

0.4 miles on 302 (past Upper Valley Grill) to Coal Kiln Road - Turn right

(Food, phone and rest rooms available at the Upper Valley Grill)

0.1 miles on Coal Kiln Road to 1st intersection - this is the Rail Bed - turn left

1.3 miles to the intersection with Powder Spring Rd (blacktop - is also called Depot Flats here) - turn left

(Side Trip: go straight on Powder Spring Rd 0.2 mile is Groton Village center with newly renovated village center with AcrossVT bike rental.)

0.0 miles to Little Italy Road - turn right

0.3 mile on Little Italy Road (turns to dirt road) to fork - take left fork (this is Rail Bed)

1.3 miles on the Rail Bed at which bears left and becomes Brown Road - continue straight

(Note that the east end of the Rail Bed is used for a farm access and may be wet at times.)

1.4 miles on Brown road to route 302 east - continue straight

0.2 mile on route 302 east to the Mills Memorial Field in South Ryegate

(Alley's Market is ahead on route 302 - food, phone and rest rooms available)

South of Groton, The Cross Vermont Trail continues on to the Curious Cow, Too on 302 (red clapboard building - unoccupied summer of 2005) and there is Trailhead parking behind this building.

The Cross Vermont Trail then continues beyond this point under interstate route 91 to Wells River. 0.1 mile ahead is the Boltonville Nature Trail, an outdoor nature study area and pedestrian only trail which is approximately 1 mile in length and explores the upland slopes and riparian floodplain of the Wells River. One mile ahead (beyond the I-91 underpass) is the Blue Mountain Nature Trail associated with the Blue Mountain Union School. This pedestrian-only trail, which is approximately 1 mile in length, passes through upland Hemlock and Spruce-Fir forest and offers beautiful views of the Wells River via some cliffs and ledges.