Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Each trail system in the Slate Valley Trails Network has its own unique guidelines.
Please read these guidelines!
A few miles of mutli-use trails in Castleton.
A few miles of multi-use trails in Wells
Several miles of hiking/biking trails in Poultney with a view of Lake St. Catherine
More than 17 miles of multi-use trails located in East Poultney
Three miles of hiking trails in East Poultney
3 mile multi-use trail around downtown Poultney
Several miles of trails in Castleton, Ira and Poultney
Several miles of hiking and nature trails in Castleton.
10k walking and running route in Poultney
1-2 hour hike in Poultney with a view of Lake St. Catherine. Formerly owned by Green Mountain College. Trails and parking remain open to the public.
3 hour hike in North Pawlet with 360 degree views. Owned by the Nature Conservancy. Hunting is allowed by permission at this property.
Several miles of hiking trails and zen gardens in Castleton.
A short nature walk in Poultney
A short nature walk in Poultney.
-This section of multiple-use trail is partially co-aligned with the Poultney River & Rail Trail.
-This section is from Poultney to Castleton.
-The trail welcomes walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in warmer weather and snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in the winter.
-This section is approx. 10 miles, one-way.
-This section of multiple-use trail is in Pawlet and Rupert, Vermont.
-The trail welcomes walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in warmer weather and snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in the winter.
-This section is approx. 9.8 miles, one-way.
This link shows the whole D&H Rail Trail including the NY section. Please review the other links as well for info.
The trail welcomes walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in warmer weather and snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in the winter.
Castleton University Trails Map
Trailhead
Visitor parking is behind the Stafford Academic Center in the Stafford lot (See Map)
Description
These trails can be hiked or biked in any direction and are suitable for beginner mountain bikers, joggers and those looking for an easy hike. The trails wind through forest, cross Glenbrook twice and skirt the edge of athletic fields and Glenbrook Pond. The varied environments provide for an interesting outing but there are no major overlooks or views.
The Castleton University Trails are easy and well marked. gentle with no significant climbs. The footpath is well maintained but there are plenty of roots and rocks to watch out for, and in spring, there will be plenty of puddles and wet spots.
There are two trails:
To Access the Trails
Guidelines
Spartan Trail Work Day volunteers
Every town needs a 10 kilometer running and walking loop!
This loop is a popular and pleasant route that uses the sidewalk along East Main Street to East Poultney, several dirt roads and the D&H Trail. The road up the hill just east of Route 30 was called Cheaters Hill in the 1800s as it allowed people to bypass the brick house that was once the toll house for the Poultney Turnpike.
The 6.5 mile loop begins and ends at the D&H kiosk on Church Street in Poultney village. If you go around the route in a clockwise direction you’ll get a good workout going up Cheater’s Hill. If you do it in a counter clockwise direction you will enjoy a nice long run down the hill.
Trailhead Directions & Google Map
Enter E. Delaney Cross Road off North Street in Wells, across from the Lakeside Park, and look for the official kiosk and raised gravel parking area. From there, continue on foot or bike up the road for about 0.2 m, stay right and you should see the sign for SVT Rt 1 trailhead.
Please drive slow and watch for people, dogs, horses, and wildlife!
Description
Delaney Woods, owned by the Town of Wells, is part of the conserved Delaney Farm. Volunteers and professional trail builders constructed about 3.5 miles of multi-use single track trails over the past couple of years. The trails were designed for all kinds of HUMAN powered fun such as hiking, snow shoeing and mountain biking.
Guidelines
MAPS
Winter Trail Map: Endless Brook to Fairgrounds
Trailhead Directions
-The Endless Brook trailhead parking (Google Map) is located on Endless Brook Road across from the Lewis Deane Nature Preserve.
- Additional parking is available at the designated area with kiosk at the entrance to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club (Google Map) located at 2725 VT 30, Poultney, VT.
- Additional parking (day use fee) is available in season at Lake Saint Catherine State Park located at 3034 VT Rte. 30 in Poultney, VT. Check out the trails there walking and MTB flow trail, and take a swim after!
Description
From the Endless Brook Trailhead, these beautiful trails are entirely on private property and are open to the public through the landowner's generosity and their partnership with Slate Valley Trails.
The majority of the trails are singletrack and designed for mountain biking. However, the trails are open to any non-motorized use including hiking, running, and snowshoeing. Once you reach the highest point on Hardy's Hill the views of Lake Saint Catherine are amazing, and so are the fast berms and rolls as you head back down the long descent.
Guidelines
Trail Descriptions
A woman hikes the Endless Brook Trails.
MAPS
Winter Trail Map: Fairgrounds to Endless Brook
Trails on the south side of VT 140 are referred to as "Fairgrounds West", and on the north side of VT 140, as "Fairgrounds East".
Trailhead Directions
- The Fairgrounds trailhead parking is located at 131 Town Farm Road in Poultney (Google Map).
- NO PARKING along Town Farm Road! If the parking lot is full, look for designated overflow parking nearby. Overflow parking location may change or be temporarily unavailable.
Description
The trails accessible from the Fairgrounds trailhead are entirely on private property and are open to the public through the landowner's generosity and their partnership with Slate Valley Trails. The majority of the trails are singletrack and designed for mountain biking. However, the trails are open to any non-motorized use including hiking, running, and snowshoeing.
Guidelines
Hunting Information
The Fairgrounds property is open for deer hunting only (no other game).
Attention Hunters
The Fairgrounds property is open for deer hunting. This property is a popular recreation destination and is used by hikers and mountain bikers. Pets may be present. Hunters should familiarize themselves with the locations of trails and take extra caution.
Rules
Attention Trail Users
Be aware! This property is open to hunting.
Please note these safety recommendations:
The following trails are closed during rifle and muzzleloader season:
For your own safety and out of respect for hunters, please abide by trail closures.
Trailhead
Parking for the Howe Hill trails is in the parking lot next to the East Poultney Baptist Church on the green in the center of the village of East Poultney. The parking lot may be full on Sunday mornings during church service. To access the trails from the parking lot walk south across the Poultney River on to Thrall Rd. The trails start at the Howe Hill sign on the left side of Thrall Rd. about a quarter mile from the parking lot. There are no facilities provided at the parking lot.
Description
This trail network represents a partnership between two generous landowners and Slate Valley Trails. Howe Hill trails are open to walking, hiking, running, and snowshoeing when the snow falls. There are some short steep climbs on Laird's Loop, some of which may be dangerous in icy conditions. The trails consist of Laird's Loop (1.9 miles round-trip) and the Upper Loop (1.0 miles).
Guidelines
Maps
Trailhead
This hike is in the Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park located at 321 St. John Road in Hubbardton, Vermont. It is not a developed park. There is no water, phone or other facilities. There is a single portalet. Plan accordingly and please carry-in-carry-out.
Visit the park website or call the park, 802-273-2997 for current information and directions.
Poultney River and Rail Trail Map
Description
The Poultney River and Rail Trail (PRRT) is a 3.3 mile multi-use trail around downtown Poultney, which has been under development since 2001. The trail features portions of the D&H Rail Trail, Poultney River and a corridor bordering the Poultney Elementary School. The PRRT is co-aligned with the D&H Rail Trail, which is maintained by the State of Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. Slate Valley Trails partnered with the Town of Poultney, the Poultney 20/20 Committee and the Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District to establish the PRRT.
Guidelines (Specific to the D&H Rail Trail Section, VT FPR):
WINTER USE OF PRRT and D&H Rail Trail
The D&H Rail Trail and many parts of the PRRT are aligned with the VAST Trail. The D&H is open to non-motorized and motorized use in winter months. The southern most section of the PRRT is on the opposite side of the Poultney River as the VAST Trail, and the PRRT at the Elementary School is separate from the VAST Trail.
For the interactive VAST Trail Map CLICK HERE. For VAST info, visit the Poultney Area SnoDevils website or Facebook
Trailhead
Go 0.8 miles down Endless Brook Road, off of Route 30, and look for a gravel parking area on the right with room for about 4 cars. It is diagonally across the road from Slate Valley Trail's Endless Brook Trailhead, and just past Toad Hall, but before the driveway for The Loon and Otter Lodge.
Description
The main attraction for many at the Lewis Deane Nature Preserve is the stunning views from St. Catherine Mountain. One can see Lake St. Catherine and beyond into the Adirondacks. From the parking, walk down the driveway to a bridge over a stream, then look for a kiosk ahead on the left at the edge of the meadow.
Yellow Trail – 1 mile one way. This is the original trail. It is shorter, and steeper, with less switchbacks. Climbing up the some rocky sections that can be slick when wet. Plan to hike 30 minutes each way.
Green Trail – ~ 1.25 miles one way. This trail is newer and has several switchbacks leading up from the meadow into the forest. It goes past a peaceful brook, as it climbs to the summit. Give yourself at least 45 minutes to hike it one way.
History
The Lewis Deane Nature Preserve is an 85-acre lot on the east side of Lake St. Catherine. It was donated to Green Mountain College in 2002 by Bill and Linda Osborne, of Poultney, but when GMC closed in 2019, the preserve has gone back to the Osborne's. This land is used by students and the community for education, research, and outdoor experiences.
Archived Lewis Deane Preserve Info from GMC's website: PDF
VISITOR GUIDELINES
All visitors to the preserve are asked to follow these guidelines:
1. Leave-no-trace: carry it in, carry it out.
2. Travel on foot only, except for handicapped access or approved management practices.
3. NO HUNTING! Wear orange during hunting season anyhow.
4. Engage in no illegal activities.
5. Camp only in designated areas.
6. Build no fires, except in designated areas.
A simple internet search will pull up a handful of blogs about the trails at the Deane Preserve. Please respect the landowner. This property was formerly owned by Green Mountain College. The trails and parking are still open to the public thanks to the current property steward.