Trail Etiquette and Guidelines

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:

• Spartan Trail – 1.6 miles (green markers)
• Lady Spartan Trail – 0.3 miles (red markers), which is a connector trail in the longer Spartan Trail loop (see map).

To Access the Trails

• Begin in Castleton Village on Main Street (also 4A). 
• Starting from Castleton Village head west. 
• Take the third left onto South Street. 
• In about 1/3 of a mile, (just after Jeffords Science Center), take the next left into a large parking lot.
• Immediately turn right and park at the end of the smaller lot adjacent to South Street. 
• The D&R Rail Trail passes just to the north of this parking lot. There is a rail trail informational kiosk about 100 feet to the east. 
• To access the Castleton University trails, cross South Street and follow the D&R rail trail south. It passes to the west of the Spartan Pavilion and Stadium.  There are two entrances (marked with signs). One is about 1,500 feet from South Street and the second is about 3,000 feet from South Street. See map for further details.

Guidelines

• Open to the public from dawn to dusk. 
• Walking, running, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing are all allowed. 
• No motorized vehicles please.
• The CU trails are popular, and are used in fall by the CU cross-country running team. Please be aware and exercise caution around curves and blind turns in the trails. 
• Snowmobiles are allowed on the rail trail portion in the winter. 
• Please be respectful of private landowners and stay on the marked trails as some portions of these trails cross private land.
• Follow Leave No Trace ethics,  including carry out your trash and pet waste, and respecting other trail users.

Map

Cheater's Hill 10K Map

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. 

Maps

• Delaney Woods Trail Map
• Find us on: Trailfinder and Trailforks 

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 no driving in fields, or parking along road.
• Please drive slowly. Watch for people, dogs, horses, and wildlife! 
• Amenities:  No facilities.

Description

 Delaney Woods, owned by the Town of Wells, is part of the conserved Delaney Farm.The newest trail is a connector trail, built in 2019, connecting Delaney Woods to a singletrack trail, Bearded Hen, located on private land thanks to the generosity of neighboring landowners.

The trails were designed and are maintained for HUMAN powered fun such as hiking, trail running, snowshoeing and mountain biking. Volunteers and professional trail builders constructed about 4 miles of multi-use single track trails over the past couple of years. 
 

Guidelines

• Welcome sunrise to sunset - no camping.
• No motorized vehicles or horses -  they can damage the trails.
• Share the trails - bikers yield to hikers.
• Stay on marked trails - we went to a lot of trouble to build them
• Avoid using trails when they are wet or during freeze-thaw cycles when trails are easily damaged (and costly to repair). 
• Carry out your trash and pet waste.
• Be respectful to wildlife and other trail users. 
• Hunting is allowed at Delaney Woods.  Hunters may contact the Town of Wells for more information.  
• Wear bright colors during all Vermont hunting seasons including, but not limited to spring and fall turkey, fall bow, rifle, and muzzleloader deer seasons.
• Please NO HUNTING on or along 'Bearded Hen'. This trail is on private land.

MAPS

• Endless Brook to Fairgrounds - Summer Map
• Find us on: Trailfinder and Trailforks 

Trailhead Parking

Attention: Limited parking at the Endless Brook Rd trailhead. Please make #2 and 3 your detail 3 options for accessing trail in this area!

1) Endless Brook Road trailhead parking lot (limited)

2) Lake St. Catherine Country Club trailhead

3) Lake St. Catherine State Park (in-season, please pay fee or get pass)

Visit our PARKING PAGE for details on trailhead parking alternatives.

LOCATION: Endless Brook Rd, Poultney, VT  past Toad Hall, but before the Lewis Deane Nature Preserve.  

• LIMITED PARKING (9 cars)- please review other parking options!
• No parking on Endless Brook or Dayton Hill Roads, or VT-30
• Please do not block driveways
• Save the parking at the Lewis Deane Nature Preserve for hikers there
• Drive SLOW on Endless Brook Road
• Amenities: Portable toilet mid-May through mid-October

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. 

Trail Descriptions: On Trailforks and coming soon to new page on website!  

Guidelines

• Welcome sunrise to sunset.
• No camping or fires to respect the landowner's wishes. 
• Foot and bicycle use only.  
• No motorized vehicles or horses -  they can damage the trails.
• Share the trails - bikers yield to hikers.
• Stay on marked trails - we went to a lot of trouble to build them.
• Avoid using trails when they are wet or during freeze-thaw cycles when trails are easily damaged (and costly to repair).
• Carry out your trash and pet waste.
• Be respectful to wildlife and other trail users.  
• No firearms or public hunting - for everyone's safety.
• Neighbors do hunt adjacent parcels. Wear blaze orange (dogs too), leash your dog, avoid trails before 10AM and after 3PM, use inside voices.

Howe Hill Trail Map

Howe Hill on Trailfinder

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). 

Trailhead Parking

•  United Baptist Church located 'On the Green' in East Poultney
• Avoid parking during Sunday mornings church service
• The trails start at the Howe Hill sign on the left side of Thrall Rd. across from the East Poultney bridge about a quarter mile south
• Amenities: None 

Guidelines 

• Foot traffic only.
• Welcome sunrise to sunset.
• No camping or fires... to respect the landowner's wishes
• No motorized vehicles or horses... they can damage the trails.
• Stay on marked trails.
• Carry out your trash and pet waste.
• Respect wildlife and other trail users. 
• Hunting occurs at Howe Hill during all seasons. The landowner does try to post alerts to warn hikers if someone is hunting, but do not expect this. 
• Wear bright colors during all Vermont hunting seasons including, but not limited to spring and fall turkey, fall bow, rifle, and muzzleloader deer seasons    

MAPS

Endless Brook to Fairgrounds - Summer Map

Find us on: Trailfinder and Trailforks

Trailhead Parking

LOCATION: 2725 VT Rte 30, Poultney, VT

• For the LSCCC trailhead parking, use the natural surface parking lot (you'll see a kiosk) on the left as you pull into the LSCCC. 
• A new connector trail will be built at this location in Spring 2021. If you must use VT-30, please ride single file with the direction of traffic.  
• This parking lot may be closed for functions at the LSCCC. SVT will post closure at trailhead and our Trail Conditions page and to Facebook.
• Amenities: Fairways Restaurant & Tavern at LSCCC is open to the public daily from May 1st – Oct. 31st.  Food and beverages on the deck!

Description

Trailhead connector from the Lake St. Catherine Country Club connecting to Grove's Way in development Spring 2021! These new trails connect the Endless Brook trailhead to the Fairgrounds trailhead. These 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.  

Trail Descriptions: On Trailforks and coming soon to new page on website! 

Guidelines

• Shh, people are golfing! Please respect their space, and keep your voices down!
• Welcome sunrise to sunset.
• No camping or fires to respect the landowner's wishes. 
• Foot and bicycle use only.  
• No motorized vehicles or horses -  they can damage the trails.
• Share the trails - bikers yield to hikers.
• Stay on marked trails - we went to a lot of trouble to build them.
• Avoid using trails when they are wet or during freeze-thaw cycles when trails are easily damaged (and costly to repair).
• Carry out your trash and pet waste.
• Be respectful to wildlife and other trail users.  
• No firearms or public hunting - for everyone's safety.
• Neighbors do hunt adjacent parcels. Wear blaze orange (dogs too), leash your dog, avoid trails before 10AM and after 3PM, use inside voices.

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 blazes are currently blue.  Maps also posted at road crossings and other intersections.  

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.

The trail welcomes walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in warmer weather and snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in the winter. 

Trailhead Parking

LOCATION:  D&H Trailhead Parking Bentley Ave, Poultney

• Public parking is also available along Main and Depot, and elsewhere in the village.
• In the future, there may be public parking available on the northern end of the PRRT loop. 
• Already in Poultney? Walk or Bike to the trail.
• Amenities: None
• Info kiosk north at Church St crossing

Guidelines (Specific to the D&H Rail Trail Section, VT FPR)

• Stay on the trail: Please respect the private property of adjacent landowners. Leaving the trail may constitute trespassing on private property. 
• Yield the right-of-way: When approaching oncoming trail users, always move to your right. When overtaking slower moving users, announce your intentions and pass on the left. 
• Stop at all road crossings: Trail users must stop and yield to traffic at all intersections with public highways. 
• Appropriate gear: Wear clothing and protective equipment matched to the activity you pursue. Helmets are strongly recommended for bicycling, horseback riding and snowmobiling. 
• Watch for obstacles: You may encounter natural obstructions such as fallen trees, ruts, washouts or wildlife. 
• Trail surface: Care should be taken when approaching bridges as there is normally a small transition between the cinder or gravel trail tread and the bridge abutment. The trail has several different types of tread material; some sections may be softer than others. 
• Pets: Pets are welcome on the trail but must be under owner’s control at all times. Dogs should be kept on a leash for their own protection as well as other users and wildlife. 
• Please do not litter. 

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  

Maps and Information

• D&H Rail Trail Northern Section Map and Info (Castleton to Poultney ) on Trailfinder

• D&H Rail Trail Southern Section Map and Info (Pawlet/Rupert) on Trailfinder 

•  D&H Rail Trail (Granville, NY and beyond)- TrailLink

Description

The Northern section of the D&H Rail Trail passes through Poultney, and spans from Castleton, into Poultney, but ends a few miles south of Bentley Ave in Poultney. This section is approximately 10 miles one-way. The Vermont sections of the D&H Rail Trail are managed by Vermont Forest, Parks, and Recreation.

The trail welcomes walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders in warmer weather and snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in the winter. 

Parking

LOCATION:  D&H Trailhead Parking, Bentley Ave, Poultney

• Public parking is also available along Main and Depot, and elsewhere in the village.
• In the future, there may be public parking available on the northern end of the PRRT loop. 
• Already in Poultney? Walk or Bike to the trail.
• Amenities: None
• Info kiosk north at Church St crossing

Guidelines (Specific to the D&H Rail Trail Section, VT FPR):

• Stay on the trail: Please respect the private property of adjacent landowners. Leaving the trail may constitute trespassing on private property. 
• Yield the right-of-way: When approaching oncoming trail users, always move to your right. When overtaking slower moving users, announce your intentions and pass on the left. 
• Stop at all road crossings: Trail users must stop and yield to traffic at all intersections with public highways. 
• Appropriate gear: Wear clothing and protective equipment matched to the activity you pursue. Helmets are strongly recommended for bicycling, horseback riding and snowmobiling. 
• Watch for obstacles: You may encounter natural obstructions such as fallen trees, ruts, washouts or wildlife. 
• Trail surface: Care should be taken when approaching bridges as there is normally a small transition between the cinder or gravel trail tread and the bridge abutment. The trail has several different types of tread material; some sections may be softer than others. 
• Pets: Pets are welcome on the trail but must be under owner’s control at all times. Dogs should be kept on a leash for their own protection as well as other users and wildlife. 
• Please do not litter. 

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  

Lewis Deane Preserve Map

Trailhead

PARKING MAP LINK

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.