SVT Foot Trails

Castleton University Trails Map

Trailhead

Visitor parking is behind the Stafford Academic Center in the Stafford lot (See Map)

Trail Descriptions

The Castleton University Trails are easy and well marked.  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).

Guidelines

• Open to the public from dawn to dusk. 
• Walking, running, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing are all allowed. 
• No motorized vehicles please.
• Snowmobiles are allowed on the rail trail in the winter. 
• Please be respectful of private landowners and stay on the marked trails as some portions of these trails cross private land.
  

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.

Other Tips

• These trails can be hiked or biked in any direction. The trails are suitable for beginner mountain bikers, joggers and those looking for an easy hike.   
• The CU trails are popular.  All users, please be aware and exercise caution around curves and blind turns in the trails.  
• The terrain is gentle with no significant climbs. The footpath is well maintained but there are plenty of roots and rocks to watch out for.
• In the spring there may be several wet and muddy sections. 
• 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 trails are used by the University cross-country team in the fall.

Delaney Woods Map

Delaney Woods on Trailfinder

Trailhead Directions

Enter E. Delaney Cross Road off North Street in Wells, across from the Lakeside Park, and look for the official 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.

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.   

Directions

 Guidelines

• Welcome sunrise to sunset - no camping
• Share the trails - bikers yield to hikers
• Practice Leave No Trace ethics, including carry out your trash 
• Stay on marked trails - we went to a lot of trouble to build them
• No motorized vehicles or horses -  they can damage the trails
• 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    
•  Your cell phone may NOT have service at our trailheads, or on parts of our trail network! Familiarize yourself with the map, have a map with you, and/or have the map available offline in your mobile GPS App.   
• This Trailhead has no facilities.

Maps

• East Trails
• West Trails

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.

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.