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And one of the best ways to enjoy these wonders is on the 300 mile Catamount Trail, the longest cross country ski trail in America.
The trail is divided into 26 sectors, each taking about a day to cover. Roughly half of the route follows packed snowmobile trials and groomed ski center trails. The other half provides glorious access to Vermont's pristine backwoods. Accessing the Catamount Trail is relatively easy. The trail intersects with the trail networks of several cross country ski centers, including:
- Mountain Top, Chittenden
- Blueberry Hill, Goshen
- Bolton Valley Ski Center, Bolton
- Trapp Family Lodge to Edson Hill, Stowe
- Edson Hill to Farm Resort, Stowe
- Craftsbury Nordic Center, Craftsbury
- Hazen's Notch Association, Montgomery
Some areas will allow you to ski free if you're using the Catamount Trail, but it is important to check with each center for their policy.
| Inn To Inn Touring... |
| Whether you take a weekend or a week, using
the suggested |
| Inn to Inn itineraries
is a great way to experience the trail. |
The Catamount Trail is the brainchild of three Vermonters who envisioned an uninterrupted ski trail that would allow you to ski the length of the entire state. Using a network of existing ski trails, snowmobile trails, old logging roads and wilderness paths, the Catamount Trail stretches 300 miles to link cross-country skiers and snowshoers with some of Vermont's most beautiful terrain.
The trail began in 1984 when Steve Bushey, Paul Jarris and Ben Rose completed the first end-to-end trek of the route. At the time, the group had to collect permission from countless private land owners, but it wasn't long before an association was formed to begin the process of procuring easements to secure the trail for public use. Today, thanks to an enthusiastic volunteer base, the trail is 92% complete and several portions are protected through land easements.
For more information on the Catamount Trail, visit the Catamount Trail Association Web Site.
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