These trails are a system of interconnected, ungroomed cross-country skiing loops of varying length and difficulty, that can be used as hiking trails in the summer.

Activity Hiking
Nearest Town Ripton
Length Various. See below
Elevation Gain Various
Trail Type Out-and-back and Loops
Skill Level Easy to Difficult

Water Tower / Chatfield Loop

Trailhead: Enter from the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, Chatfield parking area, Forest road 32 or Widow’s Clearing parking area.

Trail distances  are:

  • Connector .07 mi., easiest
  • Crosswalk  .3 mi., easiest
  • Sundown .4 mi., more difficult
  • Afternoon Delight  .5 mi., more difficult
  • North Star  1 mi., more difficult
  • Trepidation  .3 mi., most difficult

 

Widow’s Clearing

Trailhead: Widow’s Clearing Trail from Chatfield (65) trailhead to the Widow’s Clearing trailhead is almost 3 miles.  The section from Chatfield west to Water Tower trail jct. at #8 is a long uphill, but the return is nice. The terrain from #1 to Widow’s Clearing trailhead is easy. The Catamount Trail coincides with this trail.

Download the map, courtesy of Green Mountain National Forest Services.

Wilkinson Trails

Trailhead: Across the road from the Widow’s Clearing parking area on Forest Road 32.

Trail distances  are:

  • Beaver Pond Crossing .1 mi., easiest
  • Shannie’s Loop .4 mi., easiest
  • Blue Heron Run .4 mi., easiest
  • Willow Run .6 mi., easiest
  • Zip .1 mi., more difficult
  • A.O.A Trail .4 mi., more difficult
  • Goshen Brook Trail .4 mi., more difficult
  • Blackberry Run .6 mi.,  more difficult
  • Moose Loop 2.2 mi.,  more difficult

Download the map, courtesy of Green Mountain National Forest Services.