Moosalamoo National Recreation Area: Blueberry Hill Area Trails

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The Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center supports the maintenance of over 50 km of trails within the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. Four-season trails offer options for mountain biking, hiking, birding, trail running, skiing, and snowshoeing.
Trail Activity
Mountain biking Hiking Ungroomed cross-country skiing Snowshoeing Backcountry skiing
Length
36.00 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate, Advanced
Towns
Goshen (VT), Hancock (VT), Leicester (VT), Ripton (VT), Salisbury (VT)
Surface
Snow, Ungroomed, Packed Earth/Dirt
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No
Other Activities
Horseback riding Snowmobiling

Description

The Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center offers many recreation options for mountain biking, hiking, birding, trail running, skiing, snowshoeing and adventuring, on your own or join a group event. In winter, the ungroomed trails offer a unique experience, with snowshoes and cross-country skis available to rent at the lodge. During summer and fall, you may use the Outdoor Center Lodge to have lunch, meet friends, or store gear. On winter weekends, homemade chocolate chip cookies, coffee, snacks, and soup are available.

Trail Descriptions:

All trail junctions are marked with a number and arrows that point to the next junction numbers. A printable trail map shows these numbered junctions. 

Beginner’s Loop is a great place to start. Pick your way across the field to the northeast corner and enter the woods at the trail sign. From there the trail is mostly level until just before you reach the Lodge. By that time you’ve gone almost 3 miles (4.7 km) and so you’re not a beginner anymore. This trail crosses wetlands and is for winter use only.

Hogback Trail is a 4.6 km loop that contours Hogback Mountain. Spur trails lead from the clearing up to the top, and to one of the best views south of the clearing. Look for wild blueberries in the summer.
Junctions: 1 – 3 – 7 – 21 – 25 – 27 – 29 – 15 – 11 – 7 – 3 – 1

Beaver Dam Loop is a nice trail for children. View beaver ponds and bird nesting sites. The main trail passes by the upper pond. Follow 1-5-9 and then take the next right. (A short trail spur on the southern side leads to a lower pond and a Great Blue Heron rookery). The trail loops and rejoins the Stewart Trail. Make a left to return to BBH or a right to reach intersection #35.

Stewart Trail is named for Doc Stewart who owned the land bordering parts of this trail. It’s also part of the Catamount Trail. Stewart Trail slowly gains elevation from #9 to #35. This is a good trail to complete the Sucker Brook loop (8.6 km) and for beginners (as an out and back trip). Continue on to the Horseshoe Trail for access to The Goshen Dam, also called Sugar Hill Reservoir.

Sucker Brook Trail makes a nice, 8.6 km loop with the Stewart Trail. If you go counter-clockwise you do most of the more difficult terrain at the beginning while you’re fresh. From #17 to #33 look to your right for views of Romance Mountain and the Breadloaf Wilderness Area. Sucker Brook Trail continues east and connects to the Long Trail and Sucker Brook Shelter.
Junctions: 1 – 5 – 9 – 35 – 33 – 19 – 17 – 9 – 5 – 1 
* Please note that bridges are out on the Sucker Brook Trail between #19 and #33. Cross with caution.

Halfdan Kuhnle Trail (also known as Romance) climbs heartily from the outside of the Hogback Loop and traverses along Romance Mountain for 15 kilometers. If skiing, it is best done from south to north. This is one of Blueberry Hill’s longest trails; it should be started no later than 1 p.m. in the winter to be back before sunset. Notice there is no shortcut back if you tire partway through. 
Junctions: 1 – 3 – 7 – 21 – 25 – 31 – 33 – 35 – 9 – 5 – 1

The Catamount Trail—The BBH trails share sections with the Catamount Trail, a 260-mile journey the length of Vermont. (Section 15 of Catamount Trail) From Rikert or Widows Clearing join the Catamount Trail.
Junctions: 43-41-39-37-35-9-1-3-7-11-15-29-27-25

Horseshoe Trail, also part of the Catamount Trail, is named after the horseshoe-shaped ridge that borders it and takes you to the Goshen Dam / Sugar Hill Reservoir. There are some fun hills in this section. The Sucker Brook joins you as you near the dam. When you reach #39 you can follow the trail up along the top of the dam. As you cross, think about the men and horses who built it in the 1920s. 
Junctions: 37-39

Lee Todd Trail is an absolutely beautiful loop. From #29 to #19 it climbs and ends with some downhill switchbacks. There are two bridges out, so cross these areas with caution.
Junctions: 1-3-7-11-15-29-19-17-13-11-7-3-1

Moosalamoo Trail covers nice gradual terrain, and leads to the USFS Moosalamoo Campground. Return the same way. Drive or walk 2.5 miles North on the Goshen-Ripton Road until you see the entrance to Moosalamoo Campground. Take a left to the campground. Park in the lot to the right where you’ll find the Moosalamoo Trailhead. The Trail climbs around and over a knoll then crosses the North Branch of Voter Brook. (Side trip: From the campground loop continue down the Voter Brook Overlook Road (24B) for another 2 kilometers for one of the best views of the Lake Dunmore Valley.)

Other Information

Blueberry Hill operates on a donation only basis. All funds go directly to cost of operation and help to maintain trails for all to use. Not able to donate at this time? No problem, the trails are open for you and all to enjoy. A suggested donation is $10 per visit. There are Blueberry Hill Outdoor Club memberships that support trail maintenance and outdoor education.

Please check current trail and road closures in the Green Mountain National Forest.

Mountain biking is allowed on Forest Roads 32 and 67, Hogback Mountain Loop, and the Sucker Brook Trail (FR 32-FR 67).

Trail Manager

Visit Moosalamoo Association, Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center, or Green Mountain National Forest online for more information and an interactive map or contact:

Moosalamoo Association
PO Box 148
Brandon, VT 05733
Phone: (802) 989-6980
execdir.moosalamoo@gmail.com
View website
Green Mountain National Forest: Supervisor's Office - Rutland
231 North Main Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 747-6700
View website
Blueberry Hill Inn and Outdoor Center
1245 Goshen Ripton Road
Goshen, VT 05733
Phone: (802) 247-6735
tc@blueberryhillinn.com
View website

Trail Tips

Leave What You Find
Leave the trail work to the pros: they will add or remove blazes, cairns (stone trail markers), structures, and trail improvements as deemed necessary.

Trailhead Information

Enter from parking area next to Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center on Goshen Ripton Road (donation requested), FR 224 parking area (closed in winter), Goshen Dam parking area (closed in winter), or FR 32 at Sucker Brook trailhead (winter only).

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