Putney Mountain Association: Southern Tier Trails

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5.6 miles of trails winding through the forested uplands south of the Putney Mountain summit offer many loop options for hikers and cross country skiers.
Trail Activity
Walking Hiking Snowshoeing Ungroomed cross-country skiing
Length
5.60 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy
Towns
Brookline (VT), Putney (VT)
Surface
Packed Earth/Dirt
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

This relatively new 5.6 mile network of five trails, accessible from four different trailheads, is managed by the Putney Mountain Association.  The trail system is a collaboration between PMA, the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish and Wildlife Service), and several members of the Hinton family, who graciously gave legal permission for PMA to mark, map, and maintain a trail across their property.

The trails—Dine, Hannum, High Road, Beaver Pond Loop, and Hinton—are located between Holland Hill and Putney Mountain Roads in Putney and Brookline.  The land is forested and the terrain is gentle.  This, coupled with an elevation of 1500-1600 feet, makes the area--and specifically the Dine, Hinton, and Conte trails--a fine destination for cross country skiing.

The Dine Trail off Holland Hill Road uses a combination of old logging roads and new trail on PMA and US Fish and Wildlife Service land.  During its 1.5 mile long journey it passes through several fern-filled glades.  Up until 2016, the Dine Trail was a lonely outpost of trail under PMA management.  When PMA purchased the Hannum parcel in 2014 all the elements fell in place to incorporate both new and pre-existing trails in the vicinity into the larger PMA trail system.

The 1.4 mile long Hannum Trail, off Holland Hill Road, runs north through land recently acquired by PMA and extends into the Conte Refuge.  Highlights include a lovely white pine stand.  The half-mile long High Road Trail follows an old logging road, providing a more leisurely alternative to one section of the Hannum Trail that twists and turns through a variety of terrain and forest types. 

The 0.7 mile Hinton Trail links the above trails, accessed from Holland Hill Road, with Putney Mountain Road and PMA’s trail system leading north towards the Putney Mountain summit.   IMPORTANT:  the Hinton Trail is entirely on private property and it is critically important that everyone respect the owner’s wishes as reflected in PMA’s agreements with the landowner.  No wheeled vehicles, including bicycles, are permitted on the Hinton Trail.

The network's newest trail, the Beaver Pond Loop, was opened in 2019.  It passes through a variety of forests, with the highlight being a two acre beaver pond.

Other Information

Maps and additional information about the Putney Mountain Association can be found on their website: http://www.putneymountain.org/. The Association offers guided woods walks and many other activities throughout the year, with learning opportunities for all ages and experience levels.  A calendar of events is available on the website.

Putney Mountain Association's Putney Mountain Trails are accessible from the Putney Mountain Trailhead. They are on the north side of Putney Mountain Road.

Loop Options From the Hannum Trailhead, Holland Hill Rd

Hannum/High Road Loop, 1.2 Miles
Out the Hannum Trail 0.6 miles and return on the High Road Trail 

  • Follow the Hannum Trail (yellow discs) past the first intersection with the High Road Trail
  • At 0.6 miles, turn left on High Road Trail (blue discs)
  • At 1.1mile turn right on the Hannum Trail and return to the trailhead

Hannum/Dine Loop, 3.0 miles
Out the Hannum Trail and back on the Dine Trail, with a short walk on Holland Hill Rd to return to your car

  • Follow the Hannum Trail 1.3 miles (yellow discs)
  • Follow the Dine Trail (white discs)
  • Turn left on Holland Hill Rd and walk 0.2 miles back to the trailhead

Hannum Trail to Parkman Wood Rd, 1.55 miles (one way)
Out the Hannum Trail and then a side trail to Parkman Wood Rd; from here a car shuttle, retracing your steps, or a road walk is necessary

  • Follow the Hannum Trail (yellow disks)  
  • At 1.1 miles turn right and follow the Conte Trail's red discs 

Loop Options From the Putney Mountain Trailhead, Putney Mountain Rd

Hinton/Dine/Hannum loop, 4.5 miles
South on the Hinton Trail, then a loop using the Dine and Hannum Trails before returning on Hinton

  • Follow the Hinton Trail (white disks) to its end at 0.7 miles
  • Turn right on the Dine Trail (white discs)
  • Turn left on Holland Hill Rd; walk 0.2 miles to the Hannum Trailhead
  • Follow the Hannum Trail (yellow disks)
  • At 3.8 miles turn right on the Hinton Trail and return to Putney Mountain Rd

Hinton/Beaver Pond loop, 3.1 miles
South on the Hinton Trail, then following the Beaver Pond Loop and returning on Hinton

  • Follow the Hinton Trail (white disks) to its end at 0.7 miles
  • Turn left on the Hannum Trail (yellow discs) and follow it for 100 yards
  • Turn left on the Beaver Pond Loop (red disks); pass two small ponds and before arriving at the beaver pond
  • Turn right, continuing to follow the Beaver Pond Loop, which coincides with an old town road, to the trailhead on Parkman Wood Rd. (1.7 miles from Putney Mountain Rd)
  • Turn right, still following the Beaver Pond Loop to Hannum Trail
  • Turn right on Hannum Trail (yellow markers), pass the point where you first turned onto the Beaver Pond Loop
  • Turn right on the Hinton Trail and return to Putney Mountain Rd

Trail Manager

These trails are managed by the Putney Mountain Association.  They cross PMA lands, as well as privately-owned lands, and lands of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Conte Refuge.

Putney Mountain Association
Putney Mountain Association
PO Box 953
Putney, VT 05346
info@putneymountain.org
View website

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Respect trail closures.

Trailhead Information

Four different trailheads provide access to the trails. 

Putney Mountain Trailhead, 443 Putney Mountain Rd, Putney/Brookline 

From US Route 5 in the center of Putney village, follow Kimball Hill/Westminster Rd 1.1 miles and turn left onto West Hill Rd. Follow West Hill Rd 2.35 miles and turn right onto Putney Mountain Rd. Follow this road 2.1 miles to the top of the mountain.  Parking is on the right; the Southern Tier trails start on the left, directly across from the driveway to the parking lot. 

From VT Route 30 north of Newfane village, at the sign for Brookline, follow Radway Hill Rd (which becomes Grassy Brook Rd at the West River bridge) 1.4 miles to a 'T' intersection and turn right onto Putney Mountain Rd. Follow this road 2.3 miles to the top of the mountain.  Parking is on the left; the Southern Tier trails start on the right, directly across from the driveway to the parking lot.  Note: no access from this direction in winter. 

(PMA's Putney Mountain trails start from this trailhead.)

Hannum Trailhead, 442 Putney Mountain Rd, Putney/Brookline 

From US Route 5 in the center of Putney village, follow Kimball Hill/Westminster Rd 1.1 miles and turn left onto West Hill Rd.  Follow West Hill Rd 2.35 miles and turn right onto Putney Mountain Rd.  Immediately bare left onto Holland Hill Rd.  The Hannum Trailhead is 2.2 miles up Holland Hill Rd on the right. 

Dine Trailhead, 478 Putney Mountain Rd, Putney/Brookline 

Follow the directions above to Holland Hill Rd.  The Dine Trailhead is 2.4 miles up Holland Hill Rd on the right (0.2 miles past the Hannum Trailhead). 

Parkman Wood Road Trailhead, 113 Parkman Wood Rd, Putney/Brookline 

Follow the directions above to Holland Hill Rd.  Follow Holland Hill Rd 1.9 miles and turn right onto Parkman Wood Rd.  Drive 0.7 miles to the end of the road; the trailhead is on the left.

 

Note:  Bennett Road, which borders the Southern Tier Trails to the west in Brookline, is not passable by car.  Do not use this road to access Holland Hill Rd.

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