Wu Ledges Town Forest

Description

April 2020 Update - The parking area on Hastings Meadow Road is limited to three vehicles. The loop used to access the parking area is privately-owned and maintained; please do not park elsewhere along the loop. Additional parking is available in Waitsfield Village (the Town owns a lot adjacent to the intersection of Route 100 and Bridge Street, for example); from this lot, walk up Bridge Street to Pine Hill Lane, and then up Pine Hill Lane to the trailhead.

This 145-acre forest, owned by the Town of Waitsfield, includes extensive woodlands, diverse habitats, bedrock outcrops, shore lands along the Mad River, and open land. Its signature feature, Wu Ledges, is a large outcrop and cliffs with outstanding views of the Mad River, Mill Brook, surrounding hillsides, and the spine of the Green Mountains. Town ownership of the land and trail rights-of-way on some adjacent parcels was made possible through several generous donations to the community between 1999 & 2017. Most of the Wu Ledges Town Forest has been permanently conserved by the Vermont Land Trust to protect its valuable natural resources and provide diverse recreational opportunities.

There are three main trails at Wu Ledges.

1. A .84 main trail to and from Wu Ledges travels over easy to intermittent terrain and is marked with yellow diamond trail markers;
2. A 0.26-mile alternate route to the main trail, over easy terrain marked with double yellow diamond trail markers;
3. A 0.5-mile trail connecting the main trail and East Warren Road via Pine Hill Lane (a private road with NO PARKING), over easy to to intermediate terrain marked with yellow octagon trail markers. The nearest parking for this trail is in Waitsfield Village.

NOTE: Numerous unmarked trails intersect the marked trails. Many unmarked trails lead to adjacent private land with no established public access rights.

Other Information

TOWN FOREST RULES

• Open dawn to dusk
• Carry-in / carry-out trash, personal items & dog waste
• No fires, camping, motorized vehicles, horseback riding, rock climbing, disposal of trash, cutting or removal of any vegetation (dead or alive), or trail alterations

 This trail is part of the Mad River Valley Trails Collaborative.

The Collaborative is a watershed-wide network of lands and trails created through a partnership of local organizations, generous property owners, towns, the State of Vermont, the US Forest Service, and many volunteers. These trails reflect the Mad River Valley’s love of the outdoors and commitment to stewardship of land and recreational opportunities for current and future generations. Enjoy and help us care for this place. Click here to learn more and support recreation in the Mad River Valley.

Trail Manager

For more information, contact: