The Catamount Trail offers 300 miles of backcountry skiing stretching across Vermont, from the Readsboro on the Massachusetts border, to North Troy near Canada. The trails are popular for winter recreationists (particularly skiiers and snowmobilers) offering a diversity of experiences from the easier and beginner friendly, to courses needing more technical skill.
While this is a winter-use trail, the southern sections, Sections 1 and 2 are open year-round. These sections are described below. For more information on the winter-only sections of the trail, please refer to the Catamount Trail Association's website.
Section 1:
This represents the first southern-most miles of the Catamount Trail from the Massachusetts border up to the Harriman Dam. The trail traces the east side of Deerfield River, following an old railroad grade for part of the way. The route is flat and easy, although there is a steep climb to the Harriman Dam trailhead at the 8-mile mark.
Section 2:
Continuing where the first section leaves off, this section follows a combination of old railroad grade and logging roads along the west side of Harriman Reservoir. The trail offers pretty views of the reservoir on a mild elevation, with a couple of steep sections, particularly at bridges over the intersecting creeks. An important thing to note before you get out on this section is that after the Harriman Dam trailhead, there are no other access points for the next 7.5 miles.
Section 1
(Detailed driving directions can be found on the trail map as well as at Catamount Trails Association's website):
Section 2
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