Cross Vermont Trail News Scroll
May 5, 2025
I'm already against the NEXT social media platform.
Meanwhile, Cross Vermont Trail is now on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/crossvttrail.bsky.social); for those who partake.
April 23, 2025
VT Digger article on our work to connect Cross Vt Trail with the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
It's almost like everything is circles, where does it end!?
March 14, 2025
Glimpsed on the rail trail in Groton this week.
Understandable, what with the price of ponies now days.
December 17, 2024
Snowpentry Success.
Thanks to all the Railings Installation volunteers this past week, the last remaining task on the new section of Cross Vermont Trail is almost done. This is the section of trail from the Powerplant Road (off of Gallison Hill Rd) through the U-32 School Forest, across the big Winooski Bridge and east to the "Hidden Dam" trailhead on Route 2.
We've got some more clean up to do in the spring, and also in the spring will finish the connection trails up to the U-32 School. After that will be excited to celebrate the trails here being officially open and finally feeling more "nature trail" and less "perpetual construction site."
(Though if you are seeking that perpetual construction site feeling, like I am, the saga continues next summer as we start work east from Hidden Dam across East Montpelier over to where the rail trail starts at Route 14.)
December 5, 2024
Our Annual Appeal.
2024 Recap and Plans for Next Year.
Thank you for your past support of our work. If you haven't donated recently, now is a great time as we prepare for major trail improvements in 2025.
Make a secure online donation here.
Or mail a check any time to CVTA, PO BOX 116, Montpelier, VT 05601.
Flood Response Is Ongoing
2024 was another year of repairing flood damage. The good news is that we had resources on hand from many generous past donors, so we were able to buy lumber and stone and rent equipment and move quickly to shore up threatened trail structures. This quick work saved things from being even worse than they might have been. Truthfully though, long term repairs are still needed, with a backlog that is starting to add up state wide. We are resolved to get caught up to a good standard on all our trails next year, with your help.
New Trail Being Built
The original plan for 2024 was to make a big push to finish the trails on either side of the Winooski Bridge, especially the connection up to the U-32 School. Despite spending several months on storm response in the middle of the work season, we were still able to put in a huge effort on the Winooski Bridge project, and came very close to finishing this next segment. Seriously – look for a formal opening June 2025 of the U-32 Forest trails. And after that we will keep building the planned new trail eastward across East Montpelier up to the existing rail trail at Route 14, let's go!
We're also looking forward to finishing the big upgrade to the trail in Groton by early next summer. The Town of Groton is leading rejuvination work on the existing railtrail with large State grant. CVTA is pooling adding to this, with funding from many individual donors, to more over a half mile of the trail route in Groton off of roads and onto a trail in the woods.
The Big Picture
The Cross Vermont Trail is different from other long-distance trails because it celebrates local trails and works to connect them together. Our goal is convenient paths to desired destinations like schools, villages and quiet natural areas. We take an active role in helping communities join trails into a regional network, with the Cross Vt Trail as the link among them.
We believe strongly that trails which are inviting and accessible to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds help improve the quality of life for everyone and add vitality to our towns and cities.
Last year we were able to use donations from many individuals to pay for surveyors and legal experts to untangle the history and ownership of the old "Montpelier & Wells River Railroad". We mapped the original survey of the railbed, from back when trains were running, onto modern property lines. This work allows us to proceed to serious conversations with current landowners about saving the old railbed where possible, and building a new trail similar to the old bed where needed, to ultimately reestablish a continuous off-road trail from Montpelier to Wells River.
Clear Signage and Neat Trailheads
In 2024 we continued to roll out the results of a multi-year push to provide new, informative signage along the Cross Vermont route and upgrade trailheads to be inviting and functional.
We're putting in the rearview mirror the old type of trailheads that were just wide spots in the road where people "who were in the know" knew to park. New trailheads are being built or significantly upgraded to be more formal with solid gravel areas for parking and large visible signs.
This winter we are working with a graphic designer to take a big step forward on a full suite of informative signs that will help people understand the trail route, kiosks with maps, and new blazes. Look for these to show up more next summer.
Every donation is NEEDED and goes straight to making better trails.
Donations to CVTA are critical to:
We hope you can help us keep up the good work!
Gratefully,
Mike Thomas (CVTA Board Chair)
Rose Paul (CVTA Board Secretary)
Greg Western (CVTA Executive Director)
View the full annual letter as pdf.
December 3, 2024
Muddy Ruts Be Gone.
This fall we completed the smooth gravel surfacing of the Cross Vermont Trail segment in the U-32 School Forest (west of the Winooski Bridge, uphill from the old railbed and the hydro dam.) The trail is open through the winter, but not maintained for winter use (we don't groom or plow.) The old railbed is also open to the public all the way out to the bridge, and always will be.
The two side trails that will connect up to the U-32 School were partially built last summer, but completion was delayed when our attention was diverted by (you guessed it) the need for flood response for a second year running. We'll be right back to it next Spring, though. Look for the grand opening of the full U-32 Forest Trails phase of our big project next June, let's go!
A chance to help out.
We'll be putting finishing touches on this segment through the winter, attaching railings to already installed posts. Do you want to do some carpentry in the snow? Easy enough once you knock the ice off the boards. Give a shout if interested in dropping by to help with this.
November 5, 2024
Puddle Be Gone.
Johnnie Brook Trail in Richmond is back in action. Thanks to many volunteers from Richmond trails community and generous CVTA donors who paid for the lumber. We made the boardwalk higher, and things are basically as good as they were before the flooding from last July.
Long term, this is a dynamic area. Why did the old boardwalk disappear down into the mud and the inky waters? It is a mystery that only science can answer. So, calling all scientists and science-curiousists to join us in pondering best way to have a sustainable trail here into the future.
October 1, 2024
Good day at Annual Meeting and Foliage Ride
Fall colors were really out for the CVTA Annual Meeting and Fall Foliage Ride this past Saturday. It was good to get a chance to chat with people in person about the Cross Vermont Trail and share ideas for the future.
Special thanks to Volunteers of the Year - the members of the Town of Groton's ad hoc "upgrade the railbed" committee. Mike Nahmias (from town planning commission), Gary Lamberton (from Buckaroos of 302 snowmobile club) and Mike Gaiss (from town recreation committee). They have put in so many hours over the past couple years applying for and managing a large State grant to pay for upgrades to the rail trail in town. The main part of the work is scheduled to happen later this fall, and be finished up next spring. Thanks guys!
September 26, 2024
Ongoing storm repairs trundle.
CVTA and our partners are continuing to chip away at repairs to storm impacted sections of trail. Because of the volume of work, and the fact that it is on top of impacts from previous storms, we are working down the list strategically. Some spots are being completely redone, others patched a bit for now, and some places where the trail is useable but rough will likely not be addressed until next year.
The biggest news is still the railtrail through Town of Groton and Groton State Forest. We are waiting for the availability of contractors. But starting later this Fall a significant amount improvement will occur with more to come spring 2025.
For work done directly by CVTA, we have priorized the abutment of the bridge about one mile east of Route 14. The trail here is fully open again. And additional stone to support the abutment in future wet weather will be in place shortly, wrapping up this important long term repair.
On our newest section of Cross Vermont Trail - the railbed east of Plainfield Park and Ride - we have done a bandaid fix to the existing old culvert (itself a replacement of an old railroad culvert washed out long ago). Some day a larger culvert or bridge would make sense here. But for now, the fast fix was to pull a lot of boulders from the surrounding woods to reinforce the wing walls of the current structure.
On the Johnnie Brook Trail in Richmond, we cleaned up the regular storm debris of logs and sand. The bigger story there now is that the water table is so high this year that the old 2007 section of boardwalk is under a big puddle. Simplest answer is to make a bigger boardwalk. This will be a fair amount of work and expense and likely won't happen until next year. As with all this, stay tuned!
September 22, 2024
2024 Annual Meeting and Foliage Ride September 28, 2024
Join us at CVTA's 2024 Annual Meeting this Saturday at 10 AM, at the new trailhead parking in Groton Village off of Little Italy Rd.
Annual Meeting is a chance to talk with fellow trail enthusiasts about progress and future of the Cross Vermont Trail. And we will honor local volunteers who have been working overtime to improve the trail in Groton! We also have a little business to attend to, electing 2024 Board Members for the Association.
Plus a bike ride on the railtrail, or a walk along the river, to explore this beautiful area during Fall Foliage!
Location is the new trailhead parking lot recently built by the Town of Groton. To get there, from Route 302 in the village of Groton, go south on Powder Spring Rd over the river, then turn left onto Little Italy Rd. The trailhead is a short drive up on the left. This trailhead is also the site of a future new park for Groton, along the river. Exciting things happening in Groton for trails and parks these days!
September 8, 2024
Bridge on rail trail in Groton State Forest made like new.
It's called Stillwater Brook. When you are at the Kettle Pond parking lot, off to the side it's the broad slow moving water heading towards Rte 232.
On the other side of the road, though, it plunges down a dramatic boulder strewn gorge. The old railroad concrete and steel bridge structure over all this is still carrying on strong. But the wooden decking had nearly disintegrated after many years of use. Now, with complete new decking, bridge is back open for business.
Stay tuned for additional repair work on the rail trail in the State Forest as things are gradually brought back up to snuff.
September 8, 2024
Groton Forest Trail Run 2024
We had the big rock to weigh down piles of registration forms. We had the cheering squad at the finish line. We had the blue skies and dappled forest shade. We had the well marked course threading the spaghetti bowl of trails throughout Groton State Forest. Groton Forest Trail Run 2024 yesterday was a good time!
Not to mention the unexpected vision of an old "action news tonight" mobile TV van at the top of Owls Head Road. Its been readapted as a Ham radio base station. Local Hams helped us keep track of the runners as they passed through each of the check in aid stations along the course.
Thanks to everyone who helped pull off this all volunteer event. A great chance to celebrate these trails we've worked so hard on over the years.
September 6, 2024
She's got legs.
Storm repair to the bridge about a mile east of Route 14, on the rail trail. This one did OK in 2023 but in the "anniversary flood" of 2024 the bank underneath the east sill (Plainfield side) started to get undercut. Just added some braces and deep set posts to keep it up in the new conditions. Luckily M.C. Escher was available for design input.
Next will refill the short section of trail past the bridge that is also slumping. This area should be back up to full speed in the next week or so.
Not gonna lie, the storm repair is turning out to (again) take significant time away from moving forward on building new trail. But we'll be back to new projects by later in September.
August 11, 2024
Connector Trail up to U-32 is connected.
We finished excavating and roughing in the "accessible connector trail" from the new Cross Vt Trail by the Winooski bridge up the (very steep!) bluff to the existing trails behind U-32 School.
Later this fall we will finish this new segment with gravel surface and drainage structures, and some pert little signs too. Stay tuned for the grand opening after that.
July 17, 2024
Annual Meeting rescheduled to September 28
Once again, unfortunately, a damaging flood has happened just before our scheduled Annual Meeting. So we are rescheduling to September when hopefully storm cleaning will be caught up. New plan is to have the annual meeting in conjunction with our Fall Foliage Bike Ride. Still in Groton, stay tuned for details closer to the date.
Once we get there, then "come one come all" for a chance to take a look at all the great improvements underway on the trail in Groton this summer, and to meet and share trail ideas and stories with others. Plus we'll do a little annual business for the Association. And have snacks.
July 15, 2024
Storm Impacts Upshot
Bridge posted closed on railtrail east of Route 14, about a mile in and half way to Country Club Road. The bridge is basically OK, but the bank under a corner of the abutment is undercut. The bridge is officially closed while we work to stabilize the abutment.
Inundation flooding on lower Winooski. Two sections of trail, in Waterbury and Richmond, are in the flood plain and, as is normal, they were under water. Once the waters recede they are basically OK, and just need to be cleaned up. This time, it looks like mud is the big theme. In past years it was sand that got deposited, or worse lots of trash. But this time, mostly mud. We'll wait for it to dry out then see about regrading the travel way.
In Plainfield, Marshfield, and Groton, there was a lot of surface runoff on the trail and through culverts with the result now that there are many patches that are washed and rough. Patching and regrading projects will be underway through the rest of the summer.
July 11, 2024
The flooding of July 10 - 11, 2024 tracked along most of the Cross Vermont Trail route. In the immediate aftermath of the storm our thoughts and attention are to the larger non-trail harm done. As things start to clear up, we will begin assessing specific trail damages. In the meantime, please just assume trails are damaged and use all caution. Contact us directly to report anything you may know of already.
In the immediate Montpelier area, the storm did not have impact like it did last year. All the trails, built and also under construction, related to the Winooski Bridge project are OK. At least as of Thursday morning. We'll see what things look like more once the water goes down on Friday and through the weekend.
