Catamount Trail

The Catamount Trail is Vermont’s long distance ski trail that runs from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian frontier. It was created by three young men looking for their next big adventure. In a tent on a rainy evening in August 1982 someone said, Let’s ski from Massachusetts to Quebec!Over the following 2 years they got to work developing a winter ski route that ran the length of Vermont. There are two local sections in the Mad River valley.

Bridges to Lincoln Gap- CATAMOUNT TRAIL SECTION 17
This 12.3 mile section is a mix of back-country trails with a few short, steep climbs and descents; a partially plowed road; wide, groomed snowmobile trails; and an ungroomed, unplowed forest road to the top of Lincoln gap. There are wonderful views of the Breadloaf Wilderness along the way. A 1.2-mile road walk along South Lincoln Rd. can sometimes be skied.

The ski along the Bridges Trail between Forest Road 59 and Forest Road 54 includes a few short, steep, climbs and descents.  The ski along FR 54 is flat and easy, but is shared with snowmobiles and is partially plowed.  From South Lincoln Rd. to Lincoln Gap is all uphill but is not particularly steep. Note:  FR 54 and the western, plowed half of FR 59 are known locally as “The Natural Turnpike.”  After leaving the groomed trail network of the Rikert X-C Ski Center, the CT follows the eastern portion of FR 59 (unplowed), The Bridges Trail (non-snowmobile), and then joins FR 54 heading north to Lincoln.

Lincoln Gap to Route 17
This 11.3 mile section includes a fun and challenging traverse and descent from Lincoln Gap, an open traverse of the rolling Sugarbush Golf Course with beautiful views, and a meander through the woods of the Mad River Valley. Reaching the beginning of this section at the top of Lincoln Gap requires a sustained climb on the Lincoln Gap Rd. from the end of plowing either in Lincoln or Warren. The initial descent on the Trail from Lincoln Gap is very steep and can be challenging, even with deep snow. Between this initial descent and West Hill Rd. the route is rolling with a few un-bridged stream crossings, presenting intermediate difficulty. If breaking trail, this section can take considerable time. Backcountry equipment with skins is highly recommended. Crossing the Sugarbush Golf Course is easy skiing unless a crust has developed or there is deep unbroken snow. The golf course can be windy. From the Golf Course to Rte. 17 is intermediate, involving some snowplowing and herringboning.