Catamount X-C Trail: Section 2

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Historical Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Some portions of this trail coincide with the snowmobile trails; please be aware of snowmobilers.

This is considerably decent-sized section of the Catamount Trail. Either have a vehicle staged at the northern end or prepare for a 21-mile roundtrip.

This section starts off the Harriman Dam Picnic Area and follows a road below the dam. At the other end of the dam, VT Corridor 9 enters from the left and coincides with the Catamount Trail (to the right). It follows along the western shore of the Deerfield River to an intersection. Here, VT Corridor 9 turns left (uphill) and the Catamount Trail continues straight.

As you approach the peninsula, the trail dips down into the woods and crosses the Wilder Brook Bridge. It connects back to the road, then ducks back into the woods (on the right). Here, the trail passes through a canyon that was cut for the railroad. In a short ways, the trail comes out to a logging operation. From this point northward to the picnic area is closed (until the logging operation is over).

From here, the trail follows along a plowed road to the picnic area. The road might only be plowed for the logging equipment, though. Shortly, after passing the picnic area, the trail takes a sharp left turn to get back onto the main trail. It follows this to the winter parking area, on Woods Road.

Here, the trail follows an "anything goes" type of trail-blazing, where there's no rhyme or reason to any of the blazes. The goal is to make it through without falling in the water. Travel to the northwestern edge of the field, then up the hill. Here, the trail runs through the small village of Medburyville. Here, there is a historic bridge that was built in 1896. The trail runs along the hill behind the power plant, then descends down to the road grade. Follow this remainder all the way to Route 9.

Flora: White Birch, Eastern Hemlock, Red Spruce, Beech.
Fungi: Birch Polypore, Tinder Polypore, Chaga.
Fauna: Robin, Black-Capped Chickadee.