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SNOWMOBILING IN VERMONT
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Snowmobiling, or “sledding” as it’s often called in Vermont, has been a favorite winter pastime for over 40 years. Vermont has more than 5,000 miles of well-marked and beautifully maintained trails on both public and private land throughout the state. Trails skirt up the flanks of the rugged green mountains. They whoosh through agricultural land buried deep under winter snow. And they wind through pristine forest creeping over mountain passes and connecting communities. A hundred and twenty groomers keep the network in top condition all winter. They’re operated by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) and its local clubs. Most of the groomers are GPS enabled, so sledders can get current conditions reports, all on an interactive map on VAST’s website. Bring your own sled and explore northern hardwood forests, frosty river basins, rolling farmland, and fourth class roads within 15 minutes of Burlington. There are nine clubs in the Lake Champlain Valley, and trails as close as Colchester, Williston. Jericho and Shelburne. Local clubs hold rides and other events all winter, all winter long. To access trails you’ll need a TMA, VASA’s trail pass. If you don’t have a sled of your own, it’s easy to rent. And if you’re new to the sport or haven’t previously explored the Green Mountain State, hire a local tour operator to guide you on Vermont’s extensive trail network. Some operators host sledding under the stars. Cruising through Smuggler’s Notch under the twinkling Milky Way, or zipping over snow-shrouded Huntington Gap at night is a magical way to experience the Vermont wilderness.
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Home to the first rope tow, the first snowboard, and more ski and ride Olympians per capita than any other state, the history of American mountain culture runs deep in Vermont. Whether you ride or ski, the terrain of the Green Mountains is legendary and Burlington offers easy access to several of the region’s best resorts. No need to choose one when you can have them all.
Vermont has unlimited opportunities for snowshoers, whether you want to tag a summit, range along a burbling creek, or cruise one of the region’s exceptional rec paths. One of the least gear-intensive ways to get into nature, snowshoes provide both grip and float in winter conditions, opening up a world of possibilities for winter exploration.
Pond hockey, Nordic skating, and every other kind of ice skating are favorite Vermont winter past times. And, with more than 800 lakes and ponds in Vermont, ice skaters will find plenty of wild places to play. In winter, when the ice is frozen locals break out shovels and clear the ice for skating, local leagues, and more.