Catamount X-C Trail: Section 1

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

Much of this trail coincides with the snowmobile trails; please be aware of snowmobilers.

Unfortunately, the southern terminus is inaccessible from Massachusetts. The Catamount Trail Association asks that you stay out of this area since it's private property and runs through the Yankee Atomic Plant. You'll have to travel south to the border, before continuing on your journey northward. There might be an alternate access if you take VT Corridor 9 west from Lone Pine Road.

This starts from the MA/ VT boundary, next to the VT 1926 stone marker. It follows the old railroad bed northward past some stone ruins and cellarholes. VT Corridor 9 comes in (from the right) and fuses with the Catamount Trail north. The trail passes an open area, where Corridor 9 turns right off the Catamount Trail.

There is still a secondary snowmobile trail that follows northward to Readsboro, though. It runs past the Harriman Station, as it enters into Readsboro. Continue following the blue Catamount Trail markers to Jarvis Hill Road. Here, through Readsboro, the trail consists of road-running to the next point.

Use caution traveling along Route 100 to the next part of the trail. The trail dips down towards the Deerfield River and follows along its eastern edge for a good ways. It passes by Blanchard Cemetery, where there is a lone stone for Diania Blanchard.

The trail comes out, beneath the powerlines, and turns right onto VT Corridor 9. It takes a few switchbacks to climb the hill, then travels to the Harriman Dam.

Here, there is a small picnic area... a good place to take a break.

Flora: Eastern Hemlock, White Birch, Sugar Maple, White Pine.
Fauna: White-Tail Deer.