Black River Road

Black River Road cuts a lonely path through Vermont’s most remote wilderness, following an old logging route that dead-ends at the Canadian border near Lake Memphremagog. The gravel track winds through dense hardwood forests and past abandoned quarries, crossing the Black River multiple times on rickety wooden bridges that creak under your vehicle’s weight. Most overlanders use this as a gateway to Crown Land camping on the Quebec side, but the Vermont section offers plenty of isolation and several primitive camping spots along the river.

This is easy to moderate driving in a stock truck, though spring mud season can make things interesting and the river crossings require attention during high water. The road is maintained sporadically by loggers, so expect washouts and fallen trees. Best tackled June through October when the bridges are most reliable. No permits required, and dispersed camping is allowed along the river. Cell service disappears after the first few miles, making this a true escape into Vermont’s forgotten corner.