Class IV Town Road 4 (Devil’s Washbowl Road)
Vermont's granite ledge nightmare
Devil’s Washbowl Road cuts through some of Vermont’s most unforgiving terrain, where granite ledges the size of school buses block the path and water bars turn into truck-swallowing trenches after every spring thaw. This Class IV town road starts innocuously near Granville Gulf but quickly becomes a rock-crawling nightmare as it climbs toward the Devil’s Washbowl gorge, with the infamous “Stairway” ledge system that’s claimed more oil pans and differentials than any stretch of Vermont dirt.
This is expert-level territory requiring serious skid plates, rock sliders, and a spotter for the technical sections. Spring through early summer brings impassable washouts, making late summer through fall the only realistic window. No permits required, but you’re on your own out here—cell service vanishes after the first mile, and the nearest tow truck is hours away. The payoff is standing at Devil’s Washbowl itself, a granite gorge carved by glacial meltwater that few people ever see.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | Remote, Scenic, Technical |
| Length (miles) | 8 mi / 12.9 km |
| Duration | Full day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2800 ft |
| Best season | August-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with armor |
| Nearest town | Granville, Vermont |
| Land manager | Town of Granville |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler run Devil's Washbowl Road as-is?
No. Stock vehicles will get hurt here. You need a modified 4WD with genuine skid plates, rock sliders, and at minimum 2–3 inches of lift with all-terrain tires. Exposed granite ledges will destroy factory underbody components.
When does the trail open and close each year?
August through October is the reliable window. Spring mud season turns the trail into a washout disaster and can get you fined under Vermont's frost law postings. Early November brings early snow and ice at elevation that makes the ledges genuinely dangerous.
Do I need a permit to drive Devil's Washbowl Road, and is there a fee?
It's a Class IV Town Road managed by the Town of Granville, so no permit or fee is currently required to drive it. Class IV designation means it's legally passable but unmaintained — drive it at your own risk and don't expect rescue.
What's the hardest section, and what exactly makes it technical?
The granite ledge staircase mid-trail is where rigs get stuck or damaged — think large, off-camber rock shelves with no line choice and steep drop-offs on the downhill side. Washouts on the upper section also force tight shelf road navigation with loose rock edges that crumble under weight.
Is there any gas or cell service near the trailhead, and can I camp on the trail?
Cell service is completely dead the entire 8 miles — file a trip plan before you leave. Granville is your last fuel stop, so top off there. Dispersed camping is not permitted along this corridor; use established sites outside the Class IV road boundary.
Trail track
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