Catamount Trail System – Southern Section
Green Mountain spine route through CCC-era fire roads
The Catamount Trail’s Southern Section traces Vermont’s mountainous spine for 78 miles from the Massachusetts border to Killington Peak, largely following abandoned logging roads and fire tower access routes that date back to the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930s. This route climbs through Somerset Reservoir backcountry, crosses the Appalachian Trail twice, and navigates the technical ascent to Stratton Mountain’s fire tower—a granite-strewn climb that’ll test your vehicle’s articulation and your patience with Vermont’s infamous rock gardens.
Rated difficult due to steep grades, loose rock sections, and several unbridged stream crossings that can turn dangerous during spring runoff. Requires experienced 4WD with skid plates, recovery gear, and preferably a spotter for the steepest descents. Peak season runs June through September; avoid during mud season when Vermont closes many forest roads. No permits needed but respect posted closures on state forest land. Primitive camping available at designated sites. The reward is solitude in some of Vermont’s wildest country and summit views that stretch to the Adirondacks on clear days.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 78 mi / 125.5 km |
| Duration | 3-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3936 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Experienced 4WD with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Wilmington, Vermont |
| Land manager | Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fpr.vermont.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run the Southern Section, or does it need to be built?
Stock rigs will struggle. The rocky CCC-era fire roads demand solid skid plates, and low-clearance vehicles will get torn up. An experienced driver in a factory-equipped truck can manage it, but suspension lifts and all-terrain tires make a real difference over 78 miles of Green Mountain rock.
When does the trail actually become passable in spring, and when does it close down in fall?
June through September is the window. Vermont mud season runs deep into May and Vermont Agency of Transportation enforces weight restrictions on forest roads that can affect access. Snow and ice return by late October, and some sections stay sloppy well into June at elevation.
Do you need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation land, but check specific state forest boundaries as rules vary slightly parcel to parcel. No fee to enter.
What's the hardest section and what specifically makes it brutal?
The rocky climbs approaching the higher ridgelines near Glastenbury and Somerset are where rigs get tested — loose ledge rock, off-camber shelf road, and embedded boulders with no bailout for miles. Traction control systems get confused on the uneven rock; manual throttle control matters here. One bad line and you're high-centered in a remote section with no cell service and no one coming past.
With no cell service for 78 miles, how do you handle water resupply across 3-4 days?
The trail crosses multiple streams throughout the Green Mountain terrain, but treat everything — beaver activity is heavy in Vermont and giardia is real. Carry a filter as your primary and enough backup capacity for a dry stretch. Wilmington at the southern trailhead is your last reliable resupply point before you commit.
Trail track
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