Vermont’s Class IV Mount Tabor to Mount Bromley Mining District Road

This forgotten mining access road climbs from the old Mount Tabor quarry through some of the Green Mountains’ most technical terrain, connecting a network of abandoned granite and marble operations that fed Vermont’s building boom in the 1800s. The route follows Town Highway 4 until it dissolves into unmarked Class IV road status — local knowledge essential since there’s zero signage past the first mile. You’ll tackle exposed granite slabs with 20% grades and navigate around house-sized boulders the quarrymen left behind, with the old Bromley mining camp ruins marking your halfway point.

Expert-level technical challenge requiring experienced drivers with proper equipment — differential locks, rock sliders, and 35-inch tires minimum. The granite ledges get deadly slick when wet, and recovery points are scarce once you commit to the upper sections. May through October only, and even then, check conditions with the Manchester Ranger District. No cell service, no bailout options for 12 miles once you’re committed. Bring GPS navigation, recovery gear, and enough fuel for a full day — the views from Bromley’s summit make the punishment worthwhile.