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CATAMOUNT TRAIL
ASSOCIATION
A LANDOWNER'S GUIDE TO TRAIL ACCESS EASEMENTS
What is the Catamount The remaining income is from maintenance along each of
the sales of our guidebook the 26 sections of the Trail.
Trail? The Catamount Trail is and grants from foundations. These key volunteers, or "Trail
a 300-mile cross-country ski Grant support has increased Chiefs," recruit other CTA
trail that runs the length of significantly since we began members and volunteer groups
Vermont. Starting in our Trail Protection Program. to help them maintain their
Readsboro on the sections each year.
Massachusetts border, it winds
Who uses the Trail and Maintenance is generally done
its way through the heart of in the fall before hunting
the Green Mountains to North how often? The Trail is season.
Troy on the Canadian border. open to the public for skiing
Along the way it connects and snowshoeing. It is used
many of Vermont's finest cross- by skiers and snowshoers of all Is the Trail open during
country ski centers and ages and abilities who reside the non-snow season?
countless country inns and within and outside of Vermont. No. It is a winter-use-only trail.
lodges. It is one of Vermont's However, because the Trail
officially recognized trails of The Trail is used from uses so many other trails, like
statewide significance. December through April, or as bike paths and Forest Service
long as there is enough snow Roads, some parts may be
What is the Catamount for skiing. Day trips are most used in the summer if they are
popular although some people part of another, summer-use
Trail Association? The do multiple-day inn-to-inn trips trail system – or if the
Catamount Trail Association involving overnight lodging. landowner allows it.
(CTA) is a member-supported, Still others ski the entire trail
non-profit organization from Massachusetts to Canada
dedicated to developing, Does the Catamount Trail
staying at local inns along the
maintaining and protecting the Association own the land
way.
Catamount Trail, and furthering the Trail crosses? No, not
cross-country skiing in the
What kind of land does at this time, although it may
state.
opt to own land in the future in
the Trail cross? The Trail order to accomplish its goal of
CTA is governed by a goes through many different protecting the entire trail. 170
volunteer Board of Directors types of lands: forests, miles of the trail cross land that
and employs a full-time mountainous areas, wetlands is privately owned and the
Executive Director and three that freeze over in winter, and remaining 130 miles of the Trail
part-time staff. The farm fields, remote forest land cross land owned by
organization was founded in uses and pre-existing trails municipalities, the State of
1984 by three avid Vermont along old logging roads Vermont, or the US Forest
outdoor enthusiasts. These wherever possible. Especially Service. Now that the Trail is
three researched and skied near busy alpine ski centers, nearly complete, the CTA has
the original trail route in 1984. the Trail crosses many smaller begun a trail protection
Today CTA has more than residential properties. The program to obtain permanent
1,500 members, 60% of whom Catamount Trail also connects trail access through trail
live in Vermont while 40% live 11 cross-country ski centers easements.
out of state. using touring center trails.
How is the CTA Funded? Who maintains the Trail? What is a Trail Access
The CTA is funded primarily Local volunteers maintain the Easement? A trail access
through donations from its Catamount Trail. The CTA has easement is much like a right-
members and other friends. a key volunteer in charge of of-way, except that CTA's
easements are seasonal only - Will the Trail affect my Another method for protecting
- from November through April. the Trail is to donate land
privacy? No. We encourage
Our easement usually consists along the Trail to the
you to be involved in planning
of a linear corridor 25- to 50- Catamount Trail Association or
the Trail and to let us know
feet wide. The actual trail is another land conservation
when changes are needed to
cleared of brush and is just 4- organization. In addition to
accommodate your changing
to 8-feet wide depending on the easement area, a
land uses. We plan the Trail
terrain. The easement assures landowner and CTA may agree
so that people won't ski by
connectivity for the Trail from that additional protection is
your house or farm building.
one side of your property to necessary in some locations to
We are conscientious about
the other as it passes onto protect scenic views, or the
maintaining adequate signage,
neighboring properties. wilderness character of a
and have found that most particular section of the Trail.
skiers naturally stay on the trail
The easement contains a In addition to the personal
as long as they are pointed in
provision for the re-location of satisfaction gained from the
the right direction with clear
the Trail, either permanently or gift, a tax deduction may be
signs.
temporarily, at the landowner’s taken based on the appraised
request. In this case, the CTA value of the gifted land.
will work with the landowner to Who deals with problems
relocate in a way that on the Trail? We do. It is Further Information
maintains connectivity and inevitable that a mid-winter For more information on the
accommodates both a quality storm may cause a tree to blow Catamount Trail Association's
skiing experience and your down, or that a trail marker will Trail Protection Program,
land-management needs. come loose from its nail. The please contact our Director of
CTA Trail Chiefs, who usually Trail Protection, Tara Hamilton,
At this time about 60 miles of live locally, fix these problems. at the CTA office in Burlington,
the Catamount Trail are If you learn of a problem on (802) 864-5794 or by e-mail at
protected by easements. the Trail, you can help us by thamilton@catamounttrail.org.
notifying the CTA office at 864-
The easements are recorded 5794 or your local Trail Chief.
in the town land records.
If I grant a Trail Access
What about liability? Easement to CTA do I
Liability for accidents on the
Trail is not affected by the give up any of my
presence of an easement. property rights?
Vermont has strong laws that You can still do whatever you
protect private landowners who want with your land except
open their lands to public build a structure or place other
recreation from being liable in developments within the
the event that someone gets protected trail corridor. You are
hurt while recreating on private free to sell, log, farm and
land. In addition, because the subdivide your land as you see
Catamount Trail is a part of the fit as long as steps are taken
Vermont Trails System, there is to ensure skiers can cross the
even greater protection for land on a safe, high quality
landowners along the trail. CTA works with
Catamount Trail. To be liable landowners to design
for a person's injury on the easements that are compatible
Catamount Trail, landowners with individual land manage-
would need to intentionally ment goals.
inflict harm. In addition, CTA
also maintains a liability The easement "runs with the
insurance policy that covers land" so subsequent
landowners on all sections of landowners will also need to
the Trail. abide by these restrictions.
Gift of Land
2
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