Changes are coming to Wheeler Mountain that will ensure continued public access for years to come. In an effort coordinated by NorthWoods Stewardship Center, Wheeler Mountain landowner John Krieble has agreed to a public access trail easement in a move that also relocates the lower portion of the Wheeler Mountain Trails onto nearby Willoughby State Forest. The new route will begin at a trailhead parking area, to be constructed this summer, on state lands and bypass the poorly sited parking area in use today.
Under the agreement, crews from the NorthWoods Conservation Corps will construct roughly 1.5 miles of new trail this summer, moving the trail onto a more sustainable sidehill route that gradually climbs the mountain from the south. Although hikers may miss some aspects of the old Wheeler Mountain Trails—particularly the scramble up the Red Trail’s open rock face—the new route provides greater privacy to the landowner and highlights some excellent features of its own.
Wheeler Mountain, with its smooth northwest slope and abrupt southeast cliffs, is a classic study of the last glacier’s erosive power. The mountain’s “sheep back” form is also found on peaks across the northeast, but few are as dramatic. Wheeler’s open granite ledges are popular among hikers and rock climbers alike but the steep approach of the mountain’s lower trails has led to extensive erosion, environmental damage, and maintenance costs. With annual hiking traffic in excess of 1500 per year, Wheeler Mountain is one of the most popular trails in northern Vermont and, especially on summer weekends, is often overrun.
With a reputation that extends well beyond the local community, hiker traffic on Wheeler has increased dramatically in recent years. It is not uncommon to see vehicles—far too many to fit the small, designated parking area—lined up on both sides of the narrow Class 3 town road. The increase in traffic and lack of adequate parking has spilled over onto the surrounding private lands and has been compounded by incidences of theft, vandalism, litter, and unauthorized camping.
According to John Krieble, whose family has owned the Wheeler Mountain property for nearly 50 years, the increase in hiker traffic has made it increasingly difficult to maintain public access. Working with NorthWoods and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, a plan was put forward to preserve access to Wheeler Mountain while addressing some of the conflicts taking place with the current location. NorthWoods successfully applied for and received a Recreation Trails Program (RTP) grant through the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to relocate the lower trail and preserve access to the upper mountain.
Working with the State, NorthWoods will begin trail construction in July with an anticipated opening date around Labor Day weekend. The new trailhead will have greater parking capacity, a new kiosk with hiker information, and fresh signs and blazes to direct hikers. The project is expected to take up to four weeks.
According to NorthWoods Trails Director, Luke O’Brien, securing guaranteed public access for the new route outweighs the imminent risk of further damage and trail closures on the existing route. He adds, “there are numerous features throughout the new trail that will interest hikers of all abilities and access to the mountain’s upper granite slopes will be preserved”. Access for rock climbing is not impacted by the project.
NorthWoods urges hikers to use caution this summer, as on-going forest management and trail relocation work may disrupt public access. Trail conditions will vary and hikers should be prepared to seek alternatives. One excellent nearby option is the Moose Mountain Trail in Willoughby State Forest which offers scenic vistas from ledges at either end of the mountain’s two-mile ridgeline.
For more information on the Wheeler Mountain project, including the NorthWoods Conservation Corps, the Vermont Recreation Trails Program, and other hiking opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom, visit www.northwoodscenter.org or email trails@northwoodscenter.org.