After several months of careful planning and trail work a new route to the top of Wheeler\u00a0Mountain is ready to open. The new Wheeler Mountain Trail climbs the mountain ridge from the south\u00a0and replaces the former Red and White Trails, which were plagued by issues of overuse and are now\u00a0closed. The project was spearheaded by NorthWoods Stewardship Center in cooperation with the\u00a0landowner and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthWoods is in the business of expanding recreational access to public lands\u201d, states Luke O\u2019Brien,\u00a0the NorthWoods Trails Director, \u201cso it was a very difficult decision to close these old trails. Hopefully,\u00a0hikers will come to enjoy the new route as much as the old ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision to relocate the lower Wheeler Mountain Trails was precipitated by chronic issues of high\u00a0traffic, illegal fires, unauthorized camping, vandalism, and inadequate parking. Much of Wheeler\u00a0Mountain is on private land.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe landowner felt that a change was needed\u201d, states O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n
With funding through the Vermont Recreation Trails Program, NorthWoods was able to complete four\u00a0weeks of trail work through its NorthWoods Conservation Corps. The crew, consisting of 8 local youth,\u00a0cut over 1-mile of new trail\u2014clearing sapling growth to establish the trail corridor and preparing the\u00a0tread by installing sidehilling, steps, and drainages. New blazes and signs are going up this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefits of the new trail\u201d, according to O\u2019Brien, \u201cis that it is now located, in part, on Willoughby\u00a0State Forest lands and the landowner has agreed to an easement that ensures long-term public access\u00a0to the upper trail and mountain. It provides much greater security for the trail when, in fact, it could\u00a0have been closed entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n
A new, larger trailhead parking area was recently installed by the State about a half-mile down the road\u00a0near the old Moose Mountain Trailhead. It will include new signage, an informational kiosk and parking\u00a0for roughly 20 vehicles.<\/p>\n
Final closeout of the old trails on Wheeler is taking place this week and NorthWoods is asking hikers to\u00a0respect the wishes of the private landowner and heed the trail closure signs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that many people feel strongly about the Wheeler Mountain Trail but the new route\u00a0represents the best path forward for preserving access to the mountain.\u201d He adds \u201cThe new trail also\u00a0includes many interesting features such as rock shelters, ledges, and overlooks.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on the Wheeler Mountain project, including the NorthWoods Conservation Corps,\u00a0the Vermont Recreation Trails Program, and other hiking opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom\u00a0email trails@northwoodscenter.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"