Winter Sports
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests offer developed and undeveloped opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, snowmobiling, fat tire biking, and sledding and tubing.
Road Status
Most Green Mountain and Finger lakes National Forest roads are closed during the winter months. Please refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for a list of seasonal and special vehicle designations.
Make sure you are fully prepared before you go: check the weather forecast, dress in layers that can be easily removed and keep dry to avoid hypothermia, take plenty of hot liquids and food (no matter how long you plan on being out), and take a map and compass and know how to use them.
Alternate Opportunities - Fat Biking
In the right conditions, a fat bike can be the ultimate winter backcountry travel tool. Frozen conditions and minimal snow coverage (1-5 inches) means these off-road bikes with oversize tires can access areas that are impassible during the warmer months.
Just because you can ride somewhere doesn't mean you always should. Be aware and be prepared.
Areas on the Green Mountain Great for Fat Bikes
- Lefferts Pond Area
- Chittenden Brook Area Trails
- Silver Lake Area
- Michigan Brook Road
Skiing/Snowboarding
There are several areas on the Green Mountain National Forest open to both downhill and backcountry skiing and snowboarding. The Finger Lakes National Forest has opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Additional Resources
Downhill
The Green Mountain National Forest works in partnership with three alpine ski areas to provide year-round recreation opportunities for Forest visitors, averaging 700,000 skier visits every year. These areas also provide non-winter recreation opportunities including scenic gondola rides, ziplines, rope courses, mountain biking, disc golf, weddings, festivals, and concerts.
While in these areas, help protect yourself and others by following the Skier Responsibility Code.
Uphill Policy
Visitors who enjoy getting exercise by skiing uphill (aka skinning) should learn and respect each ski area’s uphill policy. The policies were created with your safety in mind; designating times and in some cases uphill routes that avoid grooming, snowmaking, and winch cat operations while not creating user conflict during normal business hours. The links below will navigate to each ski area uphill policy:
Backcountry
The Green Mountain National Forest currently hosts two recreation areas, Brandon Gap and Dutch Hill that are managed for backcountry winter sports.
The Brandon Gap Winter Recreation Area, located on the Rochester District, was created to enhance opportunities for backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Representing a new approach to backcountry management, this area was created to address the lack of managed opportunities for alpine-oriented backcountry recreation while aiding in the restoration of natural forest conditions.
The decision to manage the National Forest for backcountry recreation coincided with the organization of the backcountry skiing and riding community in Vermont. This area has been planned and managed through the collaborative efforts of the USDA Forest Service, Rochester/Randolph Area Sports Trail Alliance, Catamount Trail Association, Vermont Backcountry Alliance, Sustainable Trailworks LLC, and Dartmouth College
Dutch Hill, located on the Manchester District, was managed as a downhill ski area from the 1940s to 1980s. In partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers (DHASH), a chapter of the Catamount Trail Association, began reopening runs and establishing glades for backcountry skiing in 2017. Dutch Hill provides a unique setting for backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding in a landscape that is co-managed for wildlife habitat and healthy and productive forests.
Sledding/Tubing
Sledding is prohibited at the ski areas, but tubing is available at the following resorts:
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is allowed on the Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests with valid state registration and within appropriate season dates. All applicable State and Federal laws and regulations must be followed.
- Vermont snowmobiling regulations, registration and safety course information.
- New York snowmobiling regulations, registration and safety course information.
Please be aware of forest boundaries to ensure you are on public land and keep in mind that other forest users may also be in the area.
Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont
The Green Mountain National Forest partners with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to operate and maintain the snowmobile trails in the forest. The GMNF snowmobile trails are part of the statewide snowmobile trail system.
Before hitting the trails, familiarize yourself with Vermont snowmobiling regulations, registration and safety course information.
Where is snowmobiling permitted in the GMNF?
Users may ride on trails posted open to snowmobiles. Trail maps are available at GMNF district offices and online from VAST.
Snowmobile trails open December 15th, conditions permitting, through April 15th.
Finger Lakes National Forest in New York
The Finger Lakes National Forest partners with the Twin Lakes Snowmobile Association to operate and maintain the snowmobile trails in the Forest. The FLNF trails are part of the statewide snowmobile trail system.
Before hitting the trails, familiarize yourself with New York snowmobiling regulations, registration and safety course information.
Where is snowmobiling permitted in the FLNF?
Users may ride on trails posted open to snowmobiles. Trail maps are available at GMNF district offices and online at the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “Snowmobile Maps” page.
Snowmobile trails open December 15th, conditions permitting, through March 15th.
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests are open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Note that only trails shared with snowmobiles may be groomed and most forest roads are not plowed beyond designated parking areas. In addition, other recreation activities such as hiking, snowmobiling, and dog sledding share this public land and may be encountered. Please share the trail respectfully.
Cross-country skiing can be enjoyed any where on the Green Mountain or Finger Lakes National Forests. On either forest, users should be familiar with Vermont Backcountry Ethics.
Snowshoeing is an activity that can be enjoyed on a well-marked trail or while bushwhacking your way through the woods. There are unlimited options in the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests open to the snowshoeing enthusiast. Much of the fun of snowshoeing is in exploring brooks, beaver ponds, un-named hills, and general wooded areas.
Snowshoeing can be more physically demanding than hiking. You may need to start with short snowshoe trips and work your way up to longer trips.
Nordic Ski Areas
Many Nordic Ski Areas operate partly on the Green Mountain National Forest under special use permits and require trail passes to utilize their trail systems. The GMNF permits four Nordic centers including Mountain Top Inn and Resort, Prospect Mountain, Rikert Nordic Center, and Wild Wings Ski Touring Center; all of which provide groomed trails for a fee.
Search for Winter Sports Opportunities
Backbone Trailhead
Bromley
Greendale Loop
Grout Pond Recreation Area
Mountain Top
Mt. Snow
Prospect Mountain
Rikert
Silver Lake Campground
