2024 update: The Vermont Land Trust will be doing a lot of trail work at Brewster Uplands this summer and temporarily closing some trails. Before going, check here for a calendar of trail closures.
Location: Cambridge, Vermont, in Lamoille County
Google map: The farm is located here. However, do NOT put this into your GPS to navigate there. The route your GPS will take you is dangerous for horse trailers! Do NOT turn onto Canyon Rd. from Rt. 108. See “Access” section below for safe routes and printable directions. Put this location into your GPS and then follow these written directions from there.
Trail map: click here or see below.
Description: Brewster Uplands is a gorgeous 1500-acre property owned by the Vermont Land Trust. It includes forest trails, several ponds, and working farmland. There are 7 miles of trails on the property, and several miles of additional trails on adjoining public and private land. It is one of our favorite places to ride in Vermont. Here is a video of one of our rides there.
Terrain: Mostly soft pine needle-covered or grassy forest trails. In the rainy season the trails can be wet, but they are so well-maintained that they are usually in excellent condition. Please help out by not riding on very wet or muddy trails and taking it slowly when the footing is soft. To keep the trails dry they have installed culverts (drain pipes) across some trails; keep an eye out for these because they can be a tripping hazard for your horse. There are opportunities to walk, trot, and canter.
Trail map: Below is a map provided by the Vermont Land Trust (the yellow line is the property boundary). We added a “P” for trailer parking on West Farm Road. Also, you can click here for an interactive map in AllTrails. If you download the AllTrails app to your phone you can navigate using this map as you ride (best to download the map to your phone before leaving home in case cell service is not good).
There are also trails you can ride on adjoining properties. We don’t have access to any maps, but they are pretty obvious when you come to them.
Access: This is tricky so read this section carefully and print it out before you go – click here for a printable version of the directions. You might think we are taking you the long way around – and we are – because the shortest routes involve significant hazards in this rural area. Trust us on this.
The best access is from the village of Jeffersonville, which is in the town of Cambridge, Vermont. We do NOT recommend approaching from Stowe in the south via Rt. 108, which goes over a high mountain pass; the road is very steep with extremely sharp curves and is closed in some weather conditions.
First, navigate to Jeffersonville, VT (note that Jeffersonville is a village within the town of Cambridge). There is a Mobil Station at the intersection of Rt. 15 and Rt. 108. The directions below all start at the Mobil station (which, by the way, is a good place to get gas as it is easy to pull through with a trailer).
WARNING: Your GPS will show you the shortest route via Canyon Rd. off Rt. 108; this takes you downhill on a very narrow dirt road that makes a 90 degree turn onto a one-lane covered bridge with a 10,000 pound weight limit and a 9’9″ height limit. Even if your trailer is shorter, you could clip the bridge on the sharp turn and damage this historic landmark. Do NOT go this way!
We recommend these routes from Jeffersonville:
Option 1: Longer and more on dirt roads, but not as steep as option 2.
From the Mobil Station in Jeffersonville take Rt. 108 south (Church St.) for 0.1 mile, then bear right on Rt. 108 (Mill St.). Go 3 miles and turn left on Edwards Rd. There is a bridge here (24,000 pound weight limit) that looks narrow but it’s easily wide enough for at least a 4-horse trailer.
From this turn, go 0.1 miles and bear left on Clif Reynolds Rd. Go 1.7 miles and turn left on Canyon Rd. Go 0.3 miles and turn left on West Farm Rd. Go 0.1 miles and turn right into the field, and park in the corner of the field in the mowed area.
Option 2: This route is shorter and is more on paved roads, but includes a very steep hill (uphill on the way in) so only do this if you have a powerful truck.
From the Mobil Station in Jeffersonville take Rt. 15 east. After 0.3 miles you come to a rotary; take the 2nd exit to stay on Rt. 15. Go 0.7 miles and turn right on Junction Hill Rd. Go 1.2 miles and turn right on Canyon Rd. Go 0.3 miles and turn left on West Farm Rd. Go 0.1 miles and turn right into the field, and park in the corner of the field in the mowed area.
Parking: Horse trailer parking is on West Farm Road 0.1 mile south of Canyon Rd. You are allowed to park in the corner of the field. The parking area is regularly mowed.
Aerial image courtesy of Google maps.
Restrictions and safety warnings:
- Other recreation includes hiking, mountain-biking, and cross-country skiing.
- Hunting may be occurring so take appropriate precautions during hunting seasons.
- Look out for small culverts across the trails. Your horse could trip on them.
- Trail and road conditions can change at any time. The actual conditions you encounter may differ from the information presented here. Trailering horses and horseback riding are inherently dangerous and you must employ independent judgement and use the information herein at your own risk. By accessing this site, you acknowledge and accept these limitations and agree to hold harmless Horse Trail Chicks, Monica Raymond, and Kerrie Garvey, from any liability, damages, injury, or death that result from using this information.
