Vermont Off-Road Trails

"Quintessential" best summarizes Chateauguay Road. With a misty, mysterious wetness in the air and an emerald green forest surrounding you, the drive through the Delectable Mountains might be deemed one of the finest class IV roads in all of Vermont. You don't want to miss the left turn leading you through perhaps the most interesting four-wheel-drive terrain the northeastern United States offers. After your thirst for excitement has been quenched, the ride mellows out as you cross the famed Appalachian Trail and dip back into civilization.

The history of the road begins in 1776 when Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery attempted to capture Canada. The American army needed reinforcements and supplies to continue the siege of Quebec. Think about that! Jacob Bayley conceived the Bayley-Hazen Military Road, and construction started under General Moses Hazen in 1778 to 1779 before the project was finally abandoned. The early constructor desired to create the straightest line possible for quickly supplying the troops and gave no regard to elevation changes or terrain features. Today this short section of the almost 90 miles constructed is an epic Class IV road you can enjoy with rubber tires and a gas motor as you climb up and over the north end of the Lowell Mountains.

Eden Road is a Class IV road that runs through an area known as Eden, which dates back to the American Revolutionary War. The settlement of Eden began when the town was granted to several of the Green Mountain Boys as a reward for their services during the war with England and the struggle leading to Vermont’s independence. Today, the trail offers a short ride through a tranquil forest of red and sugar maple, yellow and white birch, and beech, as well as areas of softwoods containing hemlock, red spruce, balsam fir, and even apple trees! As you drive, pay attention to the sides of the road, where you can see remnants of the historic stone fencelines that once marked property lines.

Mount Hunger Road is a Class 3 and Class 4 mountain road in the hills near Bethel. The five-mile-long road starts as a Class 3 road in a rural mountain residential area. About halfway across the route, it turns into a Class 4 two-track road through the Les Newell Wildlife Management Area. Driving the road east to west, it drops roughly 600' in elevation. Uphill could pose more problems in wet weather. The west end of this road remains rugged with a mixture of rocks, dirt, and mud. It provides a great alternative exit when finishing the hard parts of Chateauguay Road. There are no obstacles on this road, and no camping was observed.

Collinsville Road is a maintained gravel road that connects the paved Wild Branch Road to the Eden Road trailhead. Collinsville Road is a neighborhood road passing by multiple rural homes in the Vermont countryside. There are no campsites along this road.