Summer
Conditions
It has been a great winter season across the SoVTA Trail network but the time has come to close our natural surface trails for Mud Season. Damage to the trail tread at this time of year can cause channelization of water and lead to erosion and sediment transfer. This can cause more work for our limited volunteers and Trail Crew to get the trails open for the season before we start on trail projects for the year.
If you are planning on getting out during mud season we suggest that you use some of the more durable surface trails around the area in the meantime. There is the Valley Trail in the Center of Dover and Crosstown Trail at Crosstown. The Cross-country ski trails at Stratton Rec are open for hiking and if you are willing to travel a bit there is the West River Trail by Jamaica State Park.
Our plan for spring work is as soon as things begin to dry out we plan to start at Crosstown and work our way over to Stratton Rec with the hope of having everything open for Memorial Day.
If you have not done so, remember to renew or join VMBA or CTA as your membership dollars are critical in helping fund the maintenance and future work in the network. Links can be found here: http://www.sovta.org/join/
If you are looking to volunteer and help out this season please send an email to vollys@sovta.org
We hope everyone enjoyed this winter season.
Maps
Stratton Recreation Area
The Stratton Recreation Area was made possible through partnership with the Town of Stratton, The community of Stratton and SoVTA. The Rec area feature ball fields, volleyball courts, picnic areas and multi-use trails. The first two adaptive/family friendly multi-use trails have been built and we are currently working on an act250 amendment for several other trails and improvements for the gathering areas on the property. We hope to begin phase two of the project in the summer of 2026.
The new trails on the property were made possible through a $17,500 RTP grant though VT forest, park and rec and several hundred volunteer hours.
Crosstown
The Trails at Crosstown are made possible though a partnership with Vail Resorts and SoVTA. The trails on the south side of the property are adaptive/family friendly while the trails on the north side are are still legacy trails and adaptive user may require assistance. We will be working to eliminate all adaptive choke points during the spring of the 2025 season.
The rehabilitation of crosstown has bene made possible trough VMBA Trail Grants, a grant from the Northern Forest Center and hundreds of volunteer hours.
Stratton Town Forest
The Stratton Town Forest was made possible through a partnership with Stratton Select Board and SoVTA. Phase 1 of the project was executed with grants from The Lyman Orton Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation as well as over a 1000 volunteer hours.
There is only an 8 car lot that serves this property, so please have a plan B if the lot is full.
Please be aware the part of the VAST Trail is shared with the snowmobilers of VAST. Safety is a primary concern on these shared stretches of trail. Snowmobilers cannot hear, and frequently cannot see, skiers and snowshoers before they come upon them. When skiing these shared stretches stay alert and be prepared to step off the Trail at any time to allow snowmobiles to pass. Ski single file and to the side of the snowmobile trail. Keep dogs leashed.
Ridge 2027
SoVTA is current working with our partner the USFS on the alignments for the lower trails with the goal of having the USFS specialist review to approve the trails for fundraising and grant writing in the fall of 2026. The current plan is to begin work in the summer of 2027 contingent on the funding received.