Please note: following a storm in 2019 during which the trail received extensive damage making parts of the trail impassable, this trail is no longer actively maintained. It remains open and local neighbors sometimes casually maintain the trail, but proceed with caution and at your own risk.
The East Dorset trail offers a nearly 4-mile hike from the trailhead in East Dorset to the Appalachian/Long Trail at the Mad Tom Notch parking area on Forest Road 21. The trail gains 1,480 feet of elevation from East Dorset to Mad Tom Notch.
The trail, marked with blue blazes, follows the Mad Tom Brook along portions of a historic road. At 1.8 miles, the trail crosses the Mad Tom Brook over a constructed ford. Caution should be used during periods of high water and hikers should be prepared to turn back. After crossing Mad Tom Brook, the trail continues uphill and becomes coincident with the Mad Tom Snowmobile trail at 2.9 miles. This portion of the trail was used for timber harvest in 2018 and is open to snowmobile use December 16-April 16 each year. The trail is closed to other motorized use.
The trail then ends at its junction with Forest Road 21 at 3.3 miles. To continue to the Appalachian/Long Trail, turn east and walk 0.6 miles on Forest Road 21.
BE PREPARED:
For additional information, visit the Forest Service's Green Mountain Finger Lakes & National Forests website, or contact:
US Forest ServiceWEST TRAILHEAD
From V-7 in East Dorset, turn on Mad Tom Road, across from the East Dorset General Store. Travel east on Mad Tom Road for approximately 0.6 miles and look for the trailhead parking lot, before
the road makes a sharp northward turn.
EAST TRAILHEAD
From VT-11 in Peru, turn onto Main Street, and then north onto Hapgood Pond Road. In approximately 1 mile, turn left on North Road. In 0.75 miles, turn left on Mad Tom Notch Road (FR 21). Continue on FR 21 past the AT/LT parking area. The East Dorset Trail begins just beyond FR 58 on the north side of FR 21, about 2.7 miles from the intersection of FR 21 and North Road, and 0.6 miles past the AT/LT parking lot.
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