Forest Opens First Wheelchair Accessible Portion of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont

The Green Mountain National Forest, Green Mountain Club and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy opened the first universal accessible portion of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont.

The Green Mountain National Forest, Green Mountain Club and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy opened the first universal accessible portion of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont Sept. 13. The celebration was held at the foot of Thundering Falls at the Appalachian Trail crossing of River Road in Killington, Vermont.

"This is an excellent addition to the diverse opportunities we offer on the Forest, it provides something for people of all abilities," said Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell.

"The Thundering Falls relocation is a great improvement in many ways. It gets rid of the dusty roadwalk on Thundering Brook Road, adds great views of the Ottauquechee Valley and the falls, protects the resource, and takes advantage of flat terrain to make a stretch of the AT accessible to people who use wheelchairs. It took a long time and a lot of work, but the result is worth it," said GMC Executive Director Ben Rose.

The new path descends from Thundering Brook Road through northern hardwood forest to the base of Thundering Falls and then passes through the open Ottauquechee River floodplain across 900 feet of boardwalk built by the Green Mountain Club.

The Green Mountain Club Long Trail Patrol, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the National Park Service and Green Mountain National Forest have worked on this project since the mid 1980s when they acquired a property easement across the Ottauquechee flood plain. Major funding was secured by the ATC and the Green Mountain Club and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps began work in 2005.

Timeline:

2004: GMC and ATC finalized flagline of relocation with US Forest Service following completion of Environmental Assessment.

2005: Vermont Youth Conservation Corps crews built the hiking trail downhill from Thundering Brook Road to the bench above the floodplain where the universal accessible spur trail to the falls begins.

2006: VYCC crews built the accessible spur trail and switchback from the floodplain to the bench; GMC project crew and volunteer crew built bridge across the Ottauquechee River and began building the nearly 900-foot long boardwalk in accordance with plans developed by USFS engineer John Kamb with interpretation and direction by GMC's Matt Wels. GMC crews worked into November.

2007: VYCC crews built the hiking trail relocation from River Road north to the Appalachian Trail and helped with surfacing the accessible path between the boardwalk and Thundering Falls; GMC project crew, Long Trail Patrol and volunteer crew completed the boardwalk between the river and the switchback and moved the gravel for surfacing the pathway; the AT relocation was opened to hikers in September.

2008: GMC project crew and volunteer crew built the ramp from River Road to the bridge, finished the railings, and viewing platform.