Black Mountain Stewardship
Black Mountain (Main Cliff and North Cliff) is located within the Kingdom Heritage Lands, a complex partnership of private timber companies with conservation easements held by the State of Vermont to protect the land’s timber, wildlife and recreational interests. CRAG-VT is thrilled that after a multi year public process, we have developed a Climbing Management Plan and received designation as a Recreation Corridor Manager for the climbing at Black Mountain. These important steps establish rock climbing as an acceptable form of recreation on the Kingdom Heritage lands and empower CRAG-VT to work with the land managers to ensure that climbing interests are considered and that access is protected into the future.
Upon designating CRAG-VT as the Recreation Corridor Manager, our partners at the State of Vermont (Agency of Natural Resources/Forest Parks and Recreation) allocated internal funds to address mutually agreed upon stewardship needs in the Climbing Management Plan. In early 2024, ANR announced funding for four weeks of trail work to be completed by the Northwoods Stewardship Center Youth Conservation Corps. We also applied for and were awarded a stewardship grant from the Access Fund to support this project. Funding comes from the following sources:
- $24,000 – State of Vermont, Forest Parks and Recreation
- $8,000 – Northwoods Stewardship Center
- $4,000 – The Access Fund, Climbing Conservation Grant
- $1,100 – CRAG-VT, initial Stewardship Master Plan
- ~$9,100 – CRAG-VT in-kind donation value of volunteer labor
This season’s funding aims to establish a sustainably sited approach trail, stabilize the base of several eroding areas and trails along the cliff band, formalize parking, and install a kiosk and signage.
Know Before You Go:
- Conditions on Gaudette Road are variable. High clearance is recommended.
- Be respectful of other user groups
- Park in designated pull offs
- Targeted closures may be in effect this season due to trail work
- Leave no trace and follow the Climber’s Pact!
How Can I Pitch In? As always, your CRAG-VT membership and donations are what makes this access work possible. Stay tuned as we will be announcing volunteer trail days this season. Join us as we gather to celebrate this access win this fall for the Kingdom Climbing Weekend.
Learn More: Explore the following links for more information:
- Kingdom Heritage Lands
- CRAG-VT’s May, 5th 2022 Public Meeting Presentation
- Climbing Resource Management Proposal
