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The Newbury Conservation Commission opened the the Boltonville Section of the Cross Vermont Trail during its National Trails Day Work Party on June 5, 1999. Minor improvements were made to this trail during the corresponding Work Party of June 3, 2000. With a few minor exceptions, the trail uses the long abandoned bed of the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad. As a result, almost all of this unpaved section of rail-trail is open to hikers, bikers, equestrians, x-c-skiers and some disabled trail users.
Unfortunately, the continuity of this rail-trail is totally blocked by Interstate 91 embankment. Hence a temporary detour has been marked for the use of able-bodied hikers only that descends an extremely steep slope to pass under the highway alongside the adjacent river and returns to the railroad bed on the other side via an equally steep slope.
Note however, a permanent detour has been planned and funded in the form of a narrow shelf that will pass under the south end of the highway bridge at the same elevation as the adjacent sections of the old railroad bed. This detour will thus be suitable for bicyclists, equestrians, x-c-ckiers, and all disabled trail users.
Until construction of the permanent detour of I-91 is complete, cross-country bikers on Route 302 and the emerging Cross Vermont Trail will be limited to using the two stub ends of this section of the trail as nothing more than enjoyable rest areas. These folks must accept the necessity of returning to the breakdown lanes of Route 302 to cross I-91 at the highway interchange near the P&H Truck Stop.
The existing gates at the Boltonville Trailhead will be relocated during the summer of 2000 about 200 feet east so that this wide place in the old railroad bed can be used to provide a limited number of parking spaces for trail users. Note that this parking area will also serve visitors to the nearby Boltonville Nature Trail. Until that parking area is opened, trail users must park along the highway near the Boltonville Road intersection in a manner that does not interfere with customers of the nearby Curious Cow Two gift shop. No other facilities will be available along this section of the trail!
A wide side trail runs north to the rear of the Blue Mountain Union School parking lot, and an equally wide trail loops around a hill just south of the rail-trail. The school plans on using the rail-trail and connecting trails as a traffic-free means of reaching the various kinds of natural areas that are important to its Natural Science Curriculum.
Note that the rail-trail can also be reached from the end of Industrial Park Road (near a highly visible construction crane and adjacent to an abandoned mobile home).
Existing gates at the Boltonville trailhead.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on
September 25, 1999.
Entering the shade of trees a short distance east of the Boltonville
Trailhead.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
The old railroad embankment is completely blocked by
the I-93 embankment.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
The stake with the red ribbon marks the location of
the permanent trail underpass of I-93.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
(click on drawing for oversized image)
The design of the proposed trail underpass of I-93.
The Al-lens Farm as viewed from the west end of the planned
trail underpass of I-93.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
The temporary trail underpass of I-93 along the bank of the Wells
River.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
A trail section just west of the industrial park that was
opened during the June 1999 Trail Work Day.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
A body of stagnant water alongside the trail just west of
the side trail to Blue Mountain Union School.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
A very wet cut and the adjacent bypass trail just east of
the side trail to Blue Mountain Union School.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
Brook and marshes near the east end of the trail
section.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
The Wells River turns away from the trail at the brook
outlet near the east end of the trail section.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
(click on drawing for oversized image)
Plans for railings and a log bench over the box culvert for the brook near the east end of the trail section.
Rapids in the Wells River adjacent to the east end of the
trail section.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
All trail users must return to the breakdown lanes of US 302
at the east end of the
trail section.
Digital photo by Kenyon F. Karl on June 3, 2000.
Note that a State wildlife area a half-mile east of the East Trailhead via Route 302 provides another opportunity for long distance bikers to obtain an enjoyable respite from the highway. This area also contains the foundation of a small and long forgotten water-powered mill. Unfortunately, there are no facilities beyond a limited number of parking spaces within this small area.
Boltonville
Nature Trail leaves the Boltonville
Section of the Cross Vermont Trail one tenth of a mile east of
the Boltonville Trailhead and descends steeply to the Wells River
flood plain to pass a waterfall and areas of interest to
naturalists. It returns to the rail-trail some distance east of that point so
that hikers can use rail-trail to return to the point of origin.
P&H Truck
Stop adjacent to the I-91 interchange offers food service, rooms,
showers, toilets, and drinking water on a 24 hour 7 day per week basis.
Vermont Transit (Greyhound)
provides intercity bus service on a daily basis to Wells River
(#1997) at the P&H Truck Stop. Note
that bikes are accommodated in boxes aboard Vermont Transit
busses as part of the passenger baggage allowance.
Stagecoach Transportation Services
provides a rural bus service between downtown Wells
River and White River Junction on weekday rush direction
only. Trail users must inquire whether bikes can be transported in the wheelchair area of the bus when
it is not otherwise occupied!
The Lower Chohase Region Web Site provides
community information for the Connecticut River Valley towns of Haverhill,
Bradford, Piermont, and Newbury.
Sign images are from the Manual of Traffic Signs by Richard C. Moeur.
Updated on May 25, 2002 by Kenyon F.
Karl <Webmaster@new-england-rail-trails.org>.
Unintentional errors are likely!
