The 100 Acre Woods

This page was last updated on April 7th, 2020

With nearly 2 miles of trails, the 100 Acre Woods offers tremendous opportunity for outdoor recreation in Fairfax.

Directions

The address for the 100 Acre Woods access is 2739 VT-104, Fairfax, VT 05454

Turn into the driveway, a small parking area will be on your right as you proceed away from VT-104.

Additionally, for your convenience, we have added the 100 Acre Woods parking area to Google Maps. Click here to access that listing.

Trail Maps

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation asks the public to follow these guidelines:

  • Check trail status. Official closures and trail conditions vary widely throughout the state. Check resources like Trailfinder.info, Green Mountain Club Visitor Center (802-244-7037), and VMBA Trail Conditions to find out what trails are closed or open near you. Spring weather is variable; even if a trail is marked as open, please proceed with caution. If you encounter mud, turn around and go back another day.
  • Seek durable surfaces. There are plenty of ways you can get outside. Seek out durable surfaces to hike or bike on, like gravel roads, paved roads, rail trails, and bike paths, as these are more resilient to mud season. Use resources like Trailfinder.info or the Green Mountain Club’s website to discover new, open trails in your neighborhood. Try new fun spring activities like paddling, gravel biking, birdwatching, fishing, or turkey hunting.
  • Avoid hiking in the alpine zone to protect rare and fragile vegetation. Ittakes careful stewardship to protect these environments so they can continue to thrive. Foot traffic through the mud causes soil compaction and erosion, which makes it harder for these plants to take root and survive in their environments.
  • Respect trail signage: Local VMBA chapters often post signs regarding closures.Please respect these signs, and even if a trail appears to be open, if you arrive and discover muddy conditions or notice your bike tires are leaving ruts more than ½-inch deep, turn around and ride elsewhere. Trail conditions can change rapidly during mud season, so please don’t use the lack of a closure – either physical or online – to justify poor judgment.
  • Check weather reports: Weather conditions will differ at higher elevations. It may be sunny and warm in town but windy, slippery, snowy, or cold on the mountain. Check weather reports for your destination and always be prepared with extra layers, traction, and a contingency plan, including turning around or seeking an alternative place to hike.
  • Turn around in muddy conditions: If you encounter conditions you are not prepared for, please turn around. It keeps you and the trails safe.


The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and partners thank trail users for helping maintain Vermont’s trails.

History

In the late 1960’s, a section of land was left to the Town of Fairfax and the Roman Catholic diocese of Burlington by the Cross family of St. Albans. The portion of land left to the town of Fairfax was deemed the 100 acre wood and is located in north Fairfax.

Over time different groups have used the land such as boy scouts, sugaring and other outdoor activities. Without oversight, the land was misused by all terrain vehicles and had extensive uncontrolled growth.

Beginning in 2008, the Town of Fairfax (working along with Franklin county forester Nancy Patch) began logging the land. This was to reestablish the forest and also create barriers to prevent more destruction by motorized vehicles. Around the same time as the logging began in the 100 acre wood, the Fairfax Parks and Recreation Board and Director became aware of the existence of the land and its potential as a recreation venue for the town of Fairfax.

In 2011, the recreation department began to explore the development of trails in the 100 acre wood and walked the trails with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. The recreation department also began a relationship with the Northwest Riding Club, a club of over 500 members with adjacent land to the 100 acre wood.

In Early 2012, The Parks and Recreation board secured $27,000 from the money raised from the logging to be used as grant matching funds and to be used to improve the land for future recreation use by the citizen of Fairfax and surrounding communities.

In the late summer of 2012, the Recreation Department brought together interested parties to start on trial design and work. We have brought together people from a variety of organizations all willing to work together to establish trails in the 100 acre wood.

In summer of 2013, the “blue central trail” was completed with the Watershed project at Project SOAR and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

In the summer of 2014, the east side of the Logging Loop Trail was completed with a $20,000 recreation trails grant from the Department of Forests Parks and Recreation and in conjunction with local youth organizations and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.