Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, a 150-acre mountaintop playground for dog lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, is sporting several major upgrades to its trail network, thanks in part to funding from the Center and its Sustainable VT Trails Program.  

Friends of Dog Mountain used a grant from the Center to build a bridge across a steep ravine and make other trail improvements for sustainability

Funded by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and managed by the Center, the grant program has injected over $200,000 into the development of more sustainable trails in Vermont.

Friends of Dog Mountain used its $25,000 grant on the first phase of the Dog Mountain Trail Enhancement Project to revitalize the very popular trails while improving environmental sustainability, safety, and accessibility. Work focused on the Blue Trail, the most heavily used and environmentally impacted section of the trail system.  

Dog Mountain engaged Timber & Stone, LLC, a Vermont-based trail contractor specializing in sustainable trail design and construction, to begin long-awaited improvements outlined in a 2023 trail plan. 

  • Work funded by the grant included: 
  • Rerouting trails to establish more sustainable grades and reduce erosion.
  • Installing drainage structures to manage water flow and prevent pooling.
  • Constructing stone paths to stabilize the tread and improve safety.
  • Building a new 30-foot bridge over a significant gorge
  • Creating the first of several “Paws Place” rest areas.

Dog Mountain intends to build on the success of this year’s trail projects and begin work on Phase 2 improvements in 2026.  

“This is one of 15 projects we were able to fund with financial support from the Natural Resource Conservation Service over the last two years,” said the Center’s Outdoor Recreation Programs Manager Joe Fox.

“Upgrading our trails now is essential so they can withstand the increased use they’re getting, as well as more frequent damage from severe weather,” said Fox. “There’s better understanding about trail sustainability today than when many trails in the region were built. We’re happy to help organizations and communities invest in changes that will help their trails last for years to come.”