About the Roxbury State Forest
The Roxbury State Forest comprises 3 blocks of Vermont State Forest land, now totaling 5,617 acres (108 acres was added in 2020. See text below).
Map of Roxbury State Forest
The Rice and Vogt Blocks are on the eastern slope of the Northfield Range and include Rice Mtn. elevation 3,060 ft. It is primarily a hardwood forest with significant slopes and many headwater streams that flow southeast to the Connecticut River. The Cram Hill Block is on the other side of the Roxbury Valley. It sits atop Cram Hill and the surrounding rolling hills. The forest is managed for multiple uses, including timber management, dispersed recreation, and wildlife habitat protection.
The Rice Tract Road, which goes up the Flint brook drainage, has seen significant work in the past decade to provide reliable access and to protect and enhance water quality. Almost a quarter mile of road was constructed to remove the need for two large stream crossings. In addition, a bridge upstream that was damaged during tropical storm Irene was replaced with a larger concrete bridge that will provide access for both forest management and recreation.
(Text extracted from Forests, Parks & Recreation page on Roxbury State Forest.)
Roxbury State Forest Long Range Management Plan
Acquisition of Acreage for Roxbury State Forest Complete
The State of Vermont, working with The Trust for Public Land, a national non-profit conservation organization, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and private donors, has acquired 108 acres in Roxbury on Route 12A and Cram Hill Road. The tract is located immediately across route 12A from the Roxbury Fish Culture Station, “the Hatchery”.
In August 2019, the Roxbury Selectboard voted to fully support this addition to Roxbury State Forest, as it conforms to the Town Plan, and helps retain the view-shed and rural landscape along Route 12A, one of the most popular and scenic bicycle loops in the State.
State ownership of the property helps improve flood resiliency, protect the quality of ground and surface waters, maintain healthy native fish populations, prevent forest fragmentation and provide recreational opportunities such as hunting and hiking. The headwater streams of the Third Branch of the White River on this property contain native brook trout, providing excellent fishing.
Town of Roxbury VT 