About NEKBC Backcountry Zones

Our zones, on unseated Abenaki territory, feature the beautiful forests and steep slopes of the Northeast Kingdom. Thanks to the state and landowners we work with, we are able to access the fun and utter bliss of cruising through powder between trees. As far as skiing and riding goes,  none of our zones are designed for beginner skiers. The difficulty levels noted below pertain to skiing in the forest.

Maintenance, management and signage of these zones is only possible through your CTA membership  contribution AND dedicated community volunteers. With your up-to-date membership benefit package from CTA, you also have access to more maps and a voice in NEKBC membership votes. You are also eligible for nomination to the Council, the governing body of NEKBC. Consider purchasing your membership today! 

 East Haven Zone - East Mountain Ridge 
Some Beginner - Some Intermediate - Majority Expert

East Haven is a wonderful zone on a west facing slope receiving snowfall similar to Burke Mountain. There are multiple lines to find and many features to play with. This zone features intermediate to beginner glades mid-way to the bottom and expert glades from top to middle. While a great zone, public access is contingent on adhering to landowner wishes and goals for this land including: no dogs allowed to encourage wildlife prosperity, courteous parking (if the parking lot is full, head to a different zone). Also, be aware of snowmobile users as the beginning of the skin track shares the V.A.S.T. trail with motorized recreationalists. Please reach out with questions - we want to educate our fellow trail stewards as much as possible!

Willoughby State Forest - Bartlett Mountain and Mt. Hor
Some Intermediate - Majority Expert

 Willoughby State Forest is our bread and butter as we have partnered with the state of Vermont to enhance the existing network of cross country ski trails by glading or cutting lines in the steeper sections of the forest on the south end of Lake Willoughby. By doing so we comply with state foresters' guidelines and input as well as the VT Department of Parks and Recreation.

This zone features expert lines in the steeps off of the summit of Mt. Hor, two more mellow intermediate lines from the top of Bartlett Mountain (Mountain Maid and Humble Pie) and a few expert lines below the CCC Road . Check out the brochure and map of groomed nordic and bc trails below.
wsf_bc_2022.pdf
File Size: 2864 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Kirby Zone - Kirby Ridge
One Intermediate line - Majority Expert

The Kirby Zone is a great joy to hike and ski at sunset - only when it is filled in with snow! This rocky, wet zone is on private property and is usually sufficiently covered by late February and so it is a latecomer but a sweet one.  Parking here can be tricky because the bottom of the field where the skin track begins is plowed and may not be good for low clearance vehicles.  Each of the two full lines are expert but the bottom of the riders left line (roughly half-way) has a mellow pitch and ends with a nice field cruise back to the car or another lap!