In February of 2011, the public learned that the majority of the Bolton Valley Nordic and Back Country trails were to be sold to a private individual and that public access to the land would be lost.

In less than two months, the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backountry (FOBVNBC) formed to protect this resource and the public’s access to it.

With the outpouring of support, the Vermont Land Trust signed a contract to purchase the 1,161 acres that host the Bolton Valley Nordic and backcountry trails.

Over the next 17 months, The FOBVNBC, and Vermont Land Trust, raised 1.85 Million dollars to purchase this land. On June 13th 2013 VLT purchased the land, retained conservation easements, andtransferred the land to the State of Vermont as an addition to Mount Mansfield State Forest, thus insuring the Public’s continued access.

The Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation will lease the land to Bolton Valley Corporation so they can continue to run the Nordic and Backcountry Center and maintain the trails.

The role of FOBVNBC is now to work with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and Bolton Valley Corp to improve the Nordic and Back Country Skiing as well as promoting other forms of Non motorized recreation and conservation use of this land. This may include trail clearing, information gathering, education and fund raising and applying for grants in support of this purpose.