DELAWARE & HUDSON RAIL TRAIL NORTHERN SECTION:
CASTLETON-POULTNEY, VERMONT
DELAWARE & HUDSON RAIL TRAIL NEW YORK SECTION:
MIDDLE GRANVILLE, NEW YORK
DELAWARE & HUDSON RAIL TRAIL SOUTHERN SECTION:
PAWLET-RUPERT, VERMONT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 16, 2023
Length: D&H Rail Trail: Northern Section; 9.6 miles
D&H Rail Trail: NY Central Section; 4.8 miles
D&H Rail Trail: Southern Section; 9.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from Castleton, VT [Northern Section; North End]; From Route 4 take exit 5 to E Hubbardton Rd south to Route 4A. Turn right (west) and quickly come to the Castleton RR Station on your right. Across the street is the Castleton Station parking area.
To Start from Poultney, VT [Northern Section; South End]; From Route 4 take exit 4 to Route 30 south. After 7 miles turn right on Main St to Poultney. Turn right on Depot St.
To Start from West Pawlet, VT [Southern Section; North End]; From Route 7 take exit 4 to Route 30 north. After 9.5 miles in East Rupert turn left onto Route 315 west and travel 5.8 miles to Rupert. Turn right on Route 153 north for 7 miles to West Pawlet. On your left will be a dirt parking lot.
To Start from West Rupert, VT [Southern Section; South End[; From Route 7 take exit 4 to Route 30 north. After 9.5 miles in East Rupert turn left onto Route 315 west and 5.8 miles to Rupert. Continue straight on Route 153 south another 0.7 miles to the Hebron Road parking lot on your right.
The D&H Rail Trail traces the rail bed laid by the Rutland & Washington Railroad in the 1850s to serve the slate quarries that mined the sheets of rock used primarily as roofing material. By 1871 foreclosures and mergers led to the Washington Branch of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad (D&H) leasing the line, which by now was known as the Slate Picker. The VT Sections are all open, however, the trail crosses into NY in the Center and not all of the old rail trail in NY is open. Thus the VT Section is divided into the Northern & Southern Sections. For more information visit; D&H RAIL TRAIL & D&H RAIL TRAIL .
D&H Rail Trail; VT Northern Section:
Starting from Castleton. VT (Northern End); Across the street is the Castleton RR Station. Mile Marker 10 located here. Mile Markers every 0.25 miles. [RR Mileage 52.7] The wide crushed gravel D&H Rail Trail travels South through the woods. Pass another marker [RR Mileage 52.2] after 0.25 miles. Travel through Castleton University after 0.4 miles. Map Board. Cross South St at 0.6 miles a follow a wooded corridor. The trail splits at 0.9 miles.
Note; Left leads out to South St.
Continue straight. Cross a bridge over South St at 2 miles. This was as far as I traveled. Cross Lewis Rd at 3.3 miles, Route 30 at 4.6 miles, Farnham Rd at 5.5 miles and finally cross Church in Poultney after 7.7 miles. I've checked out this section. Map Board. Pass an old RR Freight House followed by the old Poultney Depot before coming to Main St. Head right for a cross-walk. Cross Bentley Ave and the trail leaves town. Cross Poultney River at 8.1 miles. You then cross into NY after 9.6 miles. Here the trail is hard packed dirt & grass. The trail may continue into NY ending after 10 miles? Then it disappears.
D&H Rail Trail; NY Central Section:
Starting from Middle Granville, NY (NY Central Section); The hard packed dirt, grass & gravel D&H Rail Trail travels South from Depot St.
Note; No trail heading north. Just the old 1887 Middle Granville Depot here, which is now a home.
I haven't checked out this section. The trail travel through the woods and across a causeway before passing by a Mt Carmel Cemetery and air strip on your left. Cross North St at 1.5 miles. The trail then enters Granville crossing Main St at 2 miles. I've checked out this section. Pass by the old Granville Depot which is now the STATION HOUSE B&B . Looks like a really cool place to stay. Come to Water St.
Note; Left leads to the SLATE VALLEY MUSEUM .
The trail then crosses a bridge over the Mettawee River at 2.2 miles, look right to spot the old RR abutments, now a sitting area. The trail continues through town with several street crossings. Pass by Mile Marker 3.75. The trail then veers off the old rail bed to bypass a manufacturing plant. Pass by Mile Marker 3.25. Return to the rail bed at 3.4 miles. This was as far as I traveled. The trail then crosses back into VT after 4.8 miles. Another 1.4 miles to West Pawlet, VT (I believe the trail crosses back and forth between the 2 borders).
D&H Rail Trail; VT Southern Section:
Starting from the junction of Routes 29, 31 & 153 West Pawlet. VT (Northern End); Small dirt parking lot.
Note; Heading North along the crushed gravel trail pass by Mile Marker 9.5. The trail then turns to hard packed dirt & grass as you cross the NY border. Mile Marker 10 (RR Mileage 32.9).
The wide crushed gravel D&H Rail Trail travels South passing by a Map Board before crossing a bridge over Indian River and heading into the woods. Cross another old RR bridge over the river at 0.3 miles and look right for an old RR Mile Marker E?/?32 (Eagle Bridge, NY/32 miles to Castleton, VT) The trail parallels the river south, straight as an arrow. Pass Mile Marker 9 [RR Mileage 31.9]. This was as far as I traveled. The trail continues south along a wooded corridor surrounded by farm fields. Cross Route 153 at 2.6 miles and again at 4 miles. The trail turns west as you pass near Rupert then cross Hebron Road at 7.4 miles and a parking lot with Map Board. You'll come to the NY border after 9.5 miles in West Rupert.
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