Recreation

An expansive vista has green pines in the foreground looking over a valley framing a small lake.

The Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests’ scenic beauty along the backbone of Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Finger Lakes region provide unlimited recreational opportunities in all seasons.

Go Play!

Some of the many opportunities we offer include:

Over 900 miles of trails managed for both summer and winter uses
Sections long trails like the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Long Trail, and the North Country Scenic Trail.
Outsanding campgrounds, including two designated National Recreation Areas
Eight designated wilderness areas on the Green Mountain National Forest
3 Alpine and 6 Nordic Commercial ski areas offering some of the most spectacular skiing in the northeast
Countless lakes and streams for unlimited fishing and other water activities

Enjoy your Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. It’s All Yours!

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Alerts & Warnings

Flood Damage on the Finger Lakes 08/14

View All Forest Alerts

Quick Links

Recreation Fee Usage Report

Areas & Activities

Find An Area

Discovering Your National Forests

Help Using this Page

To get started, choose an activitiy from the menu on the left. Or if you already know the location you are looking for, select the site from the "Areas and Activities" drop-down menu above.
Green Mountain National Forest

In Vermont, the Green Mountain National Forest is separated into the Rochester-Middlebury Ranger District in the north and the Manchester Ranger District in the south. The Rochester-Middlebury is nearer Montpelier, Killington, and Middlebury. The Manchester District is nearest the communities of Manchester, Bennington, and Brattleboro.
Finger Lakes National Forest

In New York, the Finger Lakes National Forst is only comprised of the Hector Ranger District near Hector, NY. The Forest is located between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region.