Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests
 

Vermont's and New York's Only

Welcome to

GREEN MOUNTAIN

& FINGER LAKES

National Forests

The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) and the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) are Vermont's and New York's only public, federally managed national forests. While both the GMNF and FLNF are managed in ways that strive to be sensitive to local concerns and resource capabilities, they share an administrative unit on the GMNF to take advantage of efficiencies to be gained by close geographic location. The GMNF is characterized by striking scenery that combines rugged mountain peaks with quintessential Vermont villages while the FLNF spans a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. Both Forests offer extensive multi-use advantages to the public, providing ecological and science-based forestry stewardship, clean water, diverse vegetation, high-value, high-quality forest products, economical and educational contributions, and trail-based backcountry recreation.

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Enjoy your National Forests!

Highlighted Visits

Two kayakers paddle across still water under big soft clouds.

Grout Pond Rec Area

Grout Pond Recreation Area is sixteen hundred acres of the Green Mountain National Forest set aside for year-round recreation. Grout Pond is very popular for camping, hiking, canoeing, and fishing. 

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Snowy trees line the view to a mountain peak.

Bald Mountain Trail

A trail that can bring you beautiful vistas in just a day's worth of hiking. Round trip summiting of this gorgeous view is estimated at 3 hours. 

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A warn sun cuts through puffy clouds that hang over an open expanse of grass.

South Slope Trail 

Passing through the south end of the FLNF, this primitive trail offers an easy stroll through open grass lands and a boardwalk over wetlands. This trail shares a portion of the Finger Lakes and North Country Trail Systems. 

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A path cuts through tall grass as two trees stand as sentinels on either side.

The Interloken Trail

Traversing the FLNF from north to south, this trail offers diverse terrain and vegetation and views of outstanding vistas, including Seneca Lake. 

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Features

Winter Road Closures on the Green Mountain National Forest

Each winter, the Green Mountain National Forest closes Forest Roads to vehicle traffic from December 15th until May. While vehicle access is restricted during this time, these roads double as snowmobile, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing trails in the winter months. These roads close each winter on the North and South Zones of the Green Mountain National Forest. 


Hooked on National Forests Fishing Derbies

Two silver and green fish lay in a net. A reel and rod with with a cork handle accompanies them.

While the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) and the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) are in two separate states, they have one thing in common – they both offer wonderful fishing opportunities to local youth and the public at large.

Spotlights

West Branch White River Restoration

A trout swims through green waters of the White River

Learn about the restoration of the West Branch of the White River  in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene in central Vermont. 
Fire Danger Level: Low

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