A Big Win for Vermont’s Forests, Wildlife, and Way of Life

We’re celebrating a major conservation victory in the heart of Vermont: more than 1,600 acres of wild, working forest are now permanently protected in the rugged Chateauguay-No Town region, one of the state’s largest unfragmented forest blocks. 

Nestled within the heart of Rutland and Windsor Counties, this land sits within a rapidly developing region. Just miles from Killington Resort, Vermont’s largest ski resort, this land faced significant second-home development pressure. Without protection, this rare expanse of connected forest could have been carved into private parcels, fragmenting critical habitat and closing off public access. 

A Win for Recreation and Wildlife 

This conservation milestone safeguards Vermont’s treasured outdoor traditions while strengthening its rural economy. The newly conserved land guarantees public access forever, opening the door for hiking, hunting, and fishing. It also expands Coolidge State Forest and the Les Newell Wildlife Management Area and includes timber rights to support long-term habitat management and sustainable forestry. 

Protecting this land also keeps iconic viewsheds and trails — including the Appalachian Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, and scenic byways — open and intact. It also safeguards habitat for endangered bats and other rare species, as well as protecting cold-water streams that feed the Connecticut River Basin.  

As part of a larger 25-year effort to conserve high-priority forest blocks across the Northeast, this project ensures Vermont’s wild, working forests will thrive for generations and continue to serve local economies.  

This project was made possible through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, leveraging Land and Water Conservation funding, and strong partnerships with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife.