How to Stay Legal Off-Road
From here on the use of the term “Trail” shall refer to any and all routes requiring or being used for the purpose of recreational off-roading by a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
Before you head out on a new “trail” please make sure that you check the following resources first. If you have access to the Internet you should go to the Vermont Interactive Map Viewer. This is the easiest way of determining the town and location of the new trail you want to check out. You can also contact the USGS service for a topographical map of that area. If it is not here then it is probably on Private land. If however you are so inclined and you think that it may qualify as a historic or old road then you can look here for historical USGS maps once you know what town the trail is in check what it’s classification is by looking at that town’s official road map. If the trail is not a class 4 road contact that town’s town clerk Vermont Town Clerks (Lists in Excell Format or PDF) to find out if that town has a trail use policy and what it is. If the trail is on private property the town clerk can help you find the contact information for the land owner(s) by reviewing the town's tax maps. If the town does not have a trail use policy you can ask the local select board at their next scheduled meeting or by contacting the local Game Warden.
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