Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) has completed three land conservation projects in early 2026, adding nearly 400 acres to State Forests in Underhill, Granville, and Roxbury. Each project expands public access and recreational opportunities, while supporting clean water, flood resilience, and habitat for fish and wildlife.
The projects focus on lands closely connected to existing State Forests and consisting of remote ridgelines, floodplain, wetlands, and inholdings where terrain, environmental conditions, and limited infrastructure constrain development. These are voluntary transactions with willing landowners and reflect conservation of lands generally not suited for residential or commercial development.
“These additions strengthen the many public benefits Vermont’s State Forests provide,” said FPR Land Conservation Program Manager Kate Sudhoff. “From places to hike, hunt, fish, and explore, to protecting floodplains, wildlife habitat, and clean water, these lands will support the health, resilience, and outdoor traditions of Vermont communities for generations to come.”
Sunset Knob – Underhill (22 acres)
An addition to Mount Mansfield State Forest, the Sunset Knob parcel is surrounded on all sides by State Forest land. Located at the end of Sunset Ridge, approximately a quarter mile from the popular Sunset Ridge hiking trail, the property helps connect and simplify management of the surrounding dispersed recreational opportunities in the Mount Mansfield area. The addition also helps protect the scenic character of Vermont’s highest peak and keeps this section of forestland open and accessible for public enjoyment.
The project was supported by funding from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB).
Alder Meadow Brook – Granville (25 acres)
Located along Route 100 in the Granville Gulf, in the headwaters of the White River, the Alder Meadow Brook parcel encompasses nearly a mile of Alder Meadow Brook and its floodplain. The property is made up largely of river corridor and wetlands, shaped over time by the movement of water in this dynamic river system.
This parcel has an important role to play in flood resilience, with its large area of intact floodplain working to slow and absorb floodwaters just upstream of Granville village.
This addition to Granville Gulf Reservation State Forest will also expand access to Alder Meadow Brook for fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing. The property supports important fish and wildlife habitats, including naturally reproducing Brook Trout and Sea Lamprey, both Species of Greatest Conservation Need in VT.
The project was supported by funding from VHCB, along with a donation of value from the landowner and funding from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Stamp program.
Rice Mountain – Roxbury (347 acres)
The Rice Mountain parcel expands the Roxbury State Forest along the ridge of the Northfield Mountain range, where the boundaries of Roxbury, Granville, and Warren converge. This remote, high-elevation property offers a rugged setting for dispersed recreational uses such as hunting, walking, and snowshoeing.
The property includes 1.6 miles of the Northfield Range ridgeline including the west side of the Rice Mountain summit. Conservation of the property protects this highly scenic ridgeline, visible from miles around, and protects unique natural communities, headwater streams, and wildlife habitats.
The project was completed in partnership with The Conservation Fund and funded through a grant from the federal Forest Legacy Program.
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont’s forest resources, the operation and maintenance of the State Park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and our visitors. In addition, FPR is responsible for the acquisition, planning coordination and administration of all Agency of Natural Resources lands.
Images:
Alder Meadow Brook, photo by Gunnar Nurme
Rice Mountain, photo by FPR
Sunset Knob, photo by Gunnar Nurme
Montpelier, VT – Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
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