Landon Community Trail
Property Information and History: The historic Landon Farm was conserved in 2003. The property is privately owned by Pigasus Meats, with conservation easements held by Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. For more information about this property and its history, go to our Conserved Lands: Pigasus Meats at the Landon Farm webpage.
The Landon Community Trail was opened in 2010. Lake Champlain Land Trust holds the public access trail easement. South Hero Land Trust and Lake Champlain Land Trust, as well as SHLT’s Volunteer Land Stewards, work together to maintain the trail.
Trail Information
Trail Type: A “lollipop” trail, approximately ¾ of a mile
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Closures: This trail is closed during rifle season every fall/winter. Hunting is allowed by landowner permission ONLY. Please check season dates with the VT Department of Fish & Wildlife. The trail may be closed temporarily at other times, to allow farmers to perform essential farm or forestry activities. Please respect all closure signs. They are for your safety and the safety of the farmers and farm animals.
Uses: walking, running, snowshoeing, skiing, horseback riding. Dogs are allowed but must be on-leash. This is an active working farm. If your dog is not leashed while on the property, you will be asked to leave.
Parking: 4-6 car parking lot off of Landon Road. Finely packed gravel; center of the lot is level but edges taper down with a ~5% slope. No marked handicap parking spots. Approximately 20 feet of grass with 2% slope and negligible cross-slope between the parking lot and the trail head + trail sign.
Trail Surfaces, Slopes/Cross-Slopes, and Passing Areas:
Section 1: 0.25mile path between trailhead and loop. Primarily firmly packed dirt, with some gravel at the beginning of the trail along the fence line. Average slope 4.2% and negligible cross-slope; elevation change 51’. 18% steep incline at 400’, then levels out at 5-8% slope for 100’, then incline up to 14% slope. Trail slope does not exceed 5% after these inclines. Average width of trail section: 3’. Trail is narrower at immediate beginning (20”-24”) and end of the section (24”-30”).
Section 2: 0.51mile loop. Dirt path with soft tread and some seasonal rutting. Average slope 1.4% and negligible cross-slope. Elevation changes: 228’ at start of section, 243’ at highest point, 205’ at lowest point. 10’ elevation change between 500’-630’ (~8% slope); elevation change 20’ between 0.45 - 0.51mile (~6% slope); 5’ of 10% slope before loop reconnects. 8%-15% cross-slope between 0.20-0.22miles; 8% cross-slope at 0.34miles. Average trail width 3’-5’; narros to 32”-36” between 0.43-0.51miles. No passing spaces. Bench at 0.44 miles.
Obstacles:
Section 1: Rocks by trailhead; small rocks and roots throughout. Intermittent patches of coarse gravel.
Section 2: Stump at 0.32miles; roots at 0.35, 0.38, and 0.4miles; patches of gravel at 0.4, 0.43, and 0.44miles; rocks at 0.44miles. Smaller rocks and roots throughout section, many obscured by leaves. Areas of very soft tread, mud, and rutting, with evidence that other trail users have slipped or fallen in these areas.
Facilities: none
Surveyed in fall 2024 by a person using forearm walking crutches.
Some Important Rules to Know Before Visiting the Trail
Because this unique trail crosses a working farm and forest, there are some important rules for keeping visitors and the farmers and farm animals safe.
The trail is open to pedestrian traffic and horse traffic.
No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed.
Dogs MUST be kept on leashes.
Please stay on the trail. Farm and forestry operations may be going on at any time, staying on the trail keeps you, the farmers, and farm animals safe.
The trail may be closed for mud season to prevent damage. Check this site for updates.
The trail is closed for large game hunting seasons.
The trail may be closed for farm and forestry operations that could be dangerous to users. Please respect all closure signs.