You’re driving up Route 100, the "skier’s highway," and you see the signs for Stowe. Most people just keep going. They want the boutiques, the overpriced cider donuts, and the paved paths. But if you hang a right into the Worcester Range, you hit CC Putnam State Forest. It’s huge. We're talking over 13,000 acres of rugged, high-elevation terrain that feels vastly different from the manicured parks closer to Burlington.
Honestly, it's a bit of a beast.
CC Putnam State Forest isn't a "nature walk" kind of place. It’s the backbone of the Worcester Mountains, stretching across Middlesex, Worcester, Stowe, and Elmore. If you look at a map of Vermont, it’s that long, green spine sitting just east of the more famous Green Mountain National Forest. While the tourists are fighting for parking at Camel’s Hump, the locals are usually tucked away here, probably getting their boots muddy on the Monadnock Mountain or Hunger Mountain trails.
The Mount Hunger Hype is Actually Real
Most people find CC Putnam because they want to summit Mount Hunger. It’s the "star" of the forest, and for good reason. At 3,538 feet, it’s not a 4,000-footer, but the summit is open rock. That’s the key. Because the top is bald, you get a 360-degree view that, on a clear day, lets you see the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks in New York simultaneously. It’s wild.
But here’s the thing about the Middlesex Trail vs. the Waterbury Trail.
The Waterbury Trail (off Sweet Road) is the one everyone uses. It’s steep. It’s rocky. It’s basically a vertical stream bed after a heavy rain. You’ll gain about 2,300 feet in just over two miles. Your calves will burn. You will probably question your life choices around mile 1.5. But then you hit that upper ridgeline, and the wind kicks up, and suddenly you’re standing on top of the world.
If you want to avoid the crowds, you take the Middlesex Trail. It’s a bit longer, maybe 2.6 miles one way, but it feels more "wildernessy." You pass through these deep, dark stands of hemlock and spruce that feel like they haven't changed since the 1800s.
What people get wrong about the summit
I’ve seen people head up there in flip-flops. Don't do that. CC Putnam State Forest is notorious for rapid weather shifts. Because the Worcester Range stands somewhat isolated from the main Green Mountain spine, it catches the weather differently. You can start in 70-degree sunshine at the trailhead and be shivering in 45-degree fog at the summit forty-five minutes later.
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It’s Not Just One Big Park
The forest is actually a patchwork. It’s named after Charles C. Putnam, a guy who ran a massive lumber operation in the area during the mid-to-late 19th century. His mills were everywhere. When you’re hiking the lower elevations near the Middlesex Notch, look for the stone foundations. They’re everywhere—ghosts of an old economy where sheep farming and timber were king before the forest reclaimed the land.
The state started buying this land back in the early 1900s. It’s managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and they take a multi-use approach. This isn't a pristine, "touch-nothing" sanctuary; it’s a working forest. You might see active timber management sections where they’re thinning out trees to improve forest health or create early-successional habitat for wildlife like ruffed grouse.
Wildlife and the "Big Woods" Feel
This is black bear country. Seriously. While you're unlikely to see one on a crowded Saturday on Mount Hunger, the interior sections of CC Putnam are prime territory. There’s a lot of beech and oak in the lower reaches, and when the "mast" (the nuts) drops in the fall, it’s a buffet.
You've also got:
- Moose: They love the boggy areas near the high-elevation notches.
- Peregrine Falcons: They often nest on the cliffs of Mount Pisgah (the one in this range, not the one by Lake Willoughby) and occasionally near Mount Hunger.
- Fishers: Those weird, oversized weasels that sound like screaming children in the middle of the night.
The Skyline Trail: For the Truly Dedicated
If you want to experience the full scale of CC Putnam State Forest, you have to talk about the Skyline Trail. This is a ridge-line traverse that connects Mount Hunger to Mount Worcester. It’s about 5.6 miles just for the ridge section, but since you have to hike up and then hike down, it ends up being an 11 or 12-mile day.
It is grueling.
It’s not a well-groomed path. It’s narrow. It’s overgrown in spots. There are "Pucker Brush" sections where you’re basically pushing through balsam fir. But it’s the only way to truly see the scope of the forest. You’re walking the spine. To your west is the Stowe Valley and the massive silhouette of Mount Mansfield. To your east, it’s just rolling green hills toward the Connecticut River valley.
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Most hikers underestimate the "pumping" nature of this trail. You aren't just walking a flat ridge. You’re dropping into notches and climbing back out, over and over. If you're going to do it, bring a filter. There isn't much reliable water once you're on top of the ridge.
Moss Glen Falls: The "Easy" Entry Point
Not everyone wants to sweat for four hours. I get that. On the Stowe side of CC Putnam State Forest, you have Moss Glen Falls. It’s technically part of the forest, though it feels like its own little world. It’s one of the most photographed waterfalls in Vermont.
The walk in is flat. Maybe five or ten minutes. Then you hit the viewpoint and see the water carving through a narrow gorge, dropping about 125 feet in total. It’s spectacular.
But there’s a catch. People get hurt here every year. They try to climb the wet rocks or get too close to the edge of the steep embankments. The soil is mostly loose shale and duff; it gives way instantly. Stay on the designated paths. The view from the "official" overlook is better than the view you’ll get while sliding down a ravine on your backside.
Winter in the Worcester Range
When the snow hits, CC Putnam transforms. The Worcester Range is a favorite for "backcountry" enthusiasts. I’m not talking about groomed cross-country ski trails like you’d find at Trapp Family Lodge. I’m talking about breaking trail on snowshoes or skins.
The Middlesex Notch is a popular spot for winter travel. It’s an old pass that people used to use to get between the valleys before modern roads made it easier to just drive around. In the winter, it’s silent. The hemlocks get weighed down by snow, creating these little "snow caves."
Safety Warning: Don't go deep into the CC Putnam interior in winter without an offline GPS map (like Gaia or AllTrails Pro) and a physical compass. The markers on the Skyline Trail can be completely buried or obscured by rime ice. People get disoriented in the "green tunnels" of the high-altitude fir forests remarkably fast.
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Planning Your Trip: The Practical Stuff
If you're heading out, you need to know where to park. The main trailheads are:
- Waterbury Trailhead: End of Sweet Road in Waterbury Center. This fills up by 9:00 AM on weekends.
- Middlesex Trailhead: End of Bear Swamp Road in Middlesex. It’s a dirt road, often rough in mud season.
- Moss Glen Falls: Right off Route 100 in Stowe. Small parking lot, high turnover.
The Mud Season Rule
This is important. Vermont has a "Mud Season" (usually mid-April to Memorial Day). The state often asks hikers to stay off high-elevation trails during this time. Why? Because the soil is saturated and fragile. Hiking on it creates deep ruts, destroys rare alpine vegetation, and causes massive erosion. If the gates are closed or there's a sign at the trailhead, please respect it. CC Putnam will still be there in June.
Gear Check
Forget the fancy "athleisure." You want wool or synthetic layers. Even in July, the summit of Mount Hunger can be damp and chilly.
- Water: At least 2 liters for a summit hike.
- Feet: Waterproof boots are better than trail runners here because of the mud and loose rock.
- Tech: Cell service is spotty at best once you dip into the valleys between the peaks. Download your maps before you leave the house.
Why CC Putnam Matters
In a state where so much land is private or heavily developed for tourism, CC Putnam State Forest is a massive, contiguous block of public land. It’s essential for "habitat connectivity." This is a fancy way of saying that animals need large, unbroken stretches of woods to move, hunt, and breed. Because this forest connects to other state lands and private conserved parcels, it allows wildlife to travel from the Lamoille River valley all the way down toward the Winooski River.
It’s also a carbon sink. These thousands of acres of maturing trees are doing the heavy lifting for Vermont’s climate goals. When you walk through the forest, you aren't just looking at pretty trees; you’re looking at a massive, living lungs-of-the-state.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Check the Vermont State Parks website for any active trail closures or maintenance alerts before you drive out.
- Park legally. If the lot at Sweet Road is full, don't park on the grass or block driveways. Have a Plan B, like heading to the nearby Little River State Park.
- Pack it out. There are no trash cans in the forest. If you brought a granola bar, the wrapper stays in your pocket until you get home.
- Try the "Loop": If you're fit, hike up the Waterbury Trail to Mount Hunger, take the connector to White Rocks Mountain (another peak in the forest), and come back down. The view from White Rocks is arguably better than Hunger because it's less crowded.
- Visit in October. Yes, it's "Peepers" season, but the view of the gold and red hardwood canopy from the Worcester Range ridge is genuinely life-changing.
CC Putnam State Forest doesn't care if you're a pro hiker or a weekend warrior. It’s rugged, it’s messy, and it’s steep. But if you want to see the real Vermont—the one that exists away from the gift shops and the ski lifts—this is where you find it. Grab your boots, check the weather, and get moving.