A cozy, off-the-grid cabin makes a great recreation basecamp year-round, and a network of riverside trails give walkers, anglers, and paddlers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wild Nulhegan River.
Has bathroom
Has bathroom
Dogs allowed on leash
Dogs allowed on leash
No cell service
No cell service
Hiking
Hiking
Winter access
Winter access
Danger, use caution
Danger, use caution
!Special considerations:
The parking area is plowed in winter. Your donation will help us continue to provide year-round access.
Cell phone reception is not reliable, but there is some limited cell phone reception depending on carrier.
Please note that there have been occasional thefts from the parking area.
Nestled on a 70 acre parcel of conserved lands near the confluence of the Nulhegan River and its East Branch, Vermont River Conservancy’s Nulhegan Hut and Trail system provides a unique opportunity to explore Vermont’s woods and waters.
The Nulhegan Hut is an insulated 14×18 timber framed cabin with a loft, kitchen area, wood stove, deck, and porch. Built by Yestermorrow Design Build School students and more than forty volunteers, it is open for use by reservation through Vermont Huts Association. Firewood and cooking gas is provided.
Whether staying overnight or exploring the area by day, 1.5 miles of trails give visitors the chance to experience wetlands, meadows, and riverside forests, providing glimpses of the wild Nulhegan River and its unruly East Branch. The trails are generally level and suitable for users of all ages and abilities.
For skilled whitewater paddlers, the river access serves as a take-out for whitewater enthusiasts seeking to run the one mile Class III Nulhegan Gorge immediately upstream. Or, for those seeking a milder paddle, it’s a put-in for paddlers to explore the Class I and quickwater run, paddling 3-miles to the confluence with the Connecticut River in Bloomfield, where paddlers can takeout at DeBanville Landing (also protected by Vermont River Conservancy). The gorge is is one of the “top ten” intermediate whitewater runs in the state, and is runnable in closed boats during the spring, early summer, as well as after fall rains. The Class I section downstream can be run most seasons, although during the summer, expect to walk approximately 0.5 miles to near the confluence of the Nulhegan and the East Branch.
Conservation Details
River: Main Stem and East Branch of the Nulhegan River
Acreage: 70.00
River frontage (ft): 18,126
Funding Partners
This project made possible thanks to the support and partnership of:
The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund
Vermont Recreational Trails Program
Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund
Carl Taylor
Lowes
Pella Windows and Doors
Directions
From the west: Take Route 105 from Island Pond. After 10 miles, you will pass the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge Nulhegan Basin Visitor Center. From this Visitor Center, continue on Route 105 for 2.7 miles. The road will descend a hill, cross the river, and then descend another hill. Parking is in the large field on the right, just past a dilapidated cabin. If you get to East Branch Rd. or cross a bridge over the East Branch of the Nulhegan River, you’ve gone too far.
From the east: From Bloomfield, take Route 105 west for 2.6 miles. You will pass over the East Branch of the Nulhegan River. The East Branch Road will be on your right. The meadow parking area will be on the left, past the service road.
From the parking area, it is a 300-yard walk, snowshoe, or ski to the hut. Those with disabilities seeking authorization to drive in along the service road (summer only) should contact vrc@vermontriverconservancy.org.
