Just behind West Hill House B&B, runs the country’s longest, back-country, Nordic (cross-country) ski trail, stretching the full length of Vermont – Catamount Trail.

Catamount Trail was conceived of 26 years ago by three back-country skiers who dreamt up the idea of tying all the state’s best cross-country ski areas together, stretching from Quebec to Massachusetts. Completed in 2008, Catamount Trail is now 300 miles of well-groomed, back-country ski trails with stretches of true wilderness in between. What a feat! What a treat!

As of this writing, less than 40 skiers have reported pulling off all 300 miles of the trek but that’s really not the point of the trail. Catamount Trail is much more about bringing notice to Vermont’s beautiful and diverse landscape in order to promote the savoring and preserving of it via the promotion and use of this public-access ski trail.

We’re thrilled to be along the route of the trail, in section 18 (out of 31), from Lincoln Gap to Route 17. Thousands of cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts enjoy the trail every winter season, whether they only play for a day or make a longer trip out of it.

Around the first months of every year, the Catamount Trail Association and Bolton Valley team up for the Get Out & Backcountry Ski Festival, which is held in Bolton Valley, only about an hour away from West Hill House B&B. This year, The Get Out & Backcountry Ski Festival is scheduled for February 23rd. The festival is a terrific opportunity to ski with other fans of back-country skiing, to take a few lessons, or to check out some of the latest and greatest in gear. Instructors will be on hand and teaching everything from traditional basics to radical new concepts in back-country skiing.

The Catamount Trail Association offers all sorts of events, tours, and more throughout the year. For more information, please visit their website at: catamounttrail.org.