The Tucker Mountain Town Forest
Management Committee
The seven-member Tucker Mountain Town Forest Management Committee is appointed by the Town of Newbury Selectboard. They are charged with
- creating a management plan and updating it regularly
- planning, constructing and managing trails
- recruiting volunteers and organizing volunteer days
- planning events and celebrations
- organizing and overseeing contracted work in the Town Forest
- promoting stewardship and responsible recreational activities
- advising the Selectboard on management issues
- environmental restoration and management
- promoting the Town Forest as an educational resource for all ages
The History of Tucker Mountain Town Forest
“The highest cultivated land in town, long called the ‘Mountain Carter place,’ from which is a prospect of vast extent and variety, lies a mile or two northwest of the hamlet of West Newbury.”
—History of Newbury by Frederick Wells, 1902
In December of 2018, the Town of Newbury closed on the purchase of 636 acres of land that includes Newbury’s beloved Tucker Mountain and the southern half of Woodchuck Mountain, establishing the Tucker Mountain Town Forest. The Town of Newbury voted to contribute $25,000 of tax dollars toward the purchase. The project was also funded with competitive grants from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Open Space Institute’s Community Forest Fund, the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) Forest Fund, Davis Conservation Foundation, Fields Pond Foundation, and over $100,000 in charitable donations from the community.
Newbury bought the land from the heirs of Phil and Ginny Leach who had purchased most of the property in the early 1970’s to preserve it. Their son Ted and his wife Deborah sold the remaining 142 acres to the town at the same time.
The land comprising the Tucker Mountain Town Forest is an important part of Newbury’s history. The top of the mountain was cleared by 1808, creating its famous 360-degree view. The land is laced with old stone walls, representing a history of agricultural settlement. There are two old foundations on the property and two cellar holes are close to the boundary. A house from the early 1800’s still stands, though it is deteriorating and not safe to enter.
To learn more about the history, see the video slide show “A History of Tucker Mountain.“ The same story is told in a text version as well.
Click through slide show below.
Prohibited activities
- Any activities that are harmful to wildlife habitat, geological features, and the town forest environment are prohibited as establish in the Conservation Easements held by the Vermont Land Trust.
- With the exception of maintenance and emergency vehicles, all motorized vehicles are required to stay on Tucker Mountain Road and the spur road. Driving wheeled vehicles off road on the upper meadow will be strictly prohibited and will be treated as vandalism.
- No fires outside of the fire ring and no fires when fire danger is high, even if warnings are not posted.
- No trash is to be left in the Town Forest. It is the users’ responsibility to remove all trash they bring in. Pack it in, pack it out.
- Illegal dumping will be prosecuted.
- No commercial harvesting of plants such as mushrooms, ginseng, birch bark, etc. without permission from the Newbury Selectboard.
- Temporary tree stands or ground blinds for hunting are permitted two weeks before until two weeks after the specified hunting season with permission from any member of the Management Committee. Tucker Mountain Management Committee holds the right to establish ground blinds for wildlife viewing.
- Temporary stands or blinds for photography are permitted with permission from any member of the Management Committee.
Allowed activities
- The Town Forest allows hiking, cross country skiing, hunting and snowshoeing in any part of the property.
- Mountain bikes and horses are allowed on established trails as long as they are not causing significant erosion.
- Hunting is permitted with adherence to State hunting regulations.
- Wheeled motorized vehicles are permitted on Tucker Mountain Road and the spur road to the top. When there is sufficient snow cover, snowmobiles are allowed on the meadows as long as there is no damage to the turf.
- Fires are allowed in the established fire ring only. If fire danger is high, fires are prohibited.
- Leave No Trace overnight camping is permitted (no digging, no wood cutting, no fire).
Restricted Activities
- All off road vehicles require a valid registration from Vermont (or any other state).
- Dogs are the responsibility of their owners and are to be kept on a leash or under the owner’s strict control.
- Dog owners are responsible for picking up and removing their dog’s excrement.
- During hunting season, signs will be posted warning non-hunters to wear bright colors and to keep dogs on leashes. Signs will also warn hunters to be alert for hikers and other users.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
—John Muir
Tucker Mountain Road to the Summit: East Side, 1.5 miles to the summit, elevation gain: 500 ft., easy
This is a popular, easy route to the summit of Tucker Mountain and a spectacular 360 view of the White Mountains, Wright’s Mountain, Woodchuck Mountain and the Waits River Valley.
Trailhead: From the post office in the small village of West Newbury, VT, drive due west on Tucker Mountain Road for 1.6 miles to a parking lot with a kiosk on the right. If the road is blocked by snow, there is a temporary parking area at 1.4 miles between a house on the left and a small barn on the right where the road widens as a snow plow turnaround. This is private land, so please respect the landowner’s generosity.
Route: Walk the road 1.2 miles to where it reaches its highest point, then turn left (south) on an old road that leads through a small patch of forest before opening to the old pastures that surround the top of Tucker. Hike the last .3 mile to the summit (1690 ft.).
Features: The stone walls along the way are remnants of a time when farmers living on the mountain cleared pastures for cows and sheep. You will walk past a deteriorating old house that was built sometime around 1808. Across the road and to the east of that is a cellar hole from another house built around that same time. The road crosses the West Branch of Halls Brook.
Erosion: Notice the erosion on the summit meadows caused by years of unrestricted use by ATV’s and other off-road vehicles. The Tucker Mountain Town Forest Management Committee is working on restoration of the terrain and control of vehicles to reverse this serious problem.
Tucker Mountain Road to the Summit: West Side, 1 mile to the summit, elevation gain 445 ft., easy
From the West, head north from the village of East Corinth, VT, for 1 mile and turn right on Thompson Rd. In 1 mile, Thompson Rd. becomes Bowen Road. Continue .6 miles on Bowen Road to Tucker Mountain Road on the right. Follow Tucker Mountain Road 1 mile to its intersection with Woodchuck Town Trail. Just beyond that, the parking lot and kiosk are across the road from a small house by and an orange gate. The summit is 1 mile from the parking lot.
Features: Meadow Brook, stone walls, ponds, beaver activity, hemlock and hardwood forests.
Putnam Trail, 1.5 miles to the summit, elevation gain 500 ft., moderate
Route: This trail leads from the east parking lot to the summit of Tucker Mountain. The Lower Putnam Trail can be wet and muddy after rain or during snow melt. The trail parallels Tucker Mountain Road to the north then turns south and crosses the road .5 miles from the parking lot.
Once the trail crosses Tucker Mountain Road, it becomes the Upper Putman Trail and continues up an old road called the Old Boulevard for .3 miles, then turns west (right) into the woods. Follow the yellow blazes. The trail switches back around some interesting rock ledges and continues to a ridge where it switches back to follow the ridge north. In about .3 mile, trail leaves the ridge and continues west to the summit.
History: The trail is named for West Newbury’s Putnam family. Tarrant and Daniel Putnam and their families each built homesteads and cleared land on the east side of Tucker Mountain in the 1790’s. Many of their descendants still live in Newbury and presently the seventh generation represents an unbroken chain of Putnam farmers. The old Putnam Cemetery is adjacent to the Town Forest.
Woodchuck Mountan Loop Trail, 1.2 Miles, elevation gain 262 ft., moderate
At 1742 ft., Woodchuck Mountain is the highest point in Newbury. This is a loop trail with trailheads leading north off of Tucker Mountain Road. The trailhead nearest the upper kiosk is across from the second pond which is .2 miles west of the kiosk. The second trailhead is .2 miles further west along the road.
Route: Start at either trailhead and follow the yellow blazes. When you reach the top, there is a short spur trail to the summit sign. Follow the yellow blazes down to the other trailhead.
Features: This trail winds its way through lovely hardwood forests and past interesting areas of exposed stratifications of bedrock.
