Big Branch Wilderness
Named after Big Branch Stream, this area provides a home for wild turkeys, beavers, and moose. Hunters track the substantial populations of white-tailed deer and black bears, while trout lure anglers to Big Branch Stream and Lake Brook. Approximately 80 percent of the forest leafs out in northern hardwoods–maple, beech, and birch–and straddles the steep slopes and summits of the Green Mountains. Red spruce, balsam fir, and hemlock pretty much fill out the rest of the trees. Elbow Swamp, a large wetland, lies on the eastern edge of the Wilderness, and hikers who intend to wander there should wear rubber boots. The weather is cool from spring through fall, followed by long, snowy winters that attract cross-country skiers.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Vermont |
| Size | 6,725 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.32° N, 72.96° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 3 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
9 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 187 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail/Long Trail ↗ | 105.2 | |
| Corridor 7 ↗ | 60.7 | |
| Corridor 7 - Fr 30 to 11/30 ↗ | 11.8 | |
| Mad Tom | 3.1 | |
| Lake | 2.8 | |
| Old Job | 2 | |
| Baker Peak | 0.9 | |
| Lost Pond Shelter Spur | 0.1 | |
| Lake Trail Spur | under 0.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireCherry Plain
50 mi from the center point · 251 acres · 99% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 13.6 miBrown Covered Bridge ↗National Historic Landmark
- 2.2 miWilson House ↗East Dorset, VT
- 4 mi
- 4.2 miHall, Gen. Robinson, House ↗Wallingford, VT
- 4.5 miHulett Farm ↗Wallingford, VT
- 4.7 miHager Farm ↗Wallingford, VT
- 6 miFox--Cook Farm ↗Wallingford, VT
- 6.5 miWaldo, Homer, Farm ↗Wallingford, VT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Vermont
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Branch Wilderness?
6,725 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Branch Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Branch Wilderness in?
Vermont.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Branch Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Big Branch Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Big Branch Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.324° N, 72.960° W. Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park is 27 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Big Branch Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Cherry Plain at 50 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Big Branch Wilderness?
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (27 mi) and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (30 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Big Branch Wilderness?
The National Register has 36 listings within 15 miles, including Brown Covered Bridge and Wilson House.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.