Breadloaf Wilderness
The largest of the Wildernesses in the Green Mountain National Forest, Breadloaf takes its name from Breadloaf Mountain, the highest point in the area at 3,835 feet. Within the boundaries you'll be able to climb Vermont's Presidential Range: Mounts Wilson, Roosevelt, Cleveland, and Grant. Although evidence of past logging operations can still be seen, the forest is quickly regenerating and numerous wildlife species take cover in these cutover sections. Moose and black bears live here in considerable numbers. Breadloaf contains the headwaters of the New Haven and White Rivers, both well stocked with small brook trout. The Norske Trail provides a primitive cross country ski or snow shoe experience.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Vermont |
| Size | 24,985 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.01° N, 72.92° 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
10 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 77 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Long ↗ | 55.6 | |
| Burnt Hill ↗ | 6.6 | |
| Emily Proctor ↗ | 3.7 | |
| Cooley Glen ↗ | 3.2 | |
| Clark Brook ↗ | 3.1 | |
| Skylight Pond Trail West ↗ | 2.3 | |
| Norske | 1.4 | |
| Silent Cliff ↗ | 0.4 | |
| Breadloaf Spur | 0.1 | |
| Skylight Pond Trail East | 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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.4 miWarren Covered Bridge ↗Warren, VT
- 3.1 miRipton Community House ↗Ripton, VT
- 4.5 miRoxbury Fish Hatchery ↗Roxbury, VT
- 5.5 miMiddlebury Gorge Concrete Arch Bridge ↗Middlebury, VT
- 5.8 miStone, Ruth, House ↗Goshen, VT
- 5.9 miWaybury Inn ↗East Middlebury, VT
- 6.6 miSouth Starksboro Friends Meeting House and Cemetery ↗Starksboro, VT
- 7.5 miSalisbury Village Blacksmith Shop ↗Salisbury, VT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Vermont
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Breadloaf Wilderness?
24,985 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Breadloaf Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Breadloaf Wilderness in?
Vermont.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Breadloaf Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Breadloaf 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 Breadloaf Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.014° N, 72.916° W. Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Breadloaf Wilderness?
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Breadloaf Wilderness?
The National Register has 64 listings within 15 miles, including Warren Covered Bridge and Ripton Community 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.