Bristol Cliffs Wilderness
Bristol Cliffs, Vermont's smallest Wilderness, takes its name from the overhanging cliffs on the huge rocky slopes within the western portion of the area. From their 1,500-foot summit, you can gaze across Champlain Valley, over Lake Champlain, and into the Adirondacks of New York. A bulge of quartzite called Devil's Pulpit, probably used by early Native American toolmakers, dominates the cliff face. The face is considered unsafe for climbing. The forest of Bristol Cliffs provides habitat for beavers, white-tailed deer, black bears, and grouse. If you're lucky, you might spot a peregrine falcon on the cliffs. Two secluded ponds, North and Gilmore, are nestled deep in the interior. Numerous streams tumble musically over low waterfalls.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Vermont |
| Size | 3,750 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.10° N, 73.05° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.9 miUnion Church ↗New Haven, VT
- 1.9 miLampson School ↗New Haven, VT
- 3.1 miSouth Starksboro Friends Meeting House and Cemetery ↗Starksboro, VT
- 4.3 miHalpin Covered Bridge ↗Middlebury, VT
- 5.4 miBrooksville Advent Church ↗New Haven, VT
- 5.4 miDog Team Tavern ↗New Haven, VT
- 5.4 miNew Haven Junction Depot ↗New Haven, VT
- 5.6 miEast Monkton Church ↗Monkton, 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 Bristol Cliffs Wilderness?
3,750 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bristol Cliffs Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bristol Cliffs Wilderness in?
Vermont.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bristol Cliffs Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Bristol Cliffs Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.104° N, 73.049° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Bristol Cliffs Wilderness?
The National Register has 51 listings within 15 miles, including Union Church and Lampson School.
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.
- 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.