George D. Aiken Wilderness
This Wilderness was named after the late Vermont senator George D. Aiken. He was a strong advocate of preservation and a leader in securing the Eastern Wilderness Act of 1975. In spring and summer, be prepared for swarming mosquitoes and black flies. Beavers are very active here, chewing trees down to stumps and building dams. Brook trout live in their ponds and make for excellent fishing opportunities. Bears, moose, deer, otters, and many smaller mammals and birds share the area. The Aiken Wilderness is situated on a plateau rising as high as 2,300 feet. General conditions are wet and marshy as the ground surface of the Aiken Wilderness is covered with a great deal of water.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Vermont |
| Size | 4,800 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.86° N, 73.04° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireCherry Plain
20 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
- 5.1 miMedburyville Bridge ↗Wilmington, VT
- 5.5 miWhitney, Cora B., School ↗Bennington, VT
- 5.5 miDistrict No. 1 Schoolhouse ↗Somerset, VT
- 5.7 miBradford, W.h., Hook and Ladder Fire House ↗Bennington, VT
- 5.8 miE. J. Bullock Block ↗Readsboro, VT
- 5.8 miBennington High School ↗Bennington, VT
- 5.8 miCarrigan Lane Historic District ↗Bennington, VT
- 5.9 miBull, William C., House ↗Bennington, 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 George D. Aiken Wilderness?
4,800 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages George D. Aiken Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is George D. Aiken Wilderness in?
Vermont.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was George D. Aiken Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to George D. Aiken Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.859° N, 73.044° W. Saratoga National Historical Park is 30 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near George D. Aiken Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Cherry Plain at 20 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near George D. Aiken Wilderness?
Saratoga 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 George D. Aiken Wilderness?
The National Register has 54 listings within 15 miles, including Medburyville Bridge and Whitney, Cora B., 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.