Joseph Battell Wilderness
The Joseph Battell Wilderness is located in the northern half of the Green Mountain National Forest, just south of the Breadloaf Wilderness. There are five mountains in the area with altitudes exceeding 3,000 feet: Monastery Mountain, Worth Mountain, Romance Mountain, Mount Horrid, and Philadelphia Peak. The area is a rare ecological gem. It contains many patches of large, mature northern hardwoods, the longest section of roadless and trailless ridgeline on the Green Mountain National Forest, and the headwaters of Bingo Brook, one of the most pristine, high-quality trout streams in Vermont. Because of its remoteness, the area provides critical habitat for black bear.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Vermont |
| Size | 12,336 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.89° N, 72.97° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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
3 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 57 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Long ↗ | 55.6 | |
| Sucker Brook ↗ | 1.2 | |
| Mount Horrid - Great Cliff | 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
- 0.8 miStone, Ruth, House ↗Goshen, VT
- 3.5 miRipton Community House ↗Ripton, VT
- 3.6 miForestdale Iron Furnace ↗Brandon, VT
- 5.3 miMiddlebury Gorge Concrete Arch Bridge ↗Middlebury, VT
- 5.6 miSalisbury Village Blacksmith Shop ↗Salisbury, VT
- 5.6 miSalisbury Town Hall ↗Salisbury, VT
- 5.6 miWaybury Inn ↗East Middlebury, VT
- 5.6 miStagecoach Inn ↗Leicester, 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 Joseph Battell Wilderness?
12,336 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Joseph Battell Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Joseph Battell Wilderness in?
Vermont.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Joseph Battell Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Joseph Battell 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 Joseph Battell Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.892° N, 72.971° W. Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park is 24 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Joseph Battell Wilderness?
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (24 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Joseph Battell Wilderness?
The National Register has 61 listings within 15 miles, including Stone, Ruth, House 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.