Popular Northeast Kingdom peak becomes protected state land

One of the Northeast Kingdom’s most iconic peaks — Wheeler Mountain, located just west of Lake Willoughby — is now protected state land.

The Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation announced the purchase of the mountain’s scenic ridgeline, granite cliffs, hiking trail and rock climbing access from private owner John Krieble in a press release on July 8. Public access to the area was previously permitted under a temporary trail easement.

“Wheeler Mountain is such an incredible feature in the broader Willoughby landscape, and a wonderful ecological and recreational resource,” Luke O’Brien, forest recreation specialist with the department, said in the release. “The landowners have been very gracious — over many decades — allowing public use. It is gratifying that they were willing to entrust this place to FPR’s care as an addition to Willoughby State Forest.”

The 2,371-foot-tall peak boasts a relatively short hiking trail with sweeping views and myriad south-facing climbing routes dating back to at least 1947. It also provides nesting habitat for peregrine falcons and lies within a regionally significant wildlife corridor stretching from the Worcester Range near Stowe through the Northeast Kingdom.

“I’m thrilled to know that the Wheeler Mountain trails and cliffs will now be protected for generations of hikers and rock climbers to come,” Krieble said in the release.

The sale adds 118.6 acres to the 7,682-acre Willoughby State Forest, and was funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and the Fish and Wildlife Department’s habitat stamp program.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Popular Northeast Kingdom peak becomes protected state land .