Aitken State Forest

Aitken State Forest covers 918 acres (3.72 km²) in Mendon, Vermont in Rutland County.^[1] The forest is managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation for timber resources, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities.

Aitken State Forest
Type	State forest
Location	Mendon, Rutland County, Vermont
Coordinates	43.5834°N 72.9285°W / 43.5834; -72.9285
Area	918 acres (3.72 km2)
Created	1912
Operated by	Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Website	Website

Activities in the forest include hiking, hunting, primitive camping, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.^[2] The Bald Mountain Trail (4.2 miles round trip) is noted for its four vista locations with panoramic views of the Green Mountains, Otter Creek and Cold River valleys, and Rutland.^[3][4] The forest is also known as a birding site.^[5]

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) maintains a ½ mile snowmobiling trail in the forest.

Natural features

Bald Mountain (2087’) is located at the center of the park, and provides views in all directions.

History

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a camp on this state forest in the 1930s, and helped with forest management work including thinning 192 acres of Norway spruce trees and white pines that were planted between 1913 and 1924 following forest fires in the early 1900s.^[1]