Vermont Huts & Trails Celebrates 10 Years

June 8, 2026

Anniversary celebration event set for June 18th in Richmond, VT; a decade of huts, trails, and expanding access to Vermont’s backcountry

WATERBURY, VT (June 8, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ — Vermont Huts & Trails (VHT), the nonprofit organization behind Vermont’s growing network of backcountry huts and the Velomont multi-day bike trail, is marking its 10th anniversary this summer with a community celebration and a look back at a decade of transformative work in outdoor recreation, conservation, and accessibility.

The organization invites the public to join them on Thursday, June 18th, from 6–9PM at the VYCC Barn (1949 E Main St., Richmond, VT) for an evening of live music from The Grift, pizza from Woodbelly, a silent auction, and prizes. Space is limited, and tickets are available at vermonthuts.org/10th-anniversary

From One Meeting to a Movement

Vermont Huts & Trails traces its origins to a single meeting on July 12, 2016, when a small group of outdoor enthusiasts gathered at the Green Mountain Club headquarters in Waterbury Center, VT to explore the idea of a cohesive, four-season hut network serving multiple user groups. Co-founders RJ Thompson and Devin Littlefield volunteered to move the idea forward, and by August 2016, the Vermont Huts Association was officially incorporated as a nonprofit entity.

The organization’s first partner hut, the Vermont River Conservancy’s Nulhegan Confluence Hut, joined the network in August 2018. Just a month later, VHT opened its first purpose-built hut—Chittenden Brook Hut in Green Mountain National Forest, constructed off-site by students at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School and designed from the start to be ADA-friendly and accessible to a diverse range of guests.

A Decade of Milestones

Over the past ten years, Vermont Huts & Trails has expanded well beyond its original vision:

• The Velomont Trail: Conceived in 2019 as a collaboration with Vermont Mountain Bike Association chapters, such as Ridgeline Outdoor Collective, the Velomont is now a multi-day, hut-supported bike route threading through the Green Mountains.
• The F.O.R.E.S.T. Program: Launched in February 2020, this initiative—Fostering Outdoor Recreation, Education, Sustainability, and Teamwork—provides free hut retreats including transportation, gear, food, and outdoor education to underserved youth and historically marginalized communities.
• In total, Vermont Huts & Trails has accommodated over 60,000 hut guests, expanded their network to 19 huts, built over 32 miles of new and/or improved Velomont Trail, and hosted nearly 300 FOREST participants—all while partnering to conserve thousands of acres, support local economies, and increase access to outdoor recreation.

Looking Ahead

With new huts on the horizon, hundreds of F.O.R.E.S.T. Program participants each year, and thousands of hut guests annually, Vermont Huts & Trails is entering its second decade with significant momentum. Most notably, they are soon to begin renovations of a building they acquired in Randolph, VT that will become an ADA-friendly hostel to outdoor adventures and travelers, alike. Additionally, they are about to proceed with a major extension of the Velomont Trail after the U.S. Forest Service approved approximately 72 miles of National Forest System trails in the Manchester Ranger District and 30+ miles in the Rochester District in late 2025. The recently approved Velomont mileage in the Green Mountain National Forest will unlock new trail connections between Rochester and Killington and deepen the organization’s impact on Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy. This summer VHT will also begin construction of the South Pond Hut in Green Mountain National Forest, which will soon serve as a stopping point along the Velomont Trail and Catamount Trail.

“Ten years ago, we set out to build a hut. But together, we’ve built a lot more than that. We’re grateful that so many people believe, as we do, in the positive impact outdoor recreation can have on people, their communities, the environment, and local economies.” — RJ Thompson, Executive Director, Vermont Huts & Trails

10th Anniversary Celebration — Event Details

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026

Time: 6–9 PM

Location: VYCC Barn, 1949 E Main St., Richmond, VT

Features: Live music from The Grift, pizza from Woodbelly, silent auction, prizes

Tickets: RSVP at vermonthuts.org/10th-anniversary

About Vermont Huts & Trails

Vermont Huts & Trails is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; our mission is to foster a deeper appreciation for our natural environment and strengthen Vermont’s communities by providing enriching and immersive outdoor experiences for all. VHT is headquartered at 87 S. Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676.

Media Contact

Matt Ogelby: matt@vermonthuts.org
Marketing Manager (802) 798-3003
Vermont Huts & Trails: vermonthuts.org