Morse Farm Ski Touring Center

12/17/2022

Asked when the current snowfall will be groomed, the ghost of groomers past replied:

Wet snow becomes instant mush, then rough ice when the temperature drops below freezing. The same happens when a trail is skied with the minimal cover this storm is bringing.

It will be best for everyone if you stay off the trails until the snow settles and the temperature drops. At that point four to five inches of snow can be groomed to provide an excellent base for the season. Otherwise, we'll wind up with a permanent mess for the season - for both the groomer and the skiers. 😮‍💨

04/17/2020

Home News and Features Cautions for Park Trail Use! News and Features Cautions for Park Trail Use! By J. Gregory Gerdel - April 15, 2020 8 0 Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Father and daughter dance up the stepping-sticks on the Pond to Tower Trail in Hubbard Park. Photo by J. Gregory Gerdel. Wh...

01/17/2020

THE MORSE FARM SKI CENTER IS CLOSED. The trails west of county road are being groomed by a coalition of Montpelier Parks staff and volunteers with the permission of the Morse family. PLEASE STAY ON THE GROOMED TRAILS as these trails are all on private property and there are many un-groomed feeder trails that lead to private residences.” Parks Director Alec Ellsworth posted on the Montpelier Parks page on Friday January 17, 2020.

01/17/2020

“THE MORSE FARM SKI CENTER IS NOT OPEN. The trails west of county road are being groomed by a coalition of Parks staff and volunteers with the permission of the Morse family. PLEASE STAY ON THE GROOMED TRAILS as these trails are all on private property and there are many un-groomed feeder trails that lead to private residences.” Parks Director Alec Ellsworth posted on the Montpelier Parks page on Friday January 17, 2020.

UPDATE 3:30PM: We're experiencing some grooming issues and weren't able to get out to the Morse Farm trails today. The plan is to get out there tomorrow morning. Hubbard Park, North Branch Park, and the North Branch Nature Center trails are groomed and looking beautiful. Might we suggest leaving work early to go for a ski? It's Friday after all...

Ski Trail Update:
The Snow is cold and crisp, making for some really good skiing! We're out grooming Hubbard Park and the North Branch Park right now, and then Onion River Nordic Ski Club will be grooming to old Morse Farm Ski Trails after. Everything should be groomed by about 1pm today.

Please note that THE MORSE FARM SKI CENTER IS NOT OPEN. The trails west of county road are being groomed by a coalition of Parks staff and volunteers with the permission of the Morse family. PLEASE STAY ON THE GROOMED TRAILS as these trails are all on private property and there are many un-groomed feeder trails that lead to private residences.

The best place to park to access these trails is in a lot at the corner of North Street and Cummings St (formerly known as West Wind trails).

01/23/2019

U-32 is not a Ski Touring Center. The frequent appearance of uninvited skiers on the U-32 cross country ski trails during the school day, or conflicting with team practices, has resulted in the following statement from the school administration:

U-32's Nordic trails are maintained first and foremost for U-32's middle and high school Nordic Ski teams, and then for our local community members outside of school hours, and team practice and event times.

Its mention on your website, and possibly personal referrals, has inadvertently resulted in visits at times that conflict with our facility's needs. It should also be noted that as a public school, there are also additional legal restrictions (no smoking, drugs (including ma*****na), alcohol,) as well as that we are a no pets campus - so no dogs.

Outside of school hours, and after-school when our teams are on our trails, members of our community are otherwise welcome to make use of U-32's Nordic ski trails.

Respectfully,

Lesley J Fitch
U-32 Administrative Assistant to the Principal
930 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier, VT 05602-8248
802-229-0321 ext. 5127 [email protected]

01/11/2019

The latest snowfall has opened the trails in Hubbard and North Branch parks for some great skiing. Please Like and Follow Montpelier Parks!

09/18/2018

Hello Friends,
Some important news.... After exploring countless options and avenues, after much soul searching and deep deliberation we've concluded that Morse Farm will no longer offer ski touring. Climate change has not been our friend....

The 17 years we've worked at this has provided some of the most memorable winter experiences any of us have known and we are incredibly grateful we were able to fulfill an important part of our original mission by providing a healthy-happy outdoor community experience for Central Vermont. For the project to work we needed bad weather years to be the exception. Unfortunately, now the good years are the exception. To reliably deliver the minimum level of skiing, staff, equipment and maintenance the ski area requires is simply more than the climate is now offering in snow. We are truly grateful for the support you've shown, for the hard dedicated work the groomers and shop staff have shown and most importantly for the generosity and commitment the Morse family and wonderful staff has demonstrated in making this possible for all these years.

Since we began 17 years ago, U-32 and Hubbard Park have upped their games, so as a community we still have good places to ski (not to mention the new multi use trails that are under way) and we are excited to see you out on those trails and supporting those who create and maintain them.

We know our skiing community will continue to support Morse Farm as it focuses on its core work, whether its creemees, maple syrup or their wonderful fruits and vegetables.

Thanks to you all,

Nat, Chip, Bill, Burr and Tom
Morse Farm ski touring partners