In 1959, Vermont bought Snake Mountain land but not the timber rights. Seven decades later, the state wants to reunite them

A land deal dating back to 1959 is about to enter a new chapter at one of Vermont’s most important wildlife areas.

When Vermont acquired the property that became the Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area, the state obtained the land but the seller retained the timber rights. Nearly seven decades later, Vermont is preparing to acquire those rights as part of a broader effort to expand and protect the landscape.

With support from the Trust for Public Land, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department plans to secure timber rights covering about 949 acres of Snake Mountain WMA. The state also plans to purchase another 256 acres in Addison and Weybridge.


If completed as expected by early 2027, the projects would expand the protected area and give the state greater control over how its forests are managed.

A bigger Snake Mountain is taking shape

Snake Mountain WMA sits between Addison and Weybridge and currently covers about 1,215 acres of mostly forested land surrounded by farmland.

The planned 256-acre acquisition would add nearly a quarter to the existing wildlife area. It would also improve connections between habitats while creating more protected space for hiking, hunting and wildlife watching.

But the timber-rights acquisition could be just as significant.

Although Vermont has owned much of the land for decades, the separate timber rights meant forestry decisions were not entirely under state control. Bringing the two interests together would allow Vermont Fish & Wildlife to manage forests, wildlife habitat and recreation as one landscape.

That could also affect how future logging roads and skid trails are designed, allowing them to be considered alongside conservation priorities.

The unusual arrangement began more than six decades ago

The split ownership dates to Vermont’s 1959 purchase.

The state bought the land for conservation and public access, while the seller retained the rights to grow, manage and harvest timber. Similar arrangements have existed on other Vermont Fish & Wildlife properties.

Now, the state wants to eliminate that division.

Acquiring the rights would give Vermont Fish & Wildlife more flexibility to balance forestry with wildlife habitat, water quality, recreation and long-term conservation.

Snake Mountain is home to more than forests

The mountain’s value extends well beyond its hiking trails.

Snake Mountain WMA contains eight types of wetlands, including a glacial bog believed to be roughly 9,500 years old. Its forests and wetlands support a wide variety of wildlife.

Peregrine falcons nest on the mountain’s western cliffs, while mature trees provide roosting habitat for endangered Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats.

The area also supports woodland mammals, game birds, songbirds, amphibians and other species.

Expanding and connecting these habitats could become increasingly important as changing environmental conditions put additional pressure on wildlife.

The landscape could also help with climate resilience

Conservationists see the larger, more connected property as an opportunity to strengthen the Champlain Valley’s natural landscape.

More protected lowland forest could provide additional habitat while wetlands and headwater streams would receive greater protection. Connected natural areas can also give wildlife more room to move and adapt as conditions change.

That matters particularly at Snake Mountain, where a largely forested landscape sits amid extensive farmland.

Federal funding is helping make the project possible

The planned purchases are being made from The A. Johnson Co., LLC, using a combination of public and private funding.

The project includes a $1.35 million grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Recovery Land Acquisition Grant program, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board is contributing another $417,500, while the Town of Weybridge Conservation Fund and private donors are also helping fund the acquisitions.

The federal funding is tied in large part to Snake Mountain’s importance as habitat for endangered bat species.

Another 88 acres could soon join the protected area

The conservation story may not end with the timber rights and 256-acre acquisition.

In 2026, Snake Mountain WMA is also expected to receive two adjoining parcels totaling 88 acres from The Nature Conservancy.

Known as Willmarth Woods Natural Area, the property contains one of the Champlain Valley’s largest stands of mature low-elevation forest. Its rich soils support a high-quality mix of red oak and northern hardwoods.

It also contains the trailhead for one of the main routes to Snake Mountain’s summit.

The addition has been envisioned since 1992, when Willmarth Woods was first planned as an eventual addition to Snake Mountain WMA.

If all of the planned acquisitions and donations move forward, a land deal that began in 1959 could ultimately leave Vermont with a larger, more connected and more unified conservation landscape around Snake Mountain.