Our History

Origin of the trails

Hartland Winter Trails has a rich history dating back to the early 1970s when Henry Merritt, a resident of Hartland, created the first ski trail on his property. Mr. Merritt started cross-country skiing with his daughter from their back porch onto the trail Henry had cut. Three students from a local high school ski racing team were looking for a place to train, and, along with neighboring landowners, decided the trail could and should be extended. Through their efforts, the Merritt trail grew into a 5-kilometer loop during the winter of 1973.

During these early years, the skiing landscape in Vermont lacked the infrastructure seen today. The absence of ski touring centers and groomed trails as we know them now marked the pioneering era of cross-country skiing in the United States. This was a time before Bill Koch, a Brattleboro native, secured the first American Olympic medal in cross-country skiing in 1976, also introducing the skating cross-country skiing technique.

Becoming HWT

HWT’s journey began with the borrowing of an Arctic Cat Panther snowmobile and the construction of a track-setting sled based on plans from ski coach Marty Hall. Over the years, with the assistance of skier-volunteers, friends, and local landowners, the trail network expanded gradually. Initially a small, informal gathering of enthusiasts preparing trails in the fall, the group evolved into Hartland Winter Trails, adopting a more structured approach in 2004.

The group formalized the name Hartland Winter Trails (HWT) and made some changes to solidify its place in the community. To ensure the long-term stability of the organization and the trails, it was for several years part of Hartland’s town recreation department — although the group remained self-governing and financially self-sufficient. In 2022, HWT came out from under the town’s wing and officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Present day

Today, Hartland Winter Trails boasts approximately 25 kilometers of groomed trails, winding through a variety of terrains on about 30 private properties. The grooming equipment has evolved from snowmobiles and homemade sleds to a John Deere Gator utility task vehicle, equipped with purpose-built trail grooming drags. The group’s growth, initially spread through word of mouth, expanded with the establishment of a website around 20 years ago and more recently through Facebook and Trailforks, offering interactive trail information for recreational users.

HWT remains self-governing and financially self-sufficient. The organization’s commitment to embracing technological advancements is evident through the maintenance of state-of-the-art GIS data, publishing trail maps, and establishing a presence on Trailforks, providing users with real-time trail information and interactive features.

From its humble beginnings to its current status, Hartland Winter Trails stands as a testament to community collaboration, volunteerism, and the enduring spirit of cross-country skiing in Hartland.

Awards and recognition