Chase Mountain Forest

Farm Description

Chase Mountain Forest is protected by a conservation easement and well suited to sugarbush management and high-quality timber investment. Property highlights include potential tap count of 37,676 taps, exceptional timber resource with capital timber value estimated at long town road frontage with developed internal trails, secure access with roadside power, attractive location within 7 miles of Vermont’s capital city, Montpelier, and an old house and 2 acres outside the land’s conservation easement, providing an easily developable homestead. The property is in central Vermont, a region known for productive stands of sugar maple and other northern hardwoods and for a diverse array of regional and local markets for forest products.

This forest investment offers secure, year-round access from a town road. The property is positioned along the eastern slope of Chase Mountain, a locally prominent peak. Two shoulders of Chase Mountain define the eastern bowl of Chase Mountain, a scenic, secluded area with the headwaters of Chase Brook. Much of the terrain slopes gently, with rolling hills on primarily southern, northern and eastern aspects. Moderate to steep terrain exists in areas leading to the ridges. Along some of the road frontage and internal trails, the terrain is mostly gentle. There is a 5-acre meadow at the land’s southern end where the right-of-way enters the property. The property includes a former caretaker’s house which house is in disrepair and is being sold as is with no warranty. The site offers an ideal location for a sugarhouse or home.

A species composition dominated by hardwoods prevails, with hardwoods at 78% of total volume. Species include sugar maple (28%), red maple (17%), hemlock (14%) and white ash (8%). Forest stocking is generally overstocked on most of the acreage. Since the tenure of the current ownership, which began in 2010, no silvicultural activity has been conducted, and no harvesting has occurred since the 2005 inventory. Based on current stocking levels, thinning activity can occur at any time. The property offers an exceptional potential sugarbush opportunity, given the level of maple stocking, slope factor, access and proximity to electric power. A recent inventory indicates a potential tap count of 37,676 taps, with an additional 15,714 taps that may become available in the coming decades from the 5-8” diameter class.

The conservation easement on the property is held by the Vermont Land Trust (VLT). The principal objective of the easement’s commercial acreage is to maintain, grow and harvest forest resources and products on a sustainable basis. The terms of the easement prevent subdivision and future development of any kind; however, forestry and sugarbush operations, and construction of associated support infrastructure, are permitted.