Merck Forest

Our story

Over 70 years’ experience of innovative and sustainable forest management

Forest Management at MFFC

NEW: Timber Stand Improvement Project

Most of Vermont’s modern forests were open fields a century ago, when agriculture dominated land use.

George Merck began acquiring land parcels in the 1940s to establish a private preserve for his family’s recreation. His interest in arboriculture and professional forest management led him to establish the Vermont Forest and Farmland Foundation in 1952 — one of the first land management experiments in the United States.

Sustainable forest management provides many benefits:

logging tractor vermont

Water Filtration

Well managed forests remove impurities from water, recharge aquifers, and store enormous amounts of carbon.

Filtration

Well managed forests remove impurities from water, recharge aquifers, and store enormous amounts of carbon.

Wildlife

Forestry operations  enhance habitat and forage opportunities, improving  biodiversity and the stability of wildlife populations.

Income

The forest directly generates income through the sale of saw timber, cordwood, maple syrup and the leasing of a portion of the sugarbush.

 

Recreation

Take a hike — ride a horse — ski or snowshoe — in the diverse landscapes of the Taconic Hills.  Over 30 miles of well-marked trails are available.

 

Please check in and out at the kiosk located near the Visitor Center.

Remember that cellphone and GPS services are unreliable around the property.

Trail Map

30 Miles of trails — click here to plan your next adventure.

Recommended Hikes

Here are some suggested routes.

Avenza Digital Map

Click here for instructions about using your smartphone to navigate through landscape.

Camping

A unique year-round rustic experience featuring diverse landscapes and  breathtaking views. Complete details HERE. 

Hunting

Rules for hunting on MFFC property HERE.

Trapping is NOT allowed anywhere on Merck Forest property.

 

Hunting Season Schedule 

In the event of typos/discrepancies/schedule changes, Vermont Fish & Wildlife regulations overrule the schedule below.

Connected Taconics Project

vermont hiking

In partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation's High Meadows Fund, and the Bennington County Conservation District, we are committed to maintain the intact forested landscape of the 42,000 acre forest existent between the Vermont townships of Rupert, Dorset, Manchester, Arlington, and Sandgate.

Did you know that the Taconic Mountains contribute to one of the world’s most intact temperate broad-leaf forests, spanning from New York to Nova Scotia?
Why are intact forests important? Well, networks of intact forest form a connected landscape, which serves to maintain wildlife travel corridors and support forest resilience, carbon storage and a myriad of other ecosystem services including clean air, clean water, and nutrient cycling. 
For more information, click HERE. 

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Merck Forest & Farmland Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are not affiliated with, nor do we receive support from Merck & Company, Inc., nor are we part of any government agency. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.