The Equinox Pond, Equinox Pond Rd, and the Pond Pavilion are on private property owned by the Equinox Resort and are not a part of the conserved lands forming the Equinox Preserve.
Dogs must be under control at all times, and on leash on Pond Loop or when approaching other trail users. Reminder: Please clean up after your dog throughout the trail system. Clean-up bags and receptacles are available at the Preserve entrances.
Please help keep our neighbors happy. Limited parking is available at the Red Gate trailhead on West Union St. Do not park along the road or in front of fire hydrants. Illegally parked vehicles are subject to fines and/or towing by the Manchester Police Department.
Additional ample parking is available at the Equinox Hotel (trailhead at parking lot), the Southern Vermont Arts Center (access limited to SVAC hours of operation; please look for signs), and Burr and Burton Academy student parking on West Union St only when school is not in session.
Unauthorized motor vehicles are not allowed in the Preserve. Certain landowners with property inside the preserved lands do have limited vehicle right-of-way to access their private holdings.
Collecting plants, animals or other natural material is strictly prohibited.
Camping, building campfires, swimming and boating are not permitted due to the sensitive nature of the varied Preserve habitats.
Fishing in the pond is by permission only. Please contact the Equinox Hotel concierge at 802-362-4700 for permission.
Hunting is discouraged but may occur above 1300 ft on the Preserve (roughly above a line connecting Robin’s Lookout and Trillium Trail to SVAC) . Please take precautions.
Equinox Preservation Trust Trail Camera Policy
In accordance with 13 V.S.A. §3835, no cameras or other surveillance devices may be placed anywhere on the Equinox Preserve without the prior written consent of the property owner or its agent. A person who installs a camera or surveillance device in violation of this policy is subject to statutory fines, and any unauthorized devices will be removed by local enforcement officials.
To request permission to place a camera or other surveillance device on the Equinox Preserve, please email [email protected] and include the following information:
All trails are open for pedestrian use. The Equinox Preservation Trust may close some trails temporarily for repairs or to protect them from damage during muddy conditions.
An enlarged trail map is on display along with copies of the handy pocket guide & trail map, updated program information and special notices.
Informational kiosks greet visitors at both entrances to the Preserve. A third kiosk is located near the trail connector at the rear of the Equinox Hotel parking area.
Naturalists have long held Mt. Equinox in high esteem for its beauty and natural diversity, a valued source of study by botanists and ecologists since the late 1800s.
A variety of mammals populate the slopes of Mt. Equinox, protected by the thick natural cover and food sources that the forest provides.
