| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Dorset Peak, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Tower Road, herd path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lower Dorset Hollow Road and Tower Road were well-plowed and could be driven to the last house by any vehicle. Parking is along the side of Tower Road right where it becomes Class IV; there also appears to be a parking lot a few hundred feet past the start of the Class IV section, but you will need a high-clearance vehicle with good snow tires and 4-wheel drive. As other posters have noted, there is a confusing set of signs at the intersection of Tower Road and Grouse Lane. Follow Tower Road for this path. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One crossing of note, pretty low in elevation towards the beginning of the hike. Currently iced-over but may begin to weaken as we experience above-freezing temperatures over the next week. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This route may be referred to as a "herd path" but it definitely receives regular trail maintenance. The blue blazing runs right from the end of Tower Road up to the notch between Dorset and West Dorset, then continues up to the ridge before the main summit. A sizable tree had fallen across the path up on the ridge and it had been cut by someone with know-how. The entire route is clear, no bushwacking needed. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The Class IV section of Tower Road, which the path follows for the first half-mile, is within a property owned by the Dorset Hollow Corporation, which is a natural preservation group. I was not able to find any rules for public access to their property, but it would be sensible for dog owners to keep their dogs leashed until they get past the dilapidated cabin. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nothing to mention. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing to mention. |
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|
 | Comments: |
I successfully made the summit on this attempt, so I can provide full details now. Recent snows had filled up the snowshoe trench and no one before me had made an attempt at Dorset, so I found myself breaking trail for most of the hike in. Any hikers following my tread will want to wear snowshoes until a hard-bottomed trench forms. As noted, the blue blazing on the trees is present from the last house on Tower Road in the Town of Dorset all the way to the ridge before the main summit, although it seemed like the blazing became less-frequent after the notch between Dorset Mountain and West Dorset. There are a few convenient landmarks that can assist with wayfinding: Hikers will pass the dilapidated cabin on their left during the hike in, then head up the drainage from there. At the notch, turn right and continue to follow a cut woods road. Eventually there is a split in the woods road and the blazing continues up the right split, although I suspect the main summit could be achieved by following the left split too. Once on the ridge before the main summit, there is a worn sign for "North Dorset" where the hiker will turn right. I made one mistaken route-finding choice near the summit, but the spur does not go very far. Once the summit is gained, there is a canister and an unusual sign that might be obscured by some low-hanging branches. |
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 | Name: |
Sheamus |
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 | E-Mail: |
Sheamus.Fagan@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-14 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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