Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Opens Comment Period for Okemo Forest Plan

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has opened the public comment period for a draft Long-Range Management Plan for Okemo State Forest.

The agency is seeking input on proposed management activities for the nearly 8,000-acre public land parcel. The plan will direct decisions regarding forest management, wildlife habitat, recreation, and conservation for the next 20 years. Residents may review the draft and submit comments from October 26 through December 10, 2026.

Okemo State Forest spans 7,983 acres across the towns of Andover, Ludlow, Mount Holly, and Weston in the southern Green Mountains. The area contains large blocks of contiguous forest and supports recreation opportunities such as the Healdville Trail, Buttermilk Falls, and the Okemo Mountain Resort. It also includes the Terrible Mountain Natural Area and serves as a link in the Southern Vermont Wildlife Corridor, a habitat for species including black bear, moose, and bobcat.

Long-range management plans balance ecological, recreational, cultural, and economic values on state-owned lands. The agency held a scoping meeting in December 2025 to gather initial background information and input. That earlier feedback helped inform the current draft. This public comment period represents the next step in the development process.

An in-person public meeting will take place on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the Ludlow Community Center. The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The venue is the new location at 37 Main St, Ludlow, VT 05149, which formerly housed the Ludlow Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

The agency will post a recording of the meeting and an interactive project StoryMap on the Okemo State Forest webpage. The StoryMap will include maps, background information, and details on management priorities. A form to submit public comments will also be available on the website. Individuals may also submit written comments at the public meeting or by email through December 10, 2026.