Guidebook content
This guidebook currently covers the Gilpin and Big Jay areas around Jay Pass, with mapped ascents, descents and road access points. These mountains are part of the backcountry skiing terrain reached from Vermont Route 242; the Big Jay chapter also includes Little Jay.
Big Jay and Little Jay lie in Jay State Forest, where undeveloped skiing extends beyond the resort lease area. For outings that start at Jay Peak Resort, plan the return separately: the resort warns that backcountry descents do not feed back to its lifts.
Chapters
2 items
Gilpin
0 itemsGilpin’s forested touring terrain is reached from Jay Pass on Vermont Route 242, where the Long Trail climbs toward the mountain’s ridge. This chapter brings together the road access, main ascent, Gilpin #1 and East face descents, and ski-out. The Catamount Trail joins the Long Trail just below the pass’s trailhead parking area.
Big Jay
15 itemsThis chapter groups the Big Jay and Little Jay ascents and descents reached from Route 242. Big Jay is linked to Jay Peak by an informal ridge path through dense spruce-fir forest; the Green Mountain Club describes this as a route formed by use, rather than a designated trail.