If you’ve ever driven through the quiet, rolling hills of Jericho, Vermont, you’ve probably heard it. That distant, rhythmic thud-thud-thud of a .50 caliber machine gun echoing off the Green Mountains. It’s a sound that locals have lived with for generations, yet for many, the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site remains a bit of a mystery tucked behind a secure gate.
It isn't just a patch of woods where the National Guard occasionally plays soldier. Honestly, it’s one of the most unique military installations in the entire United States. Covering over 11,000 acres of rugged terrain, this site is the heartbeat of American mountain warfare and a premier training ground for Olympic-level athletes.
The Gods of the Hills are Different
There’s a sign above the entrance to the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) on the base that quotes Revolutionary War legend Ethan Allen. It says: "The Gods of the valleys are not the Gods of the hills."
Basically, that’s a polite way of telling soldiers that everything they know about fighting on flat ground is useless here.
The Camp Ethan Allen Training Site is home to the only schoolhouse in the U.S. Army dedicated to teaching soldiers how to survive and fight in vertical environments. We aren’t talking about just hiking with a backpack. We’re talking about "Class 4 and 5" terrain—cliffs so steep you need ropes just to keep from falling to your death, all while carrying 40 to 60 pounds of gear.
Why Vermont?
You might wonder why the Army doesn't just do this in the Rockies. While Colorado has altitude, Vermont has "the suck." The humidity, the dense brush, the unpredictable ice, and the sheer verticality of the Green Mountains create a specific kind of misery that perfectly mimics the difficult terrain found in places like Afghanistan or the Balkan mountains.
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In 2022, the site saw a massive upgrade with a new $30 million, 83,000-square-foot facility. This wasn't just for show. It includes a four-story indoor climbing wall and a specialized "ice wall" created by the same kind of snow-making machines you’d find at Stowe or Smugglers' Notch. They actually grow ice indoors so soldiers can practice crampon techniques in the middle of a July heatwave.
Biathlon: Rifles and Redlining Hearts
One of the coolest things about the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site—and something most people totally miss—is that it is the "Mecca" of American biathlon.
Since 1973, the Vermont National Guard has run a world-class biathlon program here. If you aren't familiar, biathlon is that crazy Olympic sport where you cross-country ski at a sprint until your heart rate is hitting 180 beats per minute, then you have to stop, lay in the snow, and shoot a tiny target 50 meters away.
- The Athlete's Barracks: The base has specialized housing where biathletes live and train year-round.
- The Range: It’s one of the oldest and most respected biathlon facilities in the country.
- Olympic Pedigree: Vermont has sent more than a dozen Guardsmen to the Olympics since the 90s, including names like Sean Doherty and Deedra Irwin.
It’s a weird, beautiful mix of high-intensity athletics and military discipline. The Ethan Allen Biathlon Club even hosts races for civilians, meaning you could potentially ski the same loops as an Olympian, though you'll probably be significantly more winded.
Living Next to a Firing Range
Let's be real: living near a military base isn't always easy. The Camp Ethan Allen Training Site can be loud. Really loud.
The range staff is actually pretty proactive about this. They release monthly firing schedules to the towns of Jericho, Underhill, and Bolton so people know when to expect the heavy stuff. Sometimes they're running mortars or .50 calibers until 11:00 p.m. to prep units for deployments.
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Interestingly, the land itself is a weird kind of accidental nature preserve. Because the public is mostly kept out and large-scale development is banned, the "impact areas" and surrounding woods are teeming with wildlife. It’s common to see moose, bear, and deer wandering through areas that would otherwise be suburban sprawl by now.
The Human Cost of History
It wasn't always a military base. Back in the 1920s and 40s, the government "absorbed" dozens of local farms to create the range. The Jericho Historical Society has some pretty sobering records of the families—the Kinneys, the Browns, the Floods—who were moved off their land to make room for the artillery. When you walk the perimeter, you can still find old cellar holes and stone walls that used to be someone's backyard.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Don't just show up and try to hike. This is a restricted military installation.
If you want to see the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site without getting tackled by a guard, you have a few specific options. You can join the Ethan Allen Biathlon Club (EABC) to participate in their summer or winter race series. They even have "novice" categories where they’ll teach you how to handle the rifles safely.
Alternatively, look for the public hiking trails that skirt the edges. While you can't go into the impact area (unless you want to find out what an unexploded mortar looks like), the surrounding Green Mountain National Forest and state parks offer incredible views of the range from above.
Actionable Insights for Visitors
- Check the Noise: Before planning a quiet picnic in Jericho, check the DVIDS range schedule or the town website to see if heavy firing is scheduled.
- Join the Sport: If you’re a Nordic skier, look into the EABC "Masters" clinics. It's one of the few ways a civilian can get behind the gates and use the professional facilities.
- Respect the Perimeter: Red signs mean business. If a trail says "Military Boundary," do not cross it. They do active-fire training with live rounds, and "I was just looking for a geocache" isn't a great excuse.
- Mountain Warfare Knowledge: If you are a civilian climber or hiker, the Army’s Field Manual 3-97.61 (Military Mountaineering) is actually the textbook written by the guys at this base. It’s available online and is basically the bible for high-angle survival.
The Camp Ethan Allen Training Site is a paradox. It’s a place of intense noise and violence, yet it sits in one of the most serene landscapes in New England. It produces both elite killers and Olympic athletes. It’s a piece of Vermont history that is still very much alive, firing, and moving through the brush.