Raven Ridge Natural Area

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Raven Ridge has lovely views, cliffs, caves and exceptional wildlife habitat.
Trail Activity
Accessible Experience Hiking Snowshoeing Ungroomed cross-country skiing
Length
2.20 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Towns
Charlotte (VT), Monkton (VT)
Surface
Packed Earth/Dirt, Rock/Ledge, Gravel/Crushed Stone/Cinder, Boardwalk/Bog Bridging
Pets
Not Permitted
Fees
No

Description

HIGH USE TRAIL:

Raven Ridge is experiencing extremely high use and there is no legal parking along the road. Please consider using Trail Finder to identify other nearby trails and visit them instead. If the parking lot is full when you arrive, choose another trail to visit. Be considerate of your fellow trail enthusiasts and move on from viewpoints if others are waiting. As always, leave your dogs at home to protect the unique wildlife at Raven Ridge.

Learn more about high use trail systems.

The trail starts with an accessible 5 foot wide boardwalk with two passing platforms with benches for resting. It continues on a 5 foot wide compacted fine gravel trail to an accessible viewing platform over a beaver pond. 

The 1.8 mile loop trail diverges from the accessible trail and offers an enjoyable hike up to the ridge with magnificent views of the Champlain Valley, and a chance to explore "The Oven", home to a family of porcupines. Further along the ridge more views open up, and then the trail loops back through a mixed forest full of boulders and ridges. 

SEASONAL TRAIL CLOSURE: The ridge trail at Raven Ridge is closed from March 1- June 15 to protect nesting ravens and bobcats.  Please respect them while they are vulnerable by staying off the ridge.

Other Information

Raven Ridge stretches from Lewis Creek south along a scenic ridge on the boundary of Charlotte and Hinesburg to a large wetland complex in Monkton. The land is a rocky forest refuge for a variety of wildlife including the federally endangered Indiana bat.  Bobcats thrive on the ridge's rock outcroppings and ravens nest on the cliff ledges. Lewis Creek and surrounding wetlands provide a diverse ecosystem for aquatic species.  Wildflowers are abundant here in spring.

Trail Manager

Visit The Nature Conservancy in Vermont online for more information or contact Lynn McNamara, Critical Lands Manager for Northern VT:

The Nature Conservancy: Montpelier Office
Lynn McNamara
575 Stone Cutters Way
Montpelier, VT 05602
lmcnamara@tnc.org
View website

Trail Tips

Respect Wildlife
Keep wildlife wild: do not feed, follow, approach, or otherwise harass wild animals. Doing so may alter their natural behaviors.

Trailhead Information

1697 Rotax Road, Monkton, VT

From Route 7, in Ferrisburg, turn onto Old Hollow road heading east and follow for about 1.7 miles. Old Hollow Road becomes Hollow Road. Just after the intersection with Higbee Road, bear left at the fork onto Rotax Road and follow for 2.2 miles. You will see the parking area on the right and boardwalk on the left. Park here and walk in on the boardwalk. Parking includes one designated and signed accessible space. The gravel lot is limited to 6 cars, so please carpool.

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