The Cross Rivendell Trail (CRT) provides a wide variety of learning opportunities across disciplines. The trail, and associated lands, serve as a living classroom for students and teachers covering subjects such as math, science, literature, history and physical education.
Hiking, wildlife, forests, fields, snowshoeing, bird-watching, nature-viewing, history -- all are available to anyone who wants to walk on all or part of the CRT. To learn more, visit the Cross Rivendell Trail online.
The Cross-Rivendell Trail was first proposed at a Project Co-Seed conference in 1998. The Rivendell Interstate School District (Fairlee, Vershire, and West Fairlee, VT and Orford, NH) was still only a concept when Sally Tomlinson of Orford proposed a cross-district trail as a way to tie the four towns together physically. In December 2000, David Hooke of Vershire, who had long experience with the Dartmouth Outing Club and the Appalachian Trail, came aboard to lead the project. Jayson Seaman of Orford, then External Programs Coordinator for Rivendell, made the connections that permitted Rivendell Summer Trail Crews to begin construction on the trail. Grants obtained in 2001 allowed for construction of the Mt. Cube Section and the planning of the Vermont route, and with that the project was off and running. When it became clear that the District needed additional help to manage the trail over the long term, interested townspeople formed the Rivendell Trails Association (RTA) in 2003.
The Cross Rivendell Trail is managed through a unique partnership between the Rivendell Trails Association and the Rivendell Interstate School District (RISD), drawing upon the strength of each organization. This includes joint financial support for a part-time Trail Coordinator position responsible for coordinating trail and outreach efforts of the RTA as well as opportunities for place-based education programs within the RISD curriculum.
The RTA oversees the trail, maintains insurance coverage for trail operations and landowners, sponsors events, publishes newsletters, and provides information to the public about the trail. The RTA has over 175 members (including the 60 landowners who have generously given permission for the trail) and a board of 11, including 7 townspeople, 2 Rivendell teachers, and 2 Rivendell students.
Visit Rivendell Trails Association on Facebook for more information or contact:
There are a number of public trailheads along the 36-mile trail, shown on the map above.
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