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.
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.
Visit The Nature Conservancy in Vermont online for more information or contact Lynn McNamara, Critical Lands Manager for Northern 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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• DOGS are PROHIBITED at all times
• The Ridge Trail is CLOSED from March 1 to June 15 each year to protect Raven nesting and Bobcat mating/denning season.
• If the parking lot is full when you arrive, choose another trail to visit.
This property was conserved primarily to protect wildlife habit and rare, sensitive natural communities. The visitor traffic it has seen is having a significant adverse impact on those goals, and those people breaking the rules are making it worse.
People parking in the road have cut the traffic flow down to a single lane, creating a safety hazard. (It is a violation of state law to park in the traveled lane of any road. The entire vehicle must be off the travel lanes.) The town is preparing to have those parking illegally towed.