Trails Committee
Building Paths for the Future.
The Trails Committee is dedicated to the development, maintenance, and promotion of hiking and multi-use trails throughout Cavendish. We believe that accessible outdoor recreation is vital to the health and well-being of our community.
Our work involves everything from scouting new routes and clearing brush to installing signage and ensuring our trails remain sustainable for generations to come. This is a “boots-on-the-ground” committee, and we are always looking for volunteers who aren’t afraid to get a little dirt on their hands.
Volunteer: Join the planning committee or simply join us for our next trail work day! No experience is necessary—just a love for the outdoors.
Hardy Hill Trail
The Hardy Hill Trail project consists of a lower and upper track. The goal is to create a network of trails that allow public access to the site’s natural features much of which will be handicap accessible. The lower track covers around 150 acres and is adjacent to Lords State Forest. This parcel is being transferred to the State with CCCA volunteers involved in maintenance. The Lower trail’s primary feature is a Great Blue Heron rookery located in and around a large beaver pond where the Herons return each year to build their nests and raise their young. The CCCA has been named caretaker of the Hardy Hill upper track which is a 143 acre parcel with the hopes of connecting it to the main trail in the future. The Upper track features several varieties of orchids, lady slippers and other natural attractions. When completed this trail will offer a nice climb to the summit of Hardy Hill with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Proctor Piper Trail
This trail project was conceived as a way to connect the Villages of Proctorsville and Cavendish. The trail meanders through camping areas built by the Civil Conservation Core in the 1930’s evidenced by still standing fire pits and the remnants of two standing fireplaces which bookend a warming pavilion. The Trail committee would like to rebuild them as it once was. The trail head is off Pratt Hill road and has a kiosk in place with a map of the land track and trail. The trail is intended for both the local and regional population as well as visitors to the area and offers recreational activities for all ages. The majority of the trail has fairly easy grades. There are shallow streams with fords for crossing and spectacular forest views.
Trail Maintenance:
Our spring trail maintenance season is just around the corner. We are currently scouting the paths and coordinating with our lead volunteers. While we don’t have the official dates set just yet, stay tuned—we’ll be posting the full schedule here very soon. We can’t wait to see you out there!
Additional Trails in Cavendish
Historic Abenaki Trails
Abenaki people and their ancestors established and utilized a vast network of routes through Ndakinna, their homelands, connecting them with relatives, allies, subsistence sources and trade partners. Many of these trails follow and connect waterways as the natural paths of travel, either on the water itself or paralleling it .Two of the most traveled routes between settlements in the Bitawbagok (Lake Champlain) basin and the Kwenitegok (Connecticut River) valley employed the Wnegigwtekw (Otter Creek) drainage on the west side of Askaskwiwajoak (the Green Mountains) over passes to the Wantastekw (West River) or Mkazatekw (the Black River), Necessary for the conduct of
subsistence, relations, trade and diplomacy during times of peace, these trails were also used during conflict, for resistance, raiding, reinforcement, and reconnaissance. Many settler captives followed these watery and mountain paths with their Abenaki captors on
return to more secure points north. The Crown Point Road was begun in 1759 under British orders as a strategic cross-country route for supplies and troops in the campaign against the French in Canada. The Black River-Otter Creek transit was chosen as a practical established Native trail. Captain John Stark was the primary officer in charge of the task. Stark was very familiar with Abenaki lifeways and knowledge systems having been taken prisoner himself in 1752. His familiarity with the landscape and the skills needed to traverse it were put to good use in his troops accomplishments laying out the Crown Point Road along the ancient path. Subsequent improvements were made by Hawkes, Small and Goffe and, later, Revolutionary War amendments created alternate side routes and branches.
Contributed by Rich Holschuh, Elnu Abenaki Cultural Relations and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.
www.elnuabenakitribe.org www.atowi.org
Cavendish Snow Fleas
The Cavendish Green Mountain Snowmobile Club is grateful to the Cavendish and Proctorsville landowners who allow snowmobile trails on their property. Thanks to their generosity, snowmobile riders can experience a variety of scenic views – the Proctor Piper State Forest, the Green Mountains, the Black River, and the Arthur Davis Wildlife Sanctuary as they ride the snowmobile trails from Cavendish to the surrounding towns.
More information at:
cavendishsnowfleas.com
