Hiking Trails

Here is information about Trail access & Parking, Suggested Hikes, Rules of Use and the Trail Maps for High Ponds Farm Nature Preserve, Burnt Mountain Conservation Area and Bear Paw Pond Conservation Area.

Spring

Trails are closed during Spring Mud Season. Starting in the third week of April, walkers may enjoy the flowers and song birds. At the High Ponds Farm do not walk past the High Meadow. At the Bear Paw Pond Area, do not walk past the Coyote Meadow. The trail to the summit of Burnt Mountain will open in mid May. Thank you for your cooperation.

Summer + Fall

The Hazen's Notch Association maintains a network of 15 miles of trails and woods roads for hiking in Summer and Fall. These are part of a larger network of 24 miles of trails that are maintained in Winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the Hazen's Notch/Jay Peak area of northern Vermont.

The trails pass through a variety of interesting habitats that include meadows, forests, orchards, and beaver ponds. Trails range from restored woods roads that have gentle to moderate grades to narrow footpaths with steep climbs. There are numerous splendid views of the Jay Mountains in addition to the incredible beauty of the wildlfowers and wildlife that one sees along the trails. Pack a lunch and water as you will find several picnic tables at popular destinations such as the Moosewood Ponds, the High Meadow, Little Rock Pond and Bear Paw Pond. Bring a camera and/or binoculars. Most of the photographs on this website were taken while walking, skiing and snowshoeing on the Hazen's Notch Association trails.

TRAIL UPDATES: At the High Ponds Farm on the Rossier Road, trail users pass a small beaver pond on the right.  At the next trail intersection, the trail to the left has been renamed "Dodge Trail" after John Dodge.  The Dodge Trail crosses over Flood Brook on a refurbished bridge (August 2022) and ascends to the junction with the Notch Trail.  Turning right and going in a westerly direction on the Notch Trail, trail users traverse the base of Burnt Mountain, passing over a new bridge (August 10, 2021), and come to the junction with the Sunset Ridge Trail.  Continuing straight on the Notch Trail, the upper corner of the High Meadow comes into view.  From here trail users can descend via the High Meadow Trail to the Moosewood Ponds and the entrance to the High Ponds Farm.  This 1.5-mile loop is described in the one-page PDF file "Suggested Routes".  See the High Ponds Farm and Burnt Mountain Suggested Routes page.

Reviews

Zen-like hike in a pristine refuge. It feels like you are a million miles away from civilization. Mr. Arturo, May 27, 2012

I am so happy to have discovered this place and can't wait to come back when there is more snow! I should add that despite the lack of snow this winter the trails all had adequate coverage. The terrain is perfect - not too steep, the views are lovely and the warming hut is a great cozy place for lunch on a 0 degree day! Anon, January 19, 2012

Great XC skiing trails and wonderful hike up Burnt Mountain with views of Hazens Notch on top. Hannah Halbreich, June 7, 2020

"One of my favorite places on the planet"
"High Ponds Farm at Burnt Mountain on Hazen's Notch is a beautifully (and minimally) managed cross-country ski and hiking area in Montgomery Center, Vermont. I'm not a skier, but spending countless hours hiking (or leisurely walking) on the trails in the summer, late spring and fall is a highlight of any day. Hanging out in the High Meadow in the Fall looking at the foliage or munching on an apple from the orchard, or in the summertime amidst the wildflowers, or sitting on a rock watching beavers swimming around in a beaver pond, or walking on a trail deep in the lush green forest, is akin to a religious experience in my book. I can't say enough about the beauty and peacefulness of this lovely place.

Janis Hess, February 2015

Suggested Routes
High Ponds Farm Nature Preserve

The High Ponds Farm is a privately owned nature preserve that is open to the public on a limited basis. Along with the adjacent Burnt Mountain Conservation Area, these two parcels total 400 acres. They are located on the Rossier Road, off of the Hazen's Notch Road in Montgomery, Vermont.

The Anderson family set out to preserve a beautiful, former hill farm that supports important natural communities and associated species. The goal is to maintain an ecologically functional landscape through responsible stewardship, which is intended to preserve plant communities and a diversity of habitats. Once an active subsistence farm, beavers have since built numerous ponds which support a great diversity of aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants.

A network of trails provides opportunities for walking and nature observation in spring, summer and fall and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

The High Meadow

The distance from the entrance to the High Ponds Farm to the Moosewood Ponds is only 0.25 mile, to the High Meadow only 0.5 mile. There is a very fine panorama of Jay Peak, Big Jay and Little Jay from the High Meadow. The upper or back of the meadow has a mowed "lawn" against a backdrop of tall spruce and fir trees. In the foreground and on Sugar Hill to the west are many sugar maples.

Dodge Trail to Notch Trail to the High Meadow

One can make a loop with the Notch Trail to the east and back to the parking lot via the Dodge Trail. That loop is 1.5 miles and takes not more 90 minutes, longer if enjoying the views from the meadow where there is also a picnic table. From the entrance to the High Ponds Farm, follow the Beaver Ponds Trail past the first beaver pond on your right. The next left is the Dodge Trail. Cross Flood Brook on a green-painted, wooden bridge and ascend to the Notch Trail. Turn right and follow to the High Meadow. Return via the High Meadow Trail and the Beaver Ponds Trail.

High Ponds Farm to Bear Paw Pond

From the Welcome Center walk east on Route 58 for 1 km (.6 mile). Turn right and walk up the Rossier Road to the High Ponds Farm following the Beaver Ponds Trail. At the junction with the High Meadow Trail, stay right on the Beaver Ponds Trail, passing a picnic shelter that overlooks the Moosewood Ponds with the fine view of Burnt Mountain. Continue on the Beaver Ponds Trail over gentle switchbacks to the saddle between Sugar Hill and Rossier Hill. From there it is a moderate descent to the Old Sugar House at the junction of Beaver Ponds Trail, Sugar House Trail and Dark Entry Trail to the beautiful Coyote Meadow with views of the Jay Mountains. The adjacent Bear Paw Pond Conservation Area next to the meadow has picnic shelters and the pretty Bear Paw Pond. Continue 5 minutes further diagonally across the meadow and you will descend to Route 58, the Hazen's Notch Road. Turn right and walk a short distance to the Welcome Center. That loop is 3 miles.

Burnt Mountain

Detailed information about Burnt Mountain, Vermont:

From the entrance to the High Ponds Farm, follow the Beaver Ponds Trail to the junction with the High Meadow Trail. Turn left on the High Meadow Trail and continue to just past the wood shed. Turn left and walk along the stonewall to the Notch Trail. Turn left on the Notch Trail and then right at the junction with the Sunset Ridge Trail. This trail is a woods road until it reaches the west-running ridge. It becomes a footpath to the main ridge where the trail turns right and continues through a stand of Mountain paper birch (Betula paperifera v. cordifolia) on its way to the wooded summit and to the panoramic view beyond. Rolf Anderson discovered the view in 1989, created the original route in 1990, and relocated the trail to the current route in 1996.