Montgomery: Covered Bridges and Nature

Montgomery brings together two distinct themes for travel planning: historic covered bridges and natural areas with trails. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in town, these highlights can help you organize your interests. The bridges represent local history and architecture; conservation areas and trails offer a different perspective on Montgomery. As you plan, you can decide whether cultural history or landscapes and hiking are your priority.

Covered Bridges and Local History

Six covered bridges lie within Montgomery’s town boundaries; another spans the boundary with Enosburgh. Montgomery’s bridges are presented as a driving or cycling tour. They include five historic bridges built in the 19th century by the Jewett brothers, as well as a neighboring bridge in Enosburgh. This information combines a local point of interest with a specific historical timeframe, without assigning all the structures a single year of construction.

The bridges described by name include the Creamery Covered Bridge, also known as the West Hill Covered Bridge or Crystal Springs Covered Bridge. It opened in 1883 and crosses West Hill Brook. The Hutchins Covered Bridge, which crosses the South Branch of the Trout River, also opened in 1883. The Comstock Covered Bridge crosses the Trout River and likewise dates to the opening year 1883. The Fuller Covered Bridge, also known as the Blackfalls Covered Bridge, opened in 1890 and crosses Black Falls Brook. The opening dates make for a clear comparison: three of the bridges mentioned opened in 1883, and Fuller opened seven years later. The different waterways also help distinguish the names and structures.

Another historic landmark is Pratt Hall. The building, known by this name today, was Montgomery’s first church and was completed in 1835 by Episcopalians. That date precedes the opening of the bridges mentioned above in 1883 and 1890. Pratt Hall houses a modest collection of artifacts, documents, and memorabilia, as well as regularly held exhibitions. This offers another way to explore local history when planning your trip: here, the focus is on the building’s former religious use, its collection, and its exhibitions.

Conservation Areas and Trails

The Hazen's Notch Conservation Trust preserves forests, wildlife habitats, natural areas, and farmland in Montgomery, as well as soil and water resources, undeveloped open spaces, and non-motorized recreational trails. The focus on nature encompasses more than individual hiking trails: farmland, water, and open spaces are also among the resources being preserved. This complements the historical perspective offered by the covered bridges with a broader picture of Montgomery’s landscape and conservation efforts.

A 2.4-mile trail runs through the High Ponds Nature Preserve and the Burnt Mountain Conservation Area. The Hazen's Notch Trails network is separate: it spans 15 miles and crosses exactly 1,000 acres of private land open to public use. These distances indicate different scales: 2.4 miles refers to the trail described, while 15 miles refers to a trail network. At Hazen's Notch Trails, please observe posted closures and landowner conditions.

High Ponds Farm is a private conservation area in Montgomery’s Hazen's Notch Area. Visitors can see beavers and wildflowers at Moosewood Ponds. Check seasonal access and trail conditions before visiting. This advice applies to High Ponds Farm and helps you plan your nature outing based on the specific conditions.

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