Morey Mountain Trails Coming in July
Update! New trail maps for the trail opening event are in! Click here for a trail map with the locations of each of the interpretive signs.
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The new trail system at Morey Mountain Conservation Area in Fairlee, VT will be ready just in time for fourth of July weekend! The trail network has been marked out and UVLT staff, along with volunteers from Hypertherm, will be building them in the coming weeks.
Views of the cathedral like forest on the north side of the property.
Four miles of looping trails will run through the majority of the property. From the parking lot you can walk up the steep hill to the fire ring and outhouse. From there the trails split left and right, beginning a loop around the majority of the property and through several interesting natural areas and forest types. At the top of the loop you’ll reach the power line, where you can cross and come to a beautiful view of the Connecticut River Valley.
View looking out toward the Connecticut River.
Starting on 4th of July weekend, UVLT will be holding a distanced trail opening! We encourage folks to get out and visit the new trails on their own time. Along the trails there will be signage describing the natural communities and interesting facts about the property allowing visitors to take themselves on a self guided tour. We will also have a touchless selfie station at the campfire ring where you can take photos of your group on the trails. We encourage you to post the photo to social media and tag your selfie and any other photos you take on the property using the hashtag the #WeLoveMoreyMountain and we will share them all to our facebook and instagram pages.
Fire ring near parking lot
Morey Mountain was purchased by the Lake Morey Foundation in 2018 and donated to UVLT to own and steward as one of its conservation areas. The conservation of this property not only secured protection of this parcel from development but also ensured that one of the most biodiverse spots in Orange County, Vermont would be managed to preserve the biodiversity found there.
View of Morey Mountain across Lake Morey
The property contains several diverse natural communities, including a Hemlock-Sphagnum Acidic Basin Swamp, classified as a rare natural community in Vermont and several rare or extremely rare plants. UVLT hosted Max Nash-Howe, a Masters of Natural Resource Student from UVM, for a summer that he spent compiling a natural resource inventory and informing UVLT’s management plan for the property which is available here.
Last summer a new road and parking lot were built in anticipation of the new trails. UVLT is happy to be moving forward with our plans for recreation on the property and encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy the trails!
