Montgomery: Covered Bridges, History, and Nature Trails

Montgomery offers several specific ways to explore the area: historic covered bridges, the history of Pratt Hall, and trails through conservation areas. Visitors who enjoy combining culture and nature will find a variety of excursion themes here. When choosing a vacation rental, you can consider which of Montgomery’s attractions you would like to make the main focus of your trip.

Covered Bridges and Their History

Six covered bridges lie within the town limits; another spans the boundary with Enosburgh. The bridges make for a themed 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. The structures can be distinguished by their names and the waterways they cross.

The Creamery Covered Bridge is 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 Fuller Covered Bridge, also called the Blackfalls Covered Bridge, opened in 1890 and spans Black Falls Brook. The Comstock Covered Bridge opened in 1883 and crosses the Trout River. These details give each bridge its own point of reference: its name, opening year, and the waterway it crosses help distinguish the structures.

Pratt Hall: Early Church History and Exhibits

The building now known as Pratt Hall was Montgomery’s first church, completed by Episcopalians in 1835. Pratt Hall houses a modest collection of artifacts, documents, and memorabilia, as well as regular exhibitions. This provides a different cultural experience alongside the bridges: the focus here is on Montgomery’s early church history and on objects and documents connected with the town. Visitors interested in history can make Pratt Hall a separate theme of their trip.

Nature Areas and Trails

Montgomery’s landscape also reflects a range of conservation and recreational goals. The Hazen's Notch Conservation Trust preserves forests, wildlife habitats, and natural areas, as well as farmland, soil and water resources, and open spaces. Its conservation goals also include non-motorized recreational trails. Nature and open spaces are thus another part of the town’s character, alongside its historic structures.

A 2.4-mile trail runs through the High Ponds Nature Preserve and the Burnt Mountain Conservation Area in Montgomery. The Hazen's Notch Trails network is separate: it covers 15 miles and crosses 1,000 acres of private land open to public use. The stated lengths describe two different trail offerings; they give you specific information for planning an outing without specifying a walking time or difficulty level. If you would like to include trails in your trip, you can use the stated distance as a guide.

High Ponds Farm is a private nature preserve in Montgomery’s Hazen's Notch area. Visitors can see beavers and wildflowers at Moosewood Ponds. This nature experience adds opportunities for specific wildlife and plant observations to the trail offerings.

Discover More Places

If you would like to explore more places at this level, you can also visit St. Albans and Swanton.

For the broader travel overview: Franklin County.