Ridge

Ridge is a moderate out-and-back hike in Vermont's Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, within the Middlebury Ranger District. The trail is about 6.7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 1,331 feet, and it reaches a high point of 1,708 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 2.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 16 percent. The route starts at an elevation of 1,556 feet and ends at the same level, so the 1,331-foot gain is for the full round trip. Plan on about three hours for the hike. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Salisbury show July highs around 84°F with lows near 56°F, while temperatures on the ridge run cooler than those figures. Winters are cold, with January highs around 31°F. Goshen, a hike just 0.2 miles away, and Silver Lake Campground, about half a mile off, are the closest options. Climbers can head to Lake Dunmore/Falls of Lana, roughly 1.3 miles away, and paddlers can try Sucker Brook, about 1.6 miles from the trail.