National Trails Day is an event sponsored and organized by the American Hiking Society. It’s purpose is to get people walking our nation’s trails.

The Mount Independence Coalition is hosting a National Trails Day hike at the Mount Saturday, June 3, starting at noon. While one of the goals of National Trails Day is to get people to be out on the trails and helping to do maintenance or other improvements, the trails at the Mount are kept in pretty good shape by the grounds crew. Our goal is to “improve” our trails by introducing people to the beautiful landscape and rich and important history of Mount Independence.

The hike starts from the Visitor Center at noon. It will be structured to allow people who have limited time or ability to hike far to peel off and return to the Visitor Center, while those who want to hike farther can do so with guide Steve Zeoli. In total, the group may cover about four miles.

Wear appropriate clothes and shoes for a hike. Bring water and a snack.

The program, co-sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition and Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, is open to the public. It is included in the site admission fee–$8.00 for adults, $1.00 for children 14 to 6, under 6 free. Call 802-948-2000 for more information.

The Mount Independence State Historic Site is one of the best-preserved Revolutionary War archeological sites in this country. It is located at 497 Mount Independence Road, six miles west of the intersections of Vermont Routes 22A and 73 near Orwell village. Carefully follow the signs. Starting May 26, the site will be open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily through October 16.