Uses: hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing

Please Read this before visiting this trail...

Map of this trail

The Rikert Trail in Sharon and South Royalton, Vermont is many things. It is a special community resource, a rich and diverse habitat area, a memorial to American veterans of war, and a tribute to a man who loved nature, his land, and his country. The half-mile long trail traverses relatively easy terrain following Broad Brook. Along the trail are a granite bench inscribed with the words “Solace in Nature” and a plaque dedicating the area as a veteran’s memorial. Visitors who know the story behind this trail can perceive not only solace in nature, but also a tangible sense of history and place.
After a half a century of living on and managing his forested property, Hugh Rikert wanted to assure that it would be cared for after he was gone. The Upper Valley Land Trust understood how important this was to Rikert and, in 1998, helped him to place a conservation easement on his 22 acre property. The easement allows for public access to a trail. To this end, the Rikert Trail was established with the help of the Sharon Conservation Commission.

From the junction of Routes 14 and 132 in Sharon, follow Route 13 north for 0.4 miles and turn left onto River Road. Continue along River Road for 1.4 miles, passing under the I-89 overpass, until you reach Broad Brook Cemetery. Turn left on Broad Brook Road and go 0.8 miles. Turn right onto Harlow Road and continue for 0.8 miles to a trailhead pull-off on your right. Trail entrance is across the gravel road from the pull-off.

Exploring the Rikert Trail

In the words of Hugh Rikert: “I was born on the 11^th hour of the 13^th day of the 11^th month of the 13^th year of the century. They’re all odd numbers, so it follows that I’m odd too.” While he chose “odd,” perhaps a better word to describe Rikert and his legacy would be distinctive or unique. After serving in World War II in the Aleutian Islands and in France, Italy, and Norway, he purchased the 22 acre Sharon/South Royalton property in 1948. Rikert tried his hand at farming, but soon realized that his small property could not produce much of a yield. Rikert enrolled in forestry courses and discovered a new passion. He spent time working for the New England Forestry Foundation and began to manage his own land.

Rikert lived a frugal and simple life, owning nothing of value except his land and choosing trees over money. Rikert related to a Valley News reporter, “I made up my mind I didn’t want it to go to building lots or shopping malls or something, so I said to myself, I’ll plant the trees. And ‘course, that didn’t (win) favor with everybody else. Human nature, you know. They want building lots. Quick money. So I made up my mind to get it into trees as quick as possible.” To this end, Rikert experimented with planting white and red pine, Norway spruce, larch, locust, oak, and black walnut, some of which he sprouted from seed. Some of the stands that Rikert planted over 50 years ago will soon reach a harvestable size.