When hiking through the Little River State Park, don’t be surprised if you come across a ghost town! This state park in Waterbury comes alive in the summer months and is well known for it’s and sandy beach, gorgeous campsites, boats and even paddle board rentals, so it may be hard to believe that an abandoned piece of history is just beyond the hills. Since many people have heard tales and legends about this spot being haunted, this is one spooky hike in VT that is a must for anyone who likes to get the chills. Whether haunted or not, it sure is pretty!
The Little River State Park is a popular destination for both day and overnight adventures, but it was much different many years ago.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
There are miles of trails here to be explored, and if you believe the legends, these hills just may be haunted from settlers past.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
This area was known as Ricker Mountain, and was named after Joseph Ricker, who was one of the first settlers here in the early 1800’s.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
For more than 100 years, this was an active community with about 50 families, 5 schools, and several businesses.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
The State Park’s History Hike takes you through what is left of this former farming and timber community as nature is reclaiming the former structures.
Flickr/Charles Wohlers Click here to check out the park’s History Hike.
A lone wooden house still remains among the ruins.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
By the late 1800’s, people began abandoning the site, and things came to a halt when the Great Vermont Flood hit in 1927.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
A second flood occurred here in 1934 which spurred the construction of the dam.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
Today you’ll not only find evidence of the former settlements, but there are also two cemeteries.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
Among the graves, you’ll find the tombstone of Florance Ricker, with her husband’s stone resting by hers. She died at age 75 and was buried in the middle of a cold winter.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks Surrounding the cemetery are white cedar trees which are not native to Vermont. They were planted by the Rickers as they are known as the trees of life and are intended to symbolically give life to the dead.
If you’re not afraid of things that go bump in the night, the Little River State Park is a wonderful place to go camping when the weather is nice. There are 5 cabins, 81 tent-sites, 20 lean-to sites, and 27 remote, boat-accessible sites.
YouTube/Vermont State Parks That is… If you’re not afraid of ghosts from the past!
Check out this great video of this park and all it has to offer published by Vermont State Parks on YouTube!
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
For in-depth stories of supposed hauntings at Ricker Mountain, check out these incredible blog posts by Obscure Vermont and Vermonter.com. Both of these blogs are fascinating and we think you’ll love them too. You’ll never know what you’ll find there!
YouTube/Vermont State Parks
Flickr/Charles Wohlers
Click here to check out the park’s History Hike.
Surrounding the cemetery are white cedar trees which are not native to Vermont. They were planted by the Rickers as they are known as the trees of life and are intended to symbolically give life to the dead.
That is… If you’re not afraid of ghosts from the past!
If this spooky hike in VT doesn’t scare you, the haunted hike in Glastenbury sure will!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
