With help from the Vermont Land Trust and more than 100 supporters, including a donation from the Center, the town of St. Johnsbury has been able to buy and conserve 117 acres with trails in the heart of town.

Kown as Observatory Knob, the property provides an undeveloped scenic backdrop visible from many areas of town and lies within a half-mile of 450 homes. In the 1800s, the site hosted an observatory that was twice destroyed by high winds. Today the focus is on easily accessible recreational opportunities for people in St. Johnsbury.

St. Johnsbury resident David Brown and his dog on land he donated to town.
St. Johnsbury resident David Brown donated 5 adjacent acres to the Observatory Knob conservation project. Kyle Gray/Vermont Land Trust photo.

David Brown, and adjacent landowner, sweetened the conservation project by donating five acres including popular trails. “For the last 13 years I have permitted hikers to use the trails on my land to access to Knob,” said Brown. “We strive to find ways to make St. Johnsbury a wonderful place to live, and to make St. Johnsbury attractive to newcomers. The effort to save Observatory Knob can provide our town with a wonderful recreational resource.”

The community has enjoyed access to the property for 100 years for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor activities. When the property was listed for sale, the town approached the Vermont Land Trust to help protect it, an idea the landowners, Tetley Trust, supported by allowing time for fundraising and selling at below market price.

“Having a historic and beautiful hiking trail within walking distance of our downtown supports the economic and community vitality of St. Johnsbury, creating more reasons for people to visit, and more reasons for residents to stay and feel proud of what our town has to offer,” said Chamber of Commerce Director Gillian Sewake.

“The Knob, along with the town forest, and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail improve access to outdoor recreation for locals,” said Evan Oleson, the Center’s Northeast Kingdom program manager. “These are the kinds of things that are attractive to people who are considering moving here. The Rail Trail connects to neighboring towns and will be inviting to people visiting St. Johnsbury.”

In addition to supporting conservation of Observatory Knob, the Center, in partnership with the Northeastern Vermont Development Association and the NEK Collaborative, secured funds through the Northern Border Regional Commission to support local outdoor recreation projects, including trails in the St. Johnsbury Town Forest, which is located downtown.

A trail in green forest on Observatory Knob, St. Johnsbury, VT.
Residents will permanently enjoy access to extensive trails for recreation on the newly conserved Observatory Knob. Kyle Gray/Vermont Land Trust photo.