As you hike you will see blown down trees. These rotting trees show us that nature wastes nothing. Fungi, bacteria, insects and weather are helping to decay these blowdowns. The resulting humus is a natural soil fertilizer readily available to growing plants.
During the last ice age, a huge body of water called Lake Vermont spread from the Green Mountains to the Adirondacks and from Canada to Rutland, Vermont. Mud and stones from the lake have been compressed for thousands of years since, forming great rock beds. Along the shoreline of Burton Island, sheets of rock and flat stones are numerous. Once the shore and bottom of Lake Vermont, these huge beds of shale and sandstone are now eroding.
On the southern tip of Burton Island, old and gnarled cedar trees reach out. The roots of these trees hold firm against the erosive action of wind, rain and ice.
Landscape
Looking out toward the horizon, the expansive views bring the ocean to mind. Ball Island stands out in front of the jagged peaks of the Adirondacks and the flats of Sandbar. Do you know the islands around you?
KEY MAP
We at Burton Island State Park hope you have enjoyed this short hike. To return to the start, you can follow the park road or follow the hiking trail back.
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