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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
