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Welcome to the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association!

The Pinnacle is the highest and most scenic peak (+/-1683 feet) in Westminster, Vermont. It is located on the Windmill Ridge, straddling the Brookline/Westminster line. The view from the Pinnacle overlooks Hedgehog Gulf in Brookline and westward to Mount Snow and Stratton Mountain, over 20 miles away.

The dream of conserving The Pinnacle developed as a use of the Jamie Latham Memorial Fund, established in November 1991 to honor a young man who had loved this beautiful spot. From this beginning, the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association was formed. It is now a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation under both State and Federal law.

Its lands now consist of 1820 +/- acres in Rockingham, Athens, Brookline, and Westminster. These publicly-accessible lands include an extensive hiking trail system (14 miles!) and wildlife sanctuary. View a map of the Reserve here (1 mb file)
At the Pinnacle peak is a lean-to (below) that is available for overnight camping. Visit the Reserve Use Page for information on how to make a reservation for the lean-to!

New Access Points Map available for download here!

** LATEST NEWS **

Athens Dome
Trails and Nature Reserve
(Along the Ledge Road in Grafton and Athens)

Athens Dome trails are cleared and marked with disks!
Parking areas are improved and kiosks installed!

A map of the new trail system is below. Take a look, and hike (snowshoe) the new trails!

What began as a vision several years ago has become a real on the ground trail system and nature reserve.

Further trail improvements to be made in the coming years include a footbridge across Ledge Road Brook, a few boardwalk sections across wet areas, some trail benching here and there, view clearing and a lean-to shelter at the Lake property summit, a small utility shed with porch (so hikers can get out of the rain) at the Ledge Road parking area, and a trail designed and constructed at the soapstone quarry".

The Athens Dome at Grafton Committee appreciates the diverse and essential support that has made this possible:
· the stalwart volunteers who have been out there clearing the new trails
· Ray Hitchcock for drafting the Act 250 permit and shepherding the process
· Andy Toepfer for designing the new trials, and organizing every trail clearing event
· the students and teacher Bob Simeon at Windham Regional Career Center for building the new kiosks
· all the generous donors that made the purchase possible
· the Grafton Selectboard, Road crew and Irene recovery officials for repairing the bridge, road, and culverts
· the Grafton Improvement Association for agreeing to their section of trail
· the Windham Foundation for their section of trail and grant support
· Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for the huge grant to purchase and conserve the Lake property
· Vermont Land Trust for partnering in the conservation easement

This 207 acre property was acquired and conserved in 2010, with the help of the Vermont Land Trust, a major Vermont Housing and Conservation Board grant, the Windham Foundation, and significant donations from many area people. It is currently managed by a committee under the WHPA called the Athens Dome at Grafton Conservation Committee (ADGCC).

Map of the property

Photos from the Athens Dome Nature Reserve:

The Creature Rock boulder site

Soapstone quarry

One of the loveliest waterfalls

ARCHIVED NEWS can be found here

Access to WHPA Lands

Handicapped individuals may use wheelchairs on WHPA trails. Our trails
are fairly rugged, often steep, with numerous waterbars, rocks and other
obstacles. Wheel chair users will need to use caution as our trail system
has trail design limitations that may affect user safety. Please see
detailed information on trail kiosks.

Handicapped individuals may use motorized vehicles only on the Paul's Ledges
access road. Users will need to call Camilla Roberts at 802-869-1388 for a
key to the gate. All other trails are restricted from any powered vehicle
use by all individuals (whether handicapped or not). Please see detailed
information on trail kiosks.

Thank you to SOVER.NET for donating the space for this web site!

Athens Dome Trails and Nature Reserve (Along the Ledge Road in Grafton and Athens) Athens Dome trails are cleared and marked with disks! Parking areas are improved and kiosks installed! A map of the new trail system is below. Take a look, and hike (snowshoe) the new trails! What began as a vision several years ago has become a real on the ground trail system and nature reserve. Further trail improvements to be made in the coming years include a footbridge across Ledge Road Brook, a few boardwalk sections across wet areas, some trail benching here and there, view clearing and a lean-to shelter at the Lake property summit, a small utility shed with porch (so hikers can get out of the rain) at the Ledge Road parking area, and a trail designed and constructed at the soapstone quarry". The Athens Dome at Grafton Committee appreciates the diverse and essential support that has made this possible: · the stalwart volunteers who have been out there clearing the new trails · Ray Hitchcock for drafting the Act 250 permit and shepherding the process · Andy Toepfer for designing the new trials, and organizing every trail clearing event · the students and teacher Bob Simeon at Windham Regional Career Center for building the new kiosks · all the generous donors that made the purchase possible · the Grafton Selectboard, Road crew and Irene recovery officials for repairing the bridge, road, and culverts · the Grafton Improvement Association for agreeing to their section of trail · the Windham Foundation for their section of trail and grant support · Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for the huge grant to purchase and conserve the Lake property · Vermont Land Trust for partnering in the conservation easement This 207 acre property was acquired and conserved in 2010, with the help of the Vermont Land Trust, a major Vermont Housing and Conservation Board grant, the Windham Foundation, and significant donations from many area people. It is currently managed by a committee under the WHPA called the Athens Dome at Grafton Conservation Committee (ADGCC). Map of the property Photos from the Athens Dome Nature Reserve:

The Creature Rock boulder site	Soapstone quarry	One of the loveliest waterfalls

ARCHIVED NEWS can be found here