Little Averill Lake Natural Area

What to See: Plants

There is a northern white cedar swamp and an unusual natural lake sand beach community on the property, which may have been created by the deposition of white sand that was pushed up onto the shore over time by waves and ice. Some of the plants in the beach and the open wetland here include green wood orchids, round-leaved sundew, bugleweed and marsh St. Johnswort. There are a number of sedges found in the area and shrubs including sweet gale, mountain holly and sourtop blueberry.

The lake is surrounded by northern hardwood forest and some mixed hardwood-softwood forest typical of the Northern Forest. Little Averill drains into Great Averill Lake.

What to See: Animals

TNC’s property on Little Averill Lake includes a documented nesting site for the rare common loon. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies monitors common loon breeding patterns on the pond. Please stay at least 200 feet away from loon nests May 15 to August 15.

Peregrine falcons nest on nearby Brousseau Mountain, and moose are abundant in the area.

Visitors can put their boats into the water at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife boat access where there is a parking lot. Please read our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.