Balch Hill

Balch Hill Trail Map

NEW! Balch Hill Stewardship Fund

Thanks to generous friends and Balch Hill neighbors, we have established a dedicated fund to care for Balch Hill into the future. This is especially welcome news, since annual maintenance costs at this property are significant, and Balch Hill was protected years before land trusts like ours realized the need to plan for the costs of caring for such properties into the future. Donations to the Fund are warmly welcomed.

For over 50 years, the Balch Hill Natural Area has been a favorite of Hanover residents for its great views, picnicking, walking, and bird watching.  Balch Hill provides easy terrain with moderate inclines and walking routes to the summit ranging from 0.3-1.0 miles.  Its diverse  communities include an abandoned pasture at the summit and forests of pine, hardwoods, and hemlock on the slopes. The summit offers fine views of Mount Ascutney, Killington, and Gile Mountain. 

The Hanover Conservation Council’s first land protection project, the Balch Hill Natural Area began with 10 acres acquired in 1970 to protect the summit from development.

Kite Day!

Our annual Kite Day on breezy and beautiful Balch Hill is a favorite with families. Thanks to Jim Block for his wonderful photos of the event. View them on his website.

Birds at Balch Hill

Balch Hill is a favorite of birders, who enjoy its summer residents, year-round occupants such as the Barred Owl, and, in the fall, migrating raptors. On a recent weekend morning, volunteer hawk watch leader David Merker saw six Bald Eagles high over Balch Hill. The following week, he recorded (in only two hours!) 246 Redtailed Hawks, a Bald Eagle, 17 Cooper’s Hawks, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Kestrel,  16 Turkey Vultures, 8 Ravens, and too many crows to count.

Information and Property Map

In partnership with the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College, the Conservancy manages 8 trails and the summit meadow on the Balch Hill property.  Balch Hill’s trails provide access to the summit from every direction. Please see the trail map for details about trailhead locations and parking.

How to get there

Parking is available at Hemlock Road for access to the Hemlock Trail. For access to the Grasse Road Trail, park  at the intersection of Grasse Road and Trescott Road, where a trailhead kiosk was provided by the Hanover Lions Club in the fall of 2011.

Balch Hill Quest

Explore this preserve with a delightful hike uphill to grand old trees and the expansive view, through the Balch Hill Quest.  One of a series of treasure hunts created by the Valley Quest program of Vital Communities, this quest takes about an hour

TARGET: Invasive plants at Balch Hill

The Conservancy’s Balch Hill Stewardship Committee is working hard to manage invasive plants, especially Oriental bittersweet, a non-native vine that smothers other vegetation.  A particularly aggressive newcomer to Balch Hill, bittersweet is difficult to eradicate, but careful herbicide treatment of foliage and cut stems can help control it. The Conservancy is working with a licensed professional in compliance with all state regulations.

Bittersweet arrived at Balch Hill, and elsewhere in our region, courtesy of birds who enjoy its berries. Highway departments once planted the vine on roadsides in an attempt at beautification (along with multiflora rose, autumn olive, and other shrubs that have since shown their nasty side).  Some people purchase wreaths and other decorations made of the non-native vine, for its fall display of bright orange-red berries.

You can help keep Bittersweet from spreading. If you can’t resist  its vibrant fall colors, please dispose of the decorations in bagged trash rather than in a compost pile or in the woods. Best of all, avoid planting the vine. Next time you visit Balch Hill’s summit, stop by the kiosk for more information on this and other invasive plants.