Hazens Notch
Encyclopedia
Hazen's Notch is a mountain pass
in Westfield
, in the northern Green Mountains
of Vermont
. Hazen's Notch was named after Moses Hazen
who in 1779 led the construction of the Bayley Hazen Military Road
as far as this point on a route which started at Newbury, Vermont
and was originally planned to continue to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
, not far from Montreal
.
The notch
is defined by the cliffs of Sugarloaf Mountain to the north and by Haystack Mountain to the south. The height of land of the pass is located in Hazen's Notch State Park, in Orleans County
, about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) east of the boundary between Orleans and Franklin
Counties. Located on the south side of the road at the height of land in Hazen's Notch is a stone tablet inscribed with the words "Terminus of the Hazen Road, 1779" which was placed there by the Orleans County Historical Society on August 21, 1903.
The geology of the Hazen's Notch area in Westfield and Montgomery
is primarily Hazen's Notch Formation of schist with intrusions of Belvidere Mountain Amphibolite and two areas of ultramafic rocks all of which grades into Jay Peak
Formation in the lower elevations.
On the east side, Hazen's Notch drains into the East Branch of the Missisquoi River
, which drains into Lake Champlain
, thence into Canada
's Richelieu River
, the Saint Lawrence River
, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
. To the west, the gap is drained by Wade Brook, which drains into the Trout River, thence the Missisquoi River.
The Long Trail
, a 272-mile (438-km) hiking trail
running the length of Vermont, crosses Hazen's Notch between Haystack Mountain, 1.5 mi (2.5 km) to the south, and Jay Peak
immediately to the north.
The State of Vermont has designated 273 acres (110.5 ha) as the Hazen's Notch Natural Area.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in Westfield
Westfield, Vermont
Westfield is a town in Orleans County, Vermont in the United States. The population was 503 at the 2000 census. It is the least densely populated town in the county...
, in the northern Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Hazen's Notch was named after Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers. His service included particularly brutal raids during the Expulsion of the Acadians and...
who in 1779 led the construction of the Bayley Hazen Military Road
Bayley Hazen Military Road
The Bayley–Hazen Military Road was a military road that was originally planned to run from Newbury, Vermont to St. John's, Quebec, not far from Montreal. , running from Newbury to Hazens Notch near the Canadian border, were constructed between 1776 and 1779 during the American Revolutionary War...
as far as this point on a route which started at Newbury, Vermont
Newbury (town), Vermont
Newbury is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,955 at the 2000 census. Newbury includes the villages of Newbury, Center Newbury, West Newbury, South Newbury, Boltonville, Peach Four Corners, and Wells River.-History:...
and was originally planned to continue to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, not far from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
The notch
Notch
Notch may refer to:* The nock of an arrow* Notch , a Hip hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall and reggaeton artist* Notch signaling pathway, a cell signaling system present in most multicellular organisms...
is defined by the cliffs of Sugarloaf Mountain to the north and by Haystack Mountain to the south. The height of land of the pass is located in Hazen's Notch State Park, in Orleans County
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
, about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) east of the boundary between Orleans and Franklin
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
Counties. Located on the south side of the road at the height of land in Hazen's Notch is a stone tablet inscribed with the words "Terminus of the Hazen Road, 1779" which was placed there by the Orleans County Historical Society on August 21, 1903.
The geology of the Hazen's Notch area in Westfield and Montgomery
Montgomery, Vermont
Montgomery is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population, according to 2010 census United States Census Bureau is 1,201. In 1963, part of Averys Gore in Franklin County became part of Montgomery, with the other section becoming part of Belvidere.-Geography:According to the...
is primarily Hazen's Notch Formation of schist with intrusions of Belvidere Mountain Amphibolite and two areas of ultramafic rocks all of which grades into Jay Peak
Jay Peak
Jay Peak Resort is an American ski resort located on Jay Peak, outside the village of Jay in the town of Jay, Vermont in the Green Mountains. Its vertical drop of is the eighth largest in New England and the fifth largest in Vermont....
Formation in the lower elevations.
On the east side, Hazen's Notch drains into the East Branch of the Missisquoi River
Missisquoi River
The Missisquoi River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately 80 mi long, in northern Vermont in the United States and southern Quebec in Canada. It drains a rural area of the northern Green Mountains along the US-Canada border northeast of Lake Champlain, and an area of Quebec's Eastern...
, which drains into Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, thence into Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
, the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
. To the west, the gap is drained by Wade Brook, which drains into the Trout River, thence the Missisquoi River.
The Long Trail
Long Trail
The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States, constructed between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club...
, a 272-mile (438-km) hiking trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
running the length of Vermont, crosses Hazen's Notch between Haystack Mountain, 1.5 mi (2.5 km) to the south, and Jay Peak
Jay Peak
Jay Peak Resort is an American ski resort located on Jay Peak, outside the village of Jay in the town of Jay, Vermont in the Green Mountains. Its vertical drop of is the eighth largest in New England and the fifth largest in Vermont....
immediately to the north.
The State of Vermont has designated 273 acres (110.5 ha) as the Hazen's Notch Natural Area.