Quarry Hill Natural Area, Pownal, Vermont This 0.8-mile out-and-back trail is considered a moderate hike with an elevation gain of 252 feet. Although there are no official hiking trails, exploration of the old quarry is possible via unimproved footpaths which run both above and below the quarry. Quarry Hill still bears the scars of limestone mining from the early 1900s and is a goldmine of botanical biodiversity. The area has over 40 rare, threatened, or endangered plants; visitors can see trillium, wild ginger, wild oat, hepatica, and spring beauty during the spring season. The trail leads to a viewpoint of the Hoosic River, andperegrine falcons sometimes nest in the cliffs along the Hoosic Valley.