As you head north on Oak Hill Road, you will pass the Isham Family Farm. Look for a small turnoff and parking area on the left with a sign for Oak View Hill. Follow this trail up and over the ridge, past a pond and wetland, and through the woods, a lovely walk. In the spring look for Bobolinks in the field around the sugar shack.

Oak View Hill Trail lies along a public trail easement within the former Maple Grove Farm, which has been owned and operated for five generations by the Isham Family. Formerly a jersey cow dairy farm, the Isham Family Farm has now diversified to include maple sugaring, berry picking, vegetables, and even Christmas trees.

The farm was originally the MurrayHomestead. Among Williston’s first settlers, the Murrays came to Williston in 1788 and bought acreage from Governor Thomas Chittenden.

Jairus David Isham purchased the 125-acre Murray Farm in 1871 for $10,000 and combined those acres with his own resulting in 162 acres. In later years, 50 acres were sold, leaving the 108-acre Isham Farm as it stands today.

The farm has been passed down through the Isham family: to son Homer in 1899, grandson George in 1940, great-grandson David in 1965, and today great-great-grandson Michael. The house and farmstead, located to the south, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farmhouse itself is a fine example of gothic revival architecture.

In 2002, the Ishams chose to permanently protect the farm when they sold the development rights to the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), which were purchased in part using Environmental Reserve Funds from the Town of Williston.

The TrailFinder website has a description and map of a hike on the Oak View Hill Trail.