Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park trail map (click to enlarge)

Length: .5 mile, one way
Time: 15 to 45 minutes, depending on time spent at the pond
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

The Ravine Trail at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park is a short, U-shaped trail that leads down to a dam and swimming hole frequented by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. In fact, the trail and dam were built while he was living at Aspet (the name he gave his house). Saint-Gaudens was an outdoor recreation enthusiast and encouraged all of his guests to play sports and hike the trails.

The National Park Service website claims the trail is a quarter-mile long, one way, but according to my GPS it is a half mile. This includes an out-and-back spur trail that leads to the swimming hole. I spent 45 minutes on the hike, but if you don’t stop to read the numerous wayside exhibits along the way that discuss the plants and animals you might see, or take a little time to sit by the swimming hole, you can hike the Ravine Trail in as little as 15 minutes.

There are two trailheads, one next to the Ravine Studio and one at The Temple. The Ravine Studio trailhead is the closest to the main attractions at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, so this is where most everyone will start the hike. When you reach The Temple you can either call it a day and head back towards Aspet or continue your hike on the Blow-Me-Down Trail, which is just a tenth of a mile to the west.

Ravine Studio trailhead for the Ravine Trail at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

The Ravine Trail leads down to Blow-Me-Up Brook, and given the name of the trail, it should come as no surprise that you will be walking down into a ravine; the brook is at the bottom. The descent is short but extremely steep.

Ravine Trail at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park heads down a steep hill to Blow-Me-Up Brook

Once at the bottom, the terrain levels out and the trail follows right along the brook. The forest floor has very little clutter, so it is easy to get to the water if you desire. It is a damp area where I would expect to encounter mosquitoes, but I didn’t run into any at all during my early September visit.

Ravine Trail at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park follows Blow-Me-Up Brook

When you reach the point where the trail starts to head back up to the top of the ravine—which is just a matter of minutes from when you first reach the bottom—look to your right for a footbridge that spans Blow-Me-Up Brook. This is the detour that leads to the swimming hole.

Bridge over Blow-Me-Up Brook on the Ravine Trail leads to a swimming hole built by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Saint Gaudens National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens and his assistants built the dam and swimming hole in the mid-1880s. It remained in use until 1898, at which time Saint-Gaudens built a swimming pool behind the Little Studio (the National Park Service filled it in for safety reasons). No longer used, the dam and pond deteriorated until being restored in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), an organization conceived by the Franklin Roosevelt administration to help young, unmarried men get back to work in the wake of the Great Depression (1929-39). Many of the national and state park trails and campgrounds were built by members of the CCC during this time. The dam has since been renovated, once in the 1980s and again in 2008.

View from upstream of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ swimming hole and dam, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Blow-Me-Up Brook flows into Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ swimming hole, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Dam that creates Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ swimming hole, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

The dam is as far as the spur trail goes, so when done, head back the way you came and proceed up the bank and out of the ravine. The ascent is as steep as the descent, but luckily it is just as short.

Steep hike out of the ravine on the Ravine Trail at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

The trail comes out at The Temple, which is where the ashes of Saint-Gaudens and some of his family members are interred.

The Temple, the final resting place of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

If you wish to hike the Blow-Me-Down Trail, just follow the mowed grass path to the right along the tree line from The Temple. Otherwise, walk back towards Aspet and the Little Studio, which are off to your left.

Path to the Blow-Me-Down Trail from the Temple at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

I wasn’t expecting much out of the hike when I started down the steep bank of the ravine. However, I found it to be very peaceful at the bottom. My brother built a similar trail and pond in his backyard, and he goes down there and sits while having a few beers. The Ravine Trail reminded me of his trail, and I expect it served a similar purpose for Saint-Gaudens and his friends.

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