The Riga Plateau – Facts and Figures
Northwest Cabin is located on the Mt. Riga plateau in the extreme northwest corner of Connecticut where it meets the New York and Massachusetts borders. The Mt. Riga plateau contains 23 mountains of which 13 are over 2000 feet above sea level. The highest is Mt. Everett at 2602 feet. The area also contains the highest mountain in Connecticut, Bear Mountain (2316 ft), as well as the highest point in the state, Mt. Frissell (2380 ft).
Bash Bish falls, Massachusetts’ highest waterfall, is located within the plateau, along with the smaller Race Brook and Bear Rock falls. The two highest bodies of water within Connecticut (#1 Bingham Pond, #2 Guildens Pond) are here. Bingham Pond is actually a black spruce bog 1894 feet above sea level, and it is a national natural landmark. The Dolomite ledges near Mt. Everett and Sage’s Ravine on the CT/MA state line are also classified as natural landmarks.
Mt. Riga plateau encompasses 25 square miles of protected open space. The Appalachian Trail passes through it. In mid to late June the mountain laurel bloom is spectacular. In addition, 105 acres above 2400 feet near the summit of Mt. Everett is further protected by the Massachusetts DEC since it contains approximately 20 acres of dwarf pitch pine.
During the Colonial and Revolutionary War period the Mt. Riga area was an important source of iron ore. Remnants of these “mines” still remain. Charcoal production was also important for use in the smelting process.
Mt. Riga Plateau Mountains:
| NAME | ELEV. | STATE | NAME | ELEV. | STATE | |
| Everett | 2602 | MA | Bald | 2010 | CT | |
| Frissell | 2453 | MA | Sterling | 1970 | MA | |
| Ashley | 2390 | MA | Ethel | 1925 | MA | |
| Race | 2365 | MA | Prospect Hill | 1919 | MA | |
| Bear | 2316 | CT | Frey | 1893 | MA | |
| Brace | 2311 | NY | Bash Bish | 1890 | MA | |
| Round | 2296 | CT | Cedar | 1883 | MA | |
| Alander | 2239 | MA | Whitbeck | 1870 | MA | |
| Gridley | 2211 | CT | Bushnell | 1834 | MA | |
| Undine | 2203 | MA | Riga | 1780 | CT | |
| Plantain | 2088 | MA | Lions Head | 1738 | CT | |
| Darby | 2030 | MA |
Mt. Riga Plateau Open Space Properties
| NAME | ACREAGE |
| Appalachian Trail Corridor-CT | 1,200 |
| Appalachian Trail Corridor-MA | 315 |
| Bash Bish Falls State Park | 410 |
| Dolomite ledges Natural Heritage Area | 198 |
| Jug End Wildlife Reservation | 1,190 |
| Mt. Everett State Reservation | 1,675 |
| Mt. Plantain Wildlife Conservation Easement | 1,337 |
| Northwest Camp (AMC) | 125 |
| Mt. Riga State Park | 315 |
| Mt. Washington State Forest | 4,585 |
| Taconic State Park | 5,000 |
| TOTAL | 16,350 |
| Square Miles | 25.5 |
