View more Vermont Hiking Trails.
When it comes to hiking, Vermont has a bucolic bounty of spectacular trails that will make hikers happy.What makes Vermont so mighty when it comes to hiking? Well, for one, it is home to the Long Trail—the oldest long-distance hiking trail in America—which, in turn, connects to the even longer Appalachian Trail. This, paired with less-explored and lightly-trafficked routes, every hiker will find their paradise in Vermont. Here are our 11 favorites.
Completed in 1930, the Long Trail snakes around Vermont for about 265 miles from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts state line. It connects more than 40 of the state's highest peaks, following spectacular Vermont ridgelines and dipping down into valleys. The hauntingly beautiful Glastenbury Mountain Trail is in Bennington County in southern Vermont, and the mountain itself is just under 4,000 feet. To add to the allure of the alpine hike, at the base of the mountain, you must pass through the ghost town of Glastenbury, which looms at the center of the Bennington Triangle.
Next, we are on to a sunnier outlook, with the Sunset Ridge Trail. Around 17 miles east of Burlington and 22 miles northwest of Montpelier, this trail features a classic rocky ridge ascent that culminates with the highest peak in Vermont. Attractions include 200 acres of rare alpine flora and more than two miles or ridge-top hiking above the treeline, with its highest point at 4,393 feet.
Camel’s Hump is a meandering day hike to Vermont’s highest peak and a National Natural Landmark on Mount Mansfield. It is essentially a more mellow version of Sunset Ridge but sometimes a casual hike is just what we need.
Just east of Rutland, lies a hike to the second highest summit in Vermont. With panoramic sights of the Green Mountains, White Mountains, Taconic Range, and Adirondacks there is good reason to push to the top of this hike, which features views of the largest vertical drop in New England.
This trail is suitable for the whole family, labeled “Moderate for children” on Trails.com. The trail has a total length of six miles and reportedly takes about five hours to traverse. The highest point of elevation is at 3,267 feet. According to reports, Burke Mountain Trail appears daunting, but is really suitable for a variety of hikers.
Searching for a hike where your four-legged friend can join you? You’re in luck! Jay Peak Trail is actually the northernmost peak in Vermont. The area is best known for its ski resort, but in the warmer months is ideal for a hiking experience. And Canada is only 10 miles away, so enjoy views of our friends up north from here.
About six miles east of Manchester, you will find the trailhead. If you like, stop at a U.S. Forest Service Information Centerto grab Green Mountain National Forest maps and tips. Expect to see to see an abundance of plant life along this section of the Long Trail.
Take a hike through deep forests just four miles north of Burlington. This loop trail doesn’t have much elevation is even the most inexperienced hiker can enjoy it. After you finish up the 1.75-mile hike, stop into the vibrant downtown Burlington for a bite to eat.
If breathtaking cliff views overlooking lakes are your thing, Mount Pisgah is your trail. It may be a bit off the beaten path, located in Westmore, Vermont, but the trip to get there itself is worth it. Once there, you will experience clifftop vistas and maybe even circling hawks and falcons, looking for their next fresh meal out of Lake Willoughby.
East of Manchester Center awaits an overnight backpacking trip through the 15,680-acre Lye Brook Wilderness to a pristine wilderness pond teeming with animal activity. Or opt for a half-day hike to view the 125-foot Lye Brook waterfall.
Off Vermont Route 118 in Eden, this lesser-traveled section of the Long Trail offers a diverse array of bucolic beauty and wilderness wonder. Along the way you can take in Devil’s Gulch, a lush ravine with 175-foot-high walls, Ritterbush Pond, which sits in the heart of the moose-rich Babcock Nature Preserve, mammoth boulders, and a mountaintop vista which includes Mt. Belvidere.
