Vermont is known for great skiing in the winter. But when you’re not skiing in the Green Mountain State, hiking is a great alternative.
And Vermont offers fantastic options for hiking.
The Northeast Kingdom has become a mountain biker’s paradise, but it also is a haven for hikers.
The state has a home for hikers of all abilities, and here are five spots for outdoor enthusiasts who want to take their hiking adventures to a new level.
MORE HIKING GUIDES: 5 hikes in New Hampshire | New England’s best hassle-free hikes | 5 great off-the-beaten-path hikes | 10 family-friendly hikes
Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info
Looming like a thunderhead over the glacial Lake Willoughby, Mount Pisgah nearly tops the list for off-the-beaten-path Vermont hikes. There are two approaches to the summit: one from the north (park at the trail marker about halfway down the lake on Route 5A) or from the south (park at the trailhead about a half-mile past the south beach).
Note that stunning views are found only on the southern approach. There are two overlooks that will make you want to hold Baby Simba in a sunbeam. Things can get muddy in the springtime, so this one is best in late May/early June. Bring bug spray.
Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info
This 4.3-mile out-and-back trail brings you to the bald, granite summit of Wheeler Mountain. Everything about this hike is lovely. You’ve got house-sized boulders occupying the forest floor of this Northeast Kingdom wonderland, with moss, ferns, lichen, and babbling brooks.
At the top is a rock scramble to the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with significant exposure and a view over the mountainous countryside below. Whether you are in the hardwoods, evergreens, or on the open mountaintop, you will be dazzled.
You can bring dogs, but they need to be leashed.
Difficulty: 5/5 | Trail info
Vermont’s tallest peak, Mount Mansfield, is 4,395 feet in elevation and offers a climate similar to that of southern Greenland. This 7.3-mile loop features 2,880 feet of vertical climbing and brings you far above the tree line, where you’ll catch views of Lake Champlain and the rest of Vermont.
A camping section and drinking water are available at the trailhead, and you’ll start by climbing the CCC Road. Maple Ridge Trail then takes you up the most strenuous part of the hike. One section requires moving along a rock wall using only hand grips and toe holds, and another requires leaping over a 6-foot-deep chasm. In other words, this is not a trail for rainy or icy weather.
The rewards of Mount Mansfield are epic. Prepare with enough water, food, and the correct type of clothing and hiking shoes. Dogs are welcome but not recommended due to dangerous conditions.
Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info
Mount Elmore is a 5.4-mile loop that gives you a bit of everything that makes Vermont hiking special. First, you’ve got wide trails and gradual climbing at the beginning, then staircases, then singletrack, then some epic rock scrambles that require serious boot spikes in the winter.
At the top of Mount Elmore is a fire tower that’s worth the hike alone. From here, you can see practically every point in the state on a clear day, from Jay Peak along the Canadian border to the massive ski peaks of the south. It’s recommended to take this trail in the clockwise direction, as there are some steep, rocky sections where you are better off going up than down.
Dogs are welcome.
Difficulty: 5/5 | Trail info
Vermont’s third-highest peak rises just over 4,000 feet in elevation, and there are three equally great ways to reach the summit. Our recommendation is Burrows Trail, a loop that climbs 2,391 feet over 5.4 miles. The views from its bald summit are rewarding and allow you to see into both New York and New Hampshire on clear days.
Like Mount Mansfield, the peak features vegetation found only in the arctic. Only walk on the trail to preserve it. Keep your dog on a leash through the high-altitude sections of the trail. It’s recommended you hike it in a counter-clockwise direction for safety.
Enjoy some fantastic thigh-burn and the clean air on the rooftop of Vermont.
