Best Hiking Trails in Vermont

Vermont is called the Green Mountain State, with good reason — it has some of the most incredible mountain vistas this side of the Appalachians. It is also home to some of the best hiking trails in the country. Let’s take a closer look at the top hiking trails in Vermont to help you plan your next hiking or camping trip.

Moss Glen Falls Trail

This fantastic trail for beginners has a trailhead in Stowe. It is an excellent choice for all skill levels, and features a 2.9-mile trail, a waterfall and some amazing scenery you’ll have to see to believe. The trail itself is right off a busy highway, but you’d never realize it. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash, and if you get too warm, just jump right into the water!

Sunset Ridge Trail

This beautiful trail wraps around Mount Mansfield, and is a decent hike for all skill levels. It doesn’t reach the top of the mountain, but it is replete with unique flora. It’s one of the few places in the state where you can find the arctic-alpine tundra, and there are hundreds of unique plant species up there you won’t find anywhere else in Vermont. It has a high difficulty level, but there are so many things to see, you won’t even notice you’re climbing.

Appalachian Trail at Glastenbury Mountain

The entire Appalachian Trail is more than 2,100 miles long stretching from Georgia to Maine, but if you’re not up for that kind of hike, there are plenty of smaller trails you can enjoy. This one is a hard trail, with 3,000-foot ascents in some places along its 22.6-mile length. However, if you’re heading out for a weekend hiking and camping trip, this is one of the best places in Vermont to do it. There are plenty of camping sites and shelters where you can set up for the night if you want to make it a weekend trip.

Barnes Camp Loop

Here is a brand-new trail that is perfect for day trips and comes fully equipped with picnic sites and river crossings. The trail, which starts at the Barnes Camp, even has an ADA-accessible boardwalk to allow hikers of all abilities to enjoy the widespread Vermont beauty. Be careful of the river crossing, though — during high water conditions, it can be dangerous.

Echo Mountain Trail

On the eastern side of the state, there is Echo Mountain. This trail starts at the Lake Morey Boat launch and wraps around Eagle’s Bluff. It’s an easy trail, which makes it a great place to bring even the youngest of hikers, and offers views of everything from Smart’s Mountain to Mt. Moosilauke from various points on the trail.

This list is just a small sampling of some of the great trails are available in the beautiful Green Mountain State. We didn’t even include The Long Trail!  There are trails for hikers of all ability levels, so whether you’re just starting out, or are a seasoned hiker, you’re sure to find something you love.