• Why is Vermont known as the Green Mountain State?
    • There's no denying that Vermont, called the Green Mountain State, is one of the most blessed states in the country when it comes to natural beauty.
  • What natural features make Vermont special?
    • With lush green forests, huge expanses of crystal blue lakes, and spectacular mountains, the state has an ethereal feel that brings out the little child in all of us.
  • Why do nature lovers visit Vermont?
    • With its stunning mountains, there is a sense of wonder and mystique that draws thousands upon thousands of nature lovers to the state.

Hike Mount Mansfield


Hike Mount Mansfield

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Aside from being the highest mountain in the state of Vermont, Mount Mansfield is also undoubtedly the most popular. It is located in Chittenden County and is named after a unique feature of the mountain: It resembles the profile of a human face when viewed from the east.

Nearly 40,000 visitors hike Mount Mansfield per year, eager to stop by the four highlight features of the mountain, which are aptly named Forehead, Nose, Chin, and Adam’s Apple. Another unique find at Mount Mansfield is the nearly 200 acres of Arctic tundra. If you’re eager to hike this mountain, do everyone a favor and stick to the routes and avoid treading into the vegetation to preserve the already fragile ecosystem of the area. Mount Mansfield

Day trip to Belvidere Mountain


Day trip to Belvidere Mountain

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Standing at 1,024 meters tall, the Belvidere Mountain is one of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

It is located in the northern portion of the mountain cluster and is situated in Orleans County. Although it’s one of the less frequented mountains, Belvidere exudes an understated beauty that will surely captivate all who visit it. The best way to explore the mountain is by hiking the 270-mile Long Trail, which can be reached via the Forester’s Trail near the Asbestos Mines. At the summit, hikers can visit the Fire Tower and enjoy a glorious view of the nearby Green Mountains, the Cold Hollow Mountains, and even neighboring Canadian mountains. Belvidere Mountain

Hike Mount Hunger


Hike Mount Hunger

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If you’re ready to challenge yourself with a mid-level hike, Mount Hunger in the Stowe area is a beautiful mountain to start with.

Part of the Worcester Range of Vermont, a hike up the 1,079-meter-tall mountain delivers amazing views of Mount Mansfield’s Camels Hump, the Green Mountains and, on a nice clear day, even the Presidential Mountains. While most of the climb is a solid challenge, there is a respite near the peak of the mountain, where the climb gets almost leisurely before coming to a stop at the open summit. Some trails to explore include the Waterbury Trail on the west side and the Middlesex Trail on the east wide. Fun fact? When the Von Trapp family moved to the USA after leaving Austria, they chose this area as their new home. Mount Hunger

Visit Killington Peak


Visit Killington Peak

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As the second tallest mountain in Vermont and the highest peak amongst the mountains in the Coolidge Range, the views from Killington Peak are nothing short of impressive.

In fact, it’s the spectacular vistas and breathtaking sights from the Killington that make it one of the most popular mountains to visit in the state. Enjoy a view of the Adirondacks and the rest of the Green Mountains as you hike all 1,293 meters of Killington Peak. You’ll even catch a view of the White Mountains and the peaks of mountains in New England as you go. Aside from the magnificent sites, Killington Peak is also a fantastic place for skiing when the winter months roll in. Killington Peak

Explore Glastenbury Mountain


Explore Glastenbury Mountain

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No matter what time of the year, there’s always great fun and lovely sights to behold at the Glastenbury Mountain. Standing at 1,142 meters tall, the mountain features a magical wooded peak and has gentle slopes for novice climbers.

The best trail to set off on to explore the Glastenbury Mountain is the famous Long Trail of Vermont. Additionally, the mountain is accessible by a small portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, making it a great transit point for visiting explorers. As the ninth highest summit of the state, a hike at this mountain can provide nature lovers with heart-stopping views of mountain formations like the Tactonics, the Berkshires, and the Adirondacks. Glastenbury Mountain

Ski Jay Peak


Ski Jay Peak

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Home to one of the top ski resorts in Vermont, Jay Peak is one of the best spots in the state to hike during the spring and summer and also a great place to hit the slopes in the fall and winter seasons.

Jay Peak is notable for being the last significant peak to reach before hitting the Canadian border. Given this, many long-distance hikers love to make this their final milestone when taking on epic hikes in Vermont. The heavily forested mountain provides visitors with an impressive hike and a relatively low tree line. In fact, the only un-forested parts of Jay Peak are those lined with ski routes. Whether you’re there to ski or hike, you’re in for a fantastic time. Jay Peak

Watch hang gliders on Mount Ascutney


Watch hang gliders on Mount Ascutney

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Located in Ascutney State Park, Mount Ascutney is a remarkable sight to behold.

Unique in character and in history, this mountain is actually a volcanic plug of an extinct and much taller former volcano that stands out proudly from the Connecticut River Valley. Simply said, it dwarfs practically every summit within its vicinity as one of the highest peaks in Windsor County.

A hike up Mount Ascutney will take visitors through roughly 9 miles of rolling hills, sweeping views of the surrounding vistas, cliffs, slides, and multiple ridgelines, not to mention a 2,500-foot uphill gain. The area is also well known for being a popular hang gliding site. Mount Ascutney

Enjoy the views from Sterling Whiteface Mountain


Enjoy the views from Sterling Whiteface Mountain

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Although Sterling Whiteface Mountain isn’t particularly known for the views it offers, there’s still quite some views to behold at this steep and heavily wooded mountain in Vermont’s northern region.

The great thing about this mountain is that it receives much less visitors, so if you’re looking for peace, solitude, and as little foot traffic as possible, then Sterling Whiteface is the place to hike. The Long Trail is by far the best way to traverse the slopes and hills of the mountain. Although the woods here are quite dense and make camping difficult, there are three shelters that hikers can visit to spend a night under the alluring tree line of the mountain. The White Face Shelter is just half a mile from the summit, with the Beaver Meadow Lodge coming up next at 1 mile south of the summit on the Whiteface Trail. Last is the Bear Hollow Shelter, which is 3.1 miles north of the summit. Sterling Whiteface Mountain

Climb the sixth highest peak in Vermont: Pico Peak


Climb the sixth highest peak in Vermont: Pico Peak

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Standing at 1,206 meters tall, Pico Peak is the sixth highest peak in Vermont.

Additionally, Pico Peak is the northernmost summit of the Coolidge Range and makes the list of New England’s 100 highest mountains at number 71. Although the peak is quite popular for hikers, especially in October, what really draws the crowds to Pico Peak is the skiing.

There is a deep skiing history here as well, as the first T-bar lift of the country was installed here and double gold medal winner Andrea Mead-Lawrence practically calls these slopes home. The 1,967-foot vertical drop is one of the longest in the state. Couple this with 57 ski trails and you’ve got yourself a skier’s paradise. Pico Peak

Visit beginner-friendly Haystack Mountain


Visit beginner-friendly Haystack Mountain

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Located in Vermont’s Windham County, Haystack Mountain is a 1,043-meter-tall mountain at the south end of Deerfield Ridge. What’s great about Haystack Mountain is that its beginner friendly. The short and generally easy hike is about 2.5 miles long with a gentle elevation gain of 1,000 feet.

Unique and eye-catching, the mountain’s pointed and cone-like peak stands out amongst the flat ridges and the hills around the area. Not only can visitors see the lovely rolling hills of Massachusetts and New Hampshire while climbing the Haystack, they’ll also get great views of Mount Snow, Killington Peak, and the Glastenbury Mountain. Haystack Mountain

Plan ahead for these hiking events:
- Fall Community Hike - Sunday, October 6, 2024
- Bennington Trailfest in late July
- Vermont Wildlife Festival 2024 in September

Map:


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