Vermont has hiking trails for everyone from beginners to experienced trekkers, and the views we take in along the way are worth every sore muscle we feel after. Sometimes we’re not up for something too extreme, so we thought we’d put together a go-to list with hikes under 5 miles in Vermont. No matter where you are in the Green Mountain State, we’ve got 18 rewarding short treks that will make you love hiking in Vermont.
- Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
Flickr/Scott McCracken This easy hike is less than a mile, and the waterfall is amazing!
- Owl’s Head, Peacham
Flickr/Scott McCracken This easy to moderate hike has open fern meadows, rocky outcrops and lots of views. 3.8 miles should take roughly 2 hours.
- Wheeler Mountain, Sutton
Flickr/Charles Wohlers This 2.5-mile hike will take about 2 hours to complete and will bring you to rocky cliffs and amazing views.
- Elmore Mountain, Elmore
Flickr/Charles Wohlers This 4.4-mile hike has multiple rock outcrops, a fire tower, amazing views and the famous balancing rock.
- Mount Pisgah, Westmore
Flickr/Bill McMannis Just under the 5-mile mark is the great Mount Pisgah. Enjoy 4.8 miles of high and rocky perches over the lake.
- Lye Brook Falls, Manchester
Flickr/Doug Kerr You won’t want to miss the 125-foot waterfall in this steep valley. The hike is moderate and it may take about 3 hours to do this 4.4-mile hike to the breathtaking falls.
- Harmon Hill, Woodford
Flickr/Rafael Medina This 3.7-mile moderate hike will take about 2.5 hours, longer if you stop to check out the wildlife and eat some wild berries in the ridge line fields.
- Putney Mountain, Putney
Flickr/Putneypics An easy ridge line walk that takes about an hour, you’ll enjoy the grassy summit after trekking 1.2 miles on this easy hike.
- Little Rock Pond, Mount Tabor
Flickr/Joseph Bylund This hike is 4.8 miles and is considered easy. Plan for about 3.5 hours to do the loop around this pond. Bring your swimsuit as there are plenty of places to swim here.
- Snake Mountain, Addison
Flickr/Don Shall A moderate hike through a mature hardwood forest and cliff top views galore. This 3.6-mile hike should take about 2 hours.
- Deer Leap, Killington
Flickr/Eliot 2 miles in about 1.5 hours, this easy hike has rocky outcrop and wonderful mountain views.
- Spruce Mountain, Plainfield
Flickr/Geoff Dude Bring the kids or the dogs to this 4.4-mile beauty.
- White Rock Mountain, Middlesex
Flickr/Charles Wohlers A moderate to strenuous hike, this 4.6-mile trek hikes up 1,558 feet.
- Mount Horrid’s Great Cliff, Goshen
Flickr/Kent McFarland You’ll find rare plants and wonderful views on this moderate 1.6-mile hike in Goshen.
- Mount Philo State Park, Charlotte
Flickr/Barb & Dean Russ & Williams This beautiful hike has scenic views from beneath the cliff. Prepare for a moderate 2.4-mile hike that will take about 1.5 hours.
- Eagle Mountain, Milton
Flickr/Michelle This easy 2.1-mile trail hikes the highest point on Vermont’s shore of Lake Champlain.
- Burton Island, St. Albans
Flickr/BostonTx This hike is a minimum of 2.8 miles, but you can add to it. The wonderful loop offers lots of shoreline spots to relax or swim.
- Stowe Pinnacle, Stowe
Flickr/Patrick This steep hike is 2.8 miles, 1,520 feet and the views are worth every step of the way.
Grab your sneakers and fill up your water bottles – we’re ready to hit the trails and embark on an outdoor adventure in Vermont!
Flickr/Scott McCracken
This easy hike is less than a mile, and the waterfall is amazing!
This easy to moderate hike has open fern meadows, rocky outcrops and lots of views. 3.8 miles should take roughly 2 hours.
Flickr/Charles Wohlers
This 2.5-mile hike will take about 2 hours to complete and will bring you to rocky cliffs and amazing views.
This 4.4-mile hike has multiple rock outcrops, a fire tower, amazing views and the famous balancing rock.
Flickr/Bill McMannis
Just under the 5-mile mark is the great Mount Pisgah. Enjoy 4.8 miles of high and rocky perches over the lake.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
You won’t want to miss the 125-foot waterfall in this steep valley. The hike is moderate and it may take about 3 hours to do this 4.4-mile hike to the breathtaking falls.
Flickr/Rafael Medina
This 3.7-mile moderate hike will take about 2.5 hours, longer if you stop to check out the wildlife and eat some wild berries in the ridge line fields.
Flickr/Putneypics
An easy ridge line walk that takes about an hour, you’ll enjoy the grassy summit after trekking 1.2 miles on this easy hike.
Flickr/Joseph Bylund
This hike is 4.8 miles and is considered easy. Plan for about 3.5 hours to do the loop around this pond. Bring your swimsuit as there are plenty of places to swim here.
Flickr/Don Shall
A moderate hike through a mature hardwood forest and cliff top views galore. This 3.6-mile hike should take about 2 hours.
Flickr/Eliot
2 miles in about 1.5 hours, this easy hike has rocky outcrop and wonderful mountain views.
Flickr/Geoff Dude
Bring the kids or the dogs to this 4.4-mile beauty.
A moderate to strenuous hike, this 4.6-mile trek hikes up 1,558 feet.
Flickr/Kent McFarland
You’ll find rare plants and wonderful views on this moderate 1.6-mile hike in Goshen.
Flickr/Barb & Dean Russ & Williams
This beautiful hike has scenic views from beneath the cliff. Prepare for a moderate 2.4-mile hike that will take about 1.5 hours.
Flickr/Michelle
This easy 2.1-mile trail hikes the highest point on Vermont’s shore of Lake Champlain.
Flickr/BostonTx
This hike is a minimum of 2.8 miles, but you can add to it. The wonderful loop offers lots of shoreline spots to relax or swim.
Flickr/Patrick
This steep hike is 2.8 miles, 1,520 feet and the views are worth every step of the way.
What do you consider to be the best hiking trails in Vermont? Let us know by sharing a comment below. For more hiking articles, check out this post here of the 8 best kid-friendly hikes in Vermont.
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Address: Moss Glen Falls, Stowe, VT 05672, USAAddress: Owl’s Head Mountain, Peacham, VT 05046, USAAddress: Wheeler Mountain, Sutton, VT 05822, USAAddress: Elmore Mountain, Elmore, VT 05661, USAAddress: Mount Pisgah, Mt Pisgah, Westmore, VT 05860, USAAddress: Lye Brook Falls Trailhead, Lye Brook Falls Trail, Manchester Center, VT 05255, USAAddress: Harmon Hill, Woodford, VT 05201, USAAddress: 399-371 Putney Mountain Rd, Putney, VT 05346, USAAddress: Little Rock Pond, Wallingford, VT 05742, USAAddress: Snake Mountain, Addison, VT 05491, USAAddress: Deer Leap Trail, 139 US-4, Killington, VT 05751, USAAddress: Spruce Mountain, Plainfield, VT 05667, USAAddress: White Rock Mountain, Middlesex, VT 05602, USAAddress: 3255 Gap Rd, Goshen, VT 05733, USAAddress: Mount Philo, Mt Philo, Charlotte, VT 05445, USAAddress: Eagle Mountain, Milton, VT 05468, USAAddress: Burton Island, St. Albans Town, VT 05478, USAAddress: Stowe Pinnacle, Stowe, VT 05672, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
hikes under 5 miles in Vermont June 03, 2020 Luke What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont? Lucky are those who get to call Vermont home. With endless parks, natural reserves, and hiking opportunities in our state, you won’t quickly run out of exploring options. In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England, and our pick for the most beautiful trail in Vermont is the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most astonishing vistas in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail; the trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering are 1) Mount Pisgah Trail, 2) Camel’s Hump Trail, 3) Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking! Which state parks should I visit in Vermont? It all hinges on what you are looking for in a state park. Some state parks are better suited for longer duration stays and camping, while others are more favorable for day trips and shorter stays. However, for the best overall state parks to visit in Vermont this summer, here are our picks: 1) Smugglers Notch State Park; 2) Mt. Philo State Park; 3) Emerald Lake State Park; 4) Quechee Gorge State Park; 5) Jamaica State Park. You really cannot go wrong with any of these parks. Whether you’re looking to go swimming, hiking, mountain biking, or exploring, these state parks will have everything you’re looking for in a state park. What are the best family-friendly hikes in Vermont? One great aspect of hiking in Vermont is that you’re not required to hike for miles and miles to find beautiful outlooks and varying terrain. We have compiled some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Vermont that are fun and enjoyable for the whole family: 1) Sterling Pond Trail in Stowe; 2) Pond Loop in Manchester; 3) Owl’s Head in Marshfield; 4) Mount Olga Trail in Wilmington; 5) Mount Philo in Charlotte. Each of these easy hikes will be beautiful fun for the whole family.
The OIYS Visitor Center
hikes under 5 miles in Vermont
June 03, 2020
Luke
What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont? Lucky are those who get to call Vermont home. With endless parks, natural reserves, and hiking opportunities in our state, you won’t quickly run out of exploring options. In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England, and our pick for the most beautiful trail in Vermont is the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most astonishing vistas in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail; the trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering are 1) Mount Pisgah Trail, 2) Camel’s Hump Trail, 3) Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking! Which state parks should I visit in Vermont? It all hinges on what you are looking for in a state park. Some state parks are better suited for longer duration stays and camping, while others are more favorable for day trips and shorter stays. However, for the best overall state parks to visit in Vermont this summer, here are our picks: 1) Smugglers Notch State Park; 2) Mt. Philo State Park; 3) Emerald Lake State Park; 4) Quechee Gorge State Park; 5) Jamaica State Park. You really cannot go wrong with any of these parks. Whether you’re looking to go swimming, hiking, mountain biking, or exploring, these state parks will have everything you’re looking for in a state park. What are the best family-friendly hikes in Vermont? One great aspect of hiking in Vermont is that you’re not required to hike for miles and miles to find beautiful outlooks and varying terrain. We have compiled some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Vermont that are fun and enjoyable for the whole family: 1) Sterling Pond Trail in Stowe; 2) Pond Loop in Manchester; 3) Owl’s Head in Marshfield; 4) Mount Olga Trail in Wilmington; 5) Mount Philo in Charlotte. Each of these easy hikes will be beautiful fun for the whole family.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Lucky are those who get to call Vermont home. With endless parks, natural reserves, and hiking opportunities in our state, you won’t quickly run out of exploring options. In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England, and our pick for the most beautiful trail in Vermont is the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most astonishing vistas in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail; the trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering are 1) Mount Pisgah Trail, 2) Camel’s Hump Trail, 3) Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking!
Which state parks should I visit in Vermont?
It all hinges on what you are looking for in a state park. Some state parks are better suited for longer duration stays and camping, while others are more favorable for day trips and shorter stays. However, for the best overall state parks to visit in Vermont this summer, here are our picks: 1) Smugglers Notch State Park; 2) Mt. Philo State Park; 3) Emerald Lake State Park; 4) Quechee Gorge State Park; 5) Jamaica State Park. You really cannot go wrong with any of these parks. Whether you’re looking to go swimming, hiking, mountain biking, or exploring, these state parks will have everything you’re looking for in a state park.
What are the best family-friendly hikes in Vermont?
One great aspect of hiking in Vermont is that you’re not required to hike for miles and miles to find beautiful outlooks and varying terrain. We have compiled some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Vermont that are fun and enjoyable for the whole family: 1) Sterling Pond Trail in Stowe; 2) Pond Loop in Manchester; 3) Owl’s Head in Marshfield; 4) Mount Olga Trail in Wilmington; 5) Mount Philo in Charlotte. Each of these easy hikes will be beautiful fun for the whole family.
