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Hiking
Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trails
From steep mountain treks to leisure family walks, the Northeast Kingdom’s diverse trail systems welcome hikers of all ages and abilities. Enjoy stunning scenery with panoramic views, crisp mountain air, and an abundance of wildlife and nature. Lace up your boots, fill up your water bottle and getNEKed on the trails of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
We recommend using TrailFinder for a comprehensive list of all Northeast Kingdom hiking and recreational trails. Looking for accessible hiking trails in the Kingdom? Explore this list.
EASTERN TREK
Each stop along the Eastern Trek offers an opportunity to go for a hike and enjoy the outdoors.
St. Johnsbury Town Forest – St. Johnsbury, VT
EASY, MODERATE: Enjoy a forested walk or riverside stroll just outside of the downtown district. St. Johnsbury Town Forest features 2.9 miles of easy to moderate trails through coniferous and hardwood forest along the Moose River and Logging Road.
Dog Mountain – St.Johnsbury, VT
EASY: Set on 150 acres of private mountaintop land, Dog Mountain offers year-round hiking trails and dog ponds featuring beautiful wildflowers in the summer months. After your hike, check out the Stephen Huneck Art Gallery and the infamous Dog Chapel
Lyndon State Forest – Lyndon, VT
EASY, MODERATE: Explore 4.9 miles of hand-built swooping trails open to hikers and mountain bikers. If you’re hungry, fill your pockets with some raspberries and blackberries for a little snack. In the winter, try skiing, snowshoeing, or fat biking on the forest’s old woods roads, named Hawkes Loop and Darling Loop on trail signs.
Burke Mountain – Burke, VT
MODERATE: Journey to the fire tower on the summit of Burke Mountain for an outstanding view of Willoughby Gap and the Northeast Kingdom. Burke Mountain offers two lean-to shelters for hikers looking to spend the night. The Toll Road is a 3-mile paved road that leads all the way to the summit, connecting to a short ADA-accessible trail from the upper parking lot.
Bald Mountain – Westmore, VT
MODERATE, ADVANCED: For a more challenging hike, take Long Pond Trail (2 miles) or Mad Brook Trail (3 miles) up to the summit of Bald Mountain. From the summit fire tower, catch views of Lake Willoughby, Seymour Lake, Lake Memphremagog, the Green Mountains, and the White Mountains. Be sure to check out the newly restored shelter at the summit.
Northwoods Stewardship Center – Charleston, VT
EASY, MODERATE: Enjoy a stroll through Northwood Stewardship Center’s 1.4 mile network of interpretive walking trails. Learn about the ecological history of the landscape and the story behind the Lang family homestead. In the winter, enjoy 17 miles of groomed and backcountry skiing and snowshoeing trails.
Kingdom Heritage Trail – Averys Gore, Brighton, Lewis, Norton, Warren Gore, VT
MODERATE, ADVANCED: For an immersive experience in a working forest, traverse 20 miles from Island Pond to Lewis Pond Overlook in Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge. Along the way, you’ll ascend and descend Bluff, Middle, and Gore Mountains. The Kingdom Heritage Trail opened in 2019 after 20 years of collaboration and hardwork, and is protected by easement as part of the conservation of 132,000 acres of forestland formerly owned by Champion International Paper
Bluff Mountain – Island Pond, VT
MODERATE: Take the 1.2 mile Bluff Mountain CommunityTrail to the summit for views of Burke Mountain and East Mountain.
Mollie Beattie Bog Boardwalk – Lewis, VT
EASY: Enjoy a quick pit stop off of Four Mile Road for views of one of Vermont’s most significant black spruce woodland bogs, containing one of the largest populations of bog sedge. The bog is named after Mollie Beattie, the first female Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 200-foot boardwalk is wheelchair accessible.
FARM & FIELD
Rolling hills and lots of ponds make these hikes as picturesque as they come.
Stannard Pond Peak – Greensboro Bend, VT
EASY: Stannard Pond Peak takes you around Greensboro Bend, along a 3.3 mile trail perfect for an afternoon walk and spotting wildlife.
Holbrook State Park – Sheffield, VT
MODERATE: Perry Holbrook Memorial State Park features a 2.1 mile network of trails passing alongside three ponds. Stop for a snack at the Long Pond lean-to shelter or venture to the top of Big Rock Hill.
Big Deer Mountain – Peacham, VT
MODERATE: Hike 1.1 miles to the top of Big Deer Mountain for excellent views of the surrounding Groton State Forest. On your descent, connect to the 2.4 mile Osmore Pond Loop Trail to extend your hike and enjoy a picnic at one of several shoreline lean-to shelters.
Owls Head – Peacham, VT
MODERATE: Journey 1.8 miles to the summit of Owls Head Mountain and enjoy a scenic vista of Lake Groton, Kettle Pond, and the Green Mountains. Owls Head is a popular hike, consider visiting on weekdays or exploring other hikes in Groton State Forest such as Big Deer Mountain and Kettle Pond.
Kettle Pond – Peacham, VT
EASY: Walk or run 3.1 miles around the parameter of Kettle Pond, take a paddle, or relax at one of six lean-to shelters.
MOUNTAIN & LAKE GETAWAY
Enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and waters as you hike the northernmost parts of the Kingdom.
Jay Peak – Jay, VT
ADVANCED: Follow the Long Trail for a rigorous 1.7 mile climb up to the summit of Jay Peak for views of Champlain Valley, Quebec, and the Northeast Kingdom. Or enjoy a ride on the aerial tram during the summer.
Belvidere Mountain – Lowell, VT
MODERATE, ADVANCED: Take one of three trails for a 4.9 to 8.8 mile hike to the summit of Belvidere Mountain. From the fire tower, catch outstanding views of Camel’s Hump, Big Jay, and Jay Peak.
Mount Hor – Sutton, Westmore, VT
MODERATE, ADVANCED: Take one of three trails in the 5.4 mile network to the summit of Mount Hor for unbeatable views of Lake Willoughby and Mount Pisgah. In the summer, consider taking a dip in Lake Willoughby to cool off. In the winter, explore the CCC Road Trail for an intermediate ski.
Wheeler Pond and Mountain – Barton, Sutton, VT
EASY: For a quick excursion, take the 0.6 mile trail to Wheeler Pond. Extend your visit by camping out at Hadsel-Mares Camp located along the shore or by hiking 2.2 miles to the top of Wheeler Mountain.