The 30 Best Hikes in Vermont

Ranked from 509 mapped Vermont routes by what the hike actually delivers: the height of what it climbs, how much climbing it takes, how well travelled it is, and whether it reaches a named summit, waterfall or lake.

Only the best route to any one destination appears, so this is 12 different mountains rather than ten ways up the same one. Every number is computed from trail-snapped geometry and a real elevation profile.

  1. Appalachian Trail and Bucklin Trail Loop 7.2 mi · 2,251 ft gain · 4,212 ft summit · Strenuous · Killington
  2. Adams Apple via Laura Cowles Trail 4.5 mi · 2,534 ft gain · 4,377 ft summit · Strenuous · Stowe
  3. Mount Mansfield via Long Trail 4.3 mi · 2,694 ft gain · 4,371 ft summit · Strenuous · Stowe
  4. Appalachian Trail and Sherburne Pass Trail Loop 9.1 mi · 2,440 ft gain · 3,835 ft summit · Strenuous · Killington
  5. Burrows Trail and Long Trail Loop 5.1 mi · 2,382 ft gain · 4,039 ft summit · Strenuous · Camel's Hump
  6. Emily Proctor Trail and Long Trail Loop 13.4 mi · 3,596 ft gain · 3,771 ft summit · Strenuous · Breadloaf
  7. Mount Ellen via Long Trail 9.1 mi · 2,120 ft gain · 4,071 ft summit · Strenuous · Camel's Hump
  8. Lincoln Peak via Battell Trail 6.6 mi · 2,608 ft gain · 3,994 ft summit · Strenuous · Breadloaf
  9. Bolton Mountain via Long Trail 9.9 mi · 2,934 ft gain · 3,684 ft summit · Strenuous · Stowe
  10. Appalachian Trail and Shrewsbury Peak Trail Loop 10.4 mi · 2,988 ft gain · 3,798 ft summit · Strenuous · Killington
  11. The Forehead via Long Trail 10.5 mi · 2,947 ft gain · 3,887 ft summit · Strenuous · Stowe
  12. Mount Wilson via Clark Brook Trail 7.6 mi · 2,524 ft gain · 3,771 ft summit · Strenuous · Breadloaf
  13. Mount Putnam via Middlesex Trail 8.9 mi · 2,435 ft gain · 3,613 ft summit · Strenuous · Worcester Range
  14. Lookout Rock via Summit Trail (Blue) 5.7 mi · 2,669 ft gain · 3,757 ft summit · Strenuous · Manchester
  15. Mount Ethan Allen via Long Trail 9.2 mi · 2,904 ft gain · 3,676 ft summit · Strenuous · Camel's Hump
  16. Mount Hunger via Skyline Trail 9.6 mi · 2,838 ft gain · 3,614 ft summit · Strenuous · Worcester Range
  17. Nancy Hanks Peak via Long Trail 7.1 mi · 1,800 ft gain · 3,994 ft summit · Strenuous · Breadloaf
  18. Shrewsbury Peak via Appalachian Trail 8.6 mi · 2,229 ft gain · 3,686 ft summit · Strenuous · Killington
  19. Stratton Mountain via Stratton Pond Trail 12.8 mi · 1,924 ft gain · 3,940 ft summit · Strenuous · Bromley & Stratton
  20. Forester's Trail and Frank Post Trail Loop 7.2 mi · 2,146 ft gain · 3,322 ft summit · Strenuous · Northern Long Trail
  21. Glastenbury Mountain via West Ridge Trail 17.5 mi · 3,149 ft gain · 3,750 ft summit · Strenuous · Bennington
  22. Bald Mountain Loop via Long Pond Trail 7.2 mi · 2,145 ft gain · 3,300 ft summit · Strenuous · Northeast Kingdom
  23. Peru Peak via Lake Trail 10.3 mi · 2,764 ft gain · 3,426 ft summit · Strenuous · Bromley & Stratton
  24. Doll Peak via Long Trail 8.7 mi · 2,018 ft gain · 3,364 ft summit · Strenuous · Northern Long Trail
  25. Haystack Mountain via Long Trail 8.5 mi · 2,332 ft gain · 3,184 ft summit · Strenuous · Northern Long Trail
  26. White Rock Mountain via Waterbury Trail 5 mi · 2,214 ft gain · 3,340 ft summit · Hard · Worcester Range
  27. Jay Peak via Long Trail 3 mi · 1,621 ft gain · 3,835 ft summit · Moderate · Northern Long Trail
  28. Mt Ascutney via Windsor Trail 5 mi · 2,479 ft gain · 3,125 ft summit · Strenuous · Mount Ascutney
  29. Mount Carmel Loop via Long Trail 8.8 mi · 1,928 ft gain · 3,110 ft summit · Strenuous · Moosalamoo
  30. Gore Mountain Trail 7.7 mi · 1,976 ft gain · 3,330 ft summit · Strenuous · Northeast Kingdom

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hike in Vermont?

Appalachian Trail and Bucklin Trail Loop in Killington: 7.2 miles with 2,251 ft of gain, topping out at 4,212 ft.

How is this ranking decided?

Each route is scored on the height of what it climbs, its elevation gain, how well travelled it is, and whether it reaches a named summit, waterfall or lake. Only the best route to any given destination appears, so the list covers 12 different areas rather than repeating the same mountain.

What is the hardest hike on this list?

Emily Proctor Trail and Long Trail Loop, with 3,596 ft of climbing over 13.4 miles.

When should you hike these?

Late June through mid-October for most of them. The high routes fall under the mud-season request above 2,500 ft, roughly mid-April through Memorial Day.

All Vermont hiking