Vermont Hiking, Walking and Camping Guides, Tours and Trails
Vermont Outdoor Recreation Directory
"There's no better time than Vermont."
"There's no better time than Vermont."
This hiking directory will help you to plan your guided and self guided hiking vacation in Vermont. We list guide services, recreation trails, gear, and lodging for day hikes, Inn to Inn hiking vacations or multi-day hiking vacations. Terrain can vary from flat, easy hikes to more challenging mountainous back country trails. We list a variety of lodging that ranges from camping or mountain cabins to resorts and everything in between.
Guided Hiking Guide Services
Appalachian Trail Adventures
Central - Southern Vermont Hiking, Health/Wellness Killington, VT. With more than 25 years of experience, Appalachian Trail Adventures (ATA) is a one-stop adventure destination for outdoor enthusiasts, couples, girlfriends getaways, families, friends and single travelers. They provide both personalized, All-Inclusive Hiking Vacations and Guided Day Adventures throughout the Green Mountains of Vermont. Backpacking For Slowpokes Stowe and Central Vermont Overnight Camping, Guided Hikes, Private Hires, Winter Snowshoeing with Your Dog, Summer Overnight Backpacking, Multi-Day Full Moon, Multi-Day LGBTQ+ Body positive overnight backpacking adventures for women who prefer to stop and check out the view. Whether you need to get away from the city and submerge yourself in Vermont's backcountry or simply want a bad ass, super different femme weekend, you’ve landed home. Sunrise Adventure Sports Stowe, VT Hiking, Trail Running With Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, standing guard over the town of Stowe, we don’t have far to travel to find spectacular hike — from a gentle stroll along Ranch Brook in the historic Ranch Valley to the top of Vermont’s highest peak via the legendary Long Trail. Our local knowledge of terrain and current conditions along with history and lore will ensure your outing to be enjoyable and memorable. Trail Running Adventures last from 45 minutes to a couple of hours depending on your endurance level. Trails can range from relatively flat gravel roads to hilly, rocky trails. Vermont Adventure Tours Southern, Central - Vermont Backpacking, Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Orienteering, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Winter Camping, Women's Challenges, Youth Programs Rutland VT. Our seasonal camping programs are unique to any other experience you may have had before. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter offer many exciting and different challenges unique to Vermont. Since each group requires a slightly different experience, location, and time line, we individually work with you and your group to customize a trip to fit your needs and expectations. |
Recommended Lodging For Hikers
Northern Vermont
Jackson's Lodge and Log Cabins, Canaan, VT Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT Seyon Lodge, Groton, VT Windekind Farm Cottages, Huntington, VT Serene Country Cabins, Hyde Park, VT Sterling Ridge Log Cabin Resort, Jeffersonville, VT Muddy Moose Log Cabins Morrisville, VT Hanover Adventure Tours Norwich, VT Comfort Inn & Suites, St. Johnsbury VT Golden Eagle Resort, Stowe, VT Green Mountain Inn, Stowe, VT Featherbed Inn, Waitsfield, VT Mad River Lodge, Waitsfield, VT White Horse Lodge, Waitsfield, VT The Warren Lodge, Warren, VT Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, VT The Willough Vale Inn, Westmore, VT Southern Vermont Roaring Branch Cabins, Arlington, VT. Arlington's West Mountain Inn, Arlington, VT Four Chimneys Inn, Bennington, VT. Fox Creek Inn, Chittenden, VT The Mountain Top Inn and Resort, Chittenden/Killington, VT Forest Echo Cabins, Mt. Holly, VT. Liberty Hill Farm, Rochester VT Vermont Twin Cabins and Lodge, South Royalton, VT Wild Trails Farm, Springfield, VT |
Camping and Hiking Resources
Rock, Ice Climbing and Mountaineering Information
Green Mountain National Forest Private & State Campgrounds State Parks State Lands VT Wheelchair Accessible Trails |
List of Hiking Trails in Vermont
The Appalachian Trail offers extensive information relating to the longest hiking-only trail in the world. Thousands of AT trail hikers have shared their advice, photos and stories for others. It would be much appreciated if you could share with your site visitors.
Ascutney Trails Ascutney Outdoors and Trails offers a remarkable four-season venue for lovers of nature and the outdoors. Community members and visitors enjoy public access to our trails, forests and fields for mountain biking, hiking, horseback, trail running, backcountry and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and snow-tubing. The Ascutney Outdoors Center is the gathering place for all of our activities and a stunning venue for community and outside events.
Beebe Spur Rail Trail
Beebe Spur Rail Trail (BSRT) connects with the Newport Bike Path and Memphremagog Trails to provide cyclists with a short four-mile ride starting in Newport. This easy and flat gravel trail begins in a residential area and then reveals spectacular views along the lake's eastern shore. The BSRT terminates in North Derby where signs guide riders along a quick 1.5-mile detour to enter Canada.
Bristol, VT Trail Network - are trails developed and maintained for hiking, biking and cross country skiing.
Burlington Recreation Paths
The jewel of Burlington is the Greenway (Waterfront Bike Path) and runs the length of the City from North to South. Used by recreationalists and commuters, the Greenway also ties into over 30 miles of public trails, with include paths through Ethan Allen park that lead to 127 Bike path and the Intervale.
Cross Vermont Trail
is a project to build a multi-use, four season path across the width of Vermont; following the Winooski River and Wells River valleys.
Dorset, Vermont Hiking Trails
Dorset is home to thousands of acres of public and conserved lands that allow for hiking, biking, skiing and horseback riding.
Farm Walks Across Vermont
Escape to a Vermont farm, where a meandering walk awaits you. Venture out as a solo explorer or with loved ones, and discover the sounds of crickets in hayfields, birdsong in sugarwoods, and humming equipment in the fields as farmers produce food, forage, fiber, and timber.
Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center
You’ll find activities, recreation, and events sure to entertain the entire family. Delight in skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, a snow tubing hill, and sleigh rides in the winter, or visit in the summer for mountain biking, swimming, and hiking.
Long Trail
Established in1910 to build the Long Trail, Green Mountain Club is a private, nonprofit organization with more than 8,000 members. The Long Trail is a 270 mile footpath with 175 miles of side trails with shelters and tent sites.
Green Mountain Trails
Fun, flowy, varied, beautiful and sustainable singletrack trail network. Over 25 miles of hiking and biking trails and growing. Gravity assisted riding possible. Pittsfield, VT, Open Daily 7 am to Sunset.
Kingdom Trails
Formed in 1994, the Kingdom Trails Association was created to protect, develop, and promote this incredible trail network. To date, Kingdom Trails has mapped and signed over 75 miles of multi-use trails, allowing for many self-guided hiking, mountain biking, and riding opportunities, with many more to come.
Millstone Trails Association
is a non-profit organization that maintains the Millstone Trails, a network of non-motorized recreational trails in Central Vermont. Our trails traverse 1,500 acres of diverse and dramatic terrain, among historic quarries, New England villages, and regenerating forests.
Moosalamoo Association
Over 20,000 acres of forest, cliffs, vistas, lakes and streams, stretching from the western ridge of the Green Mountains to Lake Dunmore, and from Middlebury Gap to Brandon Gap.
Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trails
The hiking trails of the northeastern region of Vermont are challenging, beautiful and remote, offering views of dramatic landscapes, beautiful lakes, and abundant wildlife habitat. The NorthWoods Conservation Corps was established in 1995, and since then has worked with local youth each summer to repair and restore historic trails, and build new routes across public and private lands.
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective - creating a sustainable trail and glade network that extends through public and private land and can be used for various non-motorized activities such as hiking, running, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and mountain biking. The proposed trails and glades would encourage non-motorized activities for locals and visitors alike.
Robert Frost Interpretive Trail
This trail is a National Recreation Trail that commemorates Robert Frost’s poetry; several of his poems are mounted along the trail in the woods and fields. The trail is an easy walk, and the first 0.3 miles across a beaver pond boardwalk out to the South Branch of the Middlebury River is accessible and suitable for wheelchairs.
Slate Valley Trails
continues to build and maintain free public trails in Castleton, Poultney and Wells. With almost 40 miles of existing trails, and more than 25 new miles of trail planned for construction in 2020, we are an up-and-coming trail network in southwestern and central Vermont.
Southern Vermont Trails Association, In summer we have many hiking, biking and running trails. In winter we have many managed backcountry touring zones and trails for skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking. Please have a look at our maps, the descriptions of the zones and trails. In partnership of the Town of Dover, The Dover Town Forest Conservation Commision, Mount Snow, USFS and the private landowners of the Dover area.
Stowe Recreation Path
The Stowe Recreation Path is an easy walking trail that winds through the Village of Stowe and crosses the West Branch River. The 5.5-mile one-way path (not loop) is paved and easy to reach. It is open all year, for walking, running, cycling.
Trail Around Middlebury
is an 16-mile footpath, encircles the village of Middlebury and links several hundred acres of town land, conserved properties, schools, and other local landmarks.
Trapp Family Lodge
There are over 60 kilometers of wooded hiking trails for all levels of ability. Guided nature walks are available to guests and teach them about native plants, wildlife and the evolving landscape.
Upper Valley Trails Alliance
Information on hundreds of trails in the Upper Connecticut Valley.
Waterbury Trails Waterbury is home to several multi-use trail networks open to folks for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Many trails are located within Little River State Park and the Perry Hill trail network, both of which are accessible for recreation year-round. A portion of the Cross-Vermont Trail also passes through Waterbury, providing access to trails right from downtown.
West River Trail - The WRT is a 36-mile scenic (former railbed) all-season trail used by the public for hiking, cycling and skiing through the West River Valley in southern VT.
Ascutney Trails Ascutney Outdoors and Trails offers a remarkable four-season venue for lovers of nature and the outdoors. Community members and visitors enjoy public access to our trails, forests and fields for mountain biking, hiking, horseback, trail running, backcountry and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and snow-tubing. The Ascutney Outdoors Center is the gathering place for all of our activities and a stunning venue for community and outside events.
Beebe Spur Rail Trail
Beebe Spur Rail Trail (BSRT) connects with the Newport Bike Path and Memphremagog Trails to provide cyclists with a short four-mile ride starting in Newport. This easy and flat gravel trail begins in a residential area and then reveals spectacular views along the lake's eastern shore. The BSRT terminates in North Derby where signs guide riders along a quick 1.5-mile detour to enter Canada.
Bristol, VT Trail Network - are trails developed and maintained for hiking, biking and cross country skiing.
Burlington Recreation Paths
The jewel of Burlington is the Greenway (Waterfront Bike Path) and runs the length of the City from North to South. Used by recreationalists and commuters, the Greenway also ties into over 30 miles of public trails, with include paths through Ethan Allen park that lead to 127 Bike path and the Intervale.
Cross Vermont Trail
is a project to build a multi-use, four season path across the width of Vermont; following the Winooski River and Wells River valleys.
Dorset, Vermont Hiking Trails
Dorset is home to thousands of acres of public and conserved lands that allow for hiking, biking, skiing and horseback riding.
Farm Walks Across Vermont
Escape to a Vermont farm, where a meandering walk awaits you. Venture out as a solo explorer or with loved ones, and discover the sounds of crickets in hayfields, birdsong in sugarwoods, and humming equipment in the fields as farmers produce food, forage, fiber, and timber.
Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center
You’ll find activities, recreation, and events sure to entertain the entire family. Delight in skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, a snow tubing hill, and sleigh rides in the winter, or visit in the summer for mountain biking, swimming, and hiking.
Long Trail
Established in1910 to build the Long Trail, Green Mountain Club is a private, nonprofit organization with more than 8,000 members. The Long Trail is a 270 mile footpath with 175 miles of side trails with shelters and tent sites.
Green Mountain Trails
Fun, flowy, varied, beautiful and sustainable singletrack trail network. Over 25 miles of hiking and biking trails and growing. Gravity assisted riding possible. Pittsfield, VT, Open Daily 7 am to Sunset.
Kingdom Trails
Formed in 1994, the Kingdom Trails Association was created to protect, develop, and promote this incredible trail network. To date, Kingdom Trails has mapped and signed over 75 miles of multi-use trails, allowing for many self-guided hiking, mountain biking, and riding opportunities, with many more to come.
Millstone Trails Association
is a non-profit organization that maintains the Millstone Trails, a network of non-motorized recreational trails in Central Vermont. Our trails traverse 1,500 acres of diverse and dramatic terrain, among historic quarries, New England villages, and regenerating forests.
Moosalamoo Association
Over 20,000 acres of forest, cliffs, vistas, lakes and streams, stretching from the western ridge of the Green Mountains to Lake Dunmore, and from Middlebury Gap to Brandon Gap.
Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trails
The hiking trails of the northeastern region of Vermont are challenging, beautiful and remote, offering views of dramatic landscapes, beautiful lakes, and abundant wildlife habitat. The NorthWoods Conservation Corps was established in 1995, and since then has worked with local youth each summer to repair and restore historic trails, and build new routes across public and private lands.
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective - creating a sustainable trail and glade network that extends through public and private land and can be used for various non-motorized activities such as hiking, running, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and mountain biking. The proposed trails and glades would encourage non-motorized activities for locals and visitors alike.
Robert Frost Interpretive Trail
This trail is a National Recreation Trail that commemorates Robert Frost’s poetry; several of his poems are mounted along the trail in the woods and fields. The trail is an easy walk, and the first 0.3 miles across a beaver pond boardwalk out to the South Branch of the Middlebury River is accessible and suitable for wheelchairs.
Slate Valley Trails
continues to build and maintain free public trails in Castleton, Poultney and Wells. With almost 40 miles of existing trails, and more than 25 new miles of trail planned for construction in 2020, we are an up-and-coming trail network in southwestern and central Vermont.
Southern Vermont Trails Association, In summer we have many hiking, biking and running trails. In winter we have many managed backcountry touring zones and trails for skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking. Please have a look at our maps, the descriptions of the zones and trails. In partnership of the Town of Dover, The Dover Town Forest Conservation Commision, Mount Snow, USFS and the private landowners of the Dover area.
Stowe Recreation Path
The Stowe Recreation Path is an easy walking trail that winds through the Village of Stowe and crosses the West Branch River. The 5.5-mile one-way path (not loop) is paved and easy to reach. It is open all year, for walking, running, cycling.
Trail Around Middlebury
is an 16-mile footpath, encircles the village of Middlebury and links several hundred acres of town land, conserved properties, schools, and other local landmarks.
Trapp Family Lodge
There are over 60 kilometers of wooded hiking trails for all levels of ability. Guided nature walks are available to guests and teach them about native plants, wildlife and the evolving landscape.
Upper Valley Trails Alliance
Information on hundreds of trails in the Upper Connecticut Valley.
Waterbury Trails Waterbury is home to several multi-use trail networks open to folks for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Many trails are located within Little River State Park and the Perry Hill trail network, both of which are accessible for recreation year-round. A portion of the Cross-Vermont Trail also passes through Waterbury, providing access to trails right from downtown.
West River Trail - The WRT is a 36-mile scenic (former railbed) all-season trail used by the public for hiking, cycling and skiing through the West River Valley in southern VT.
About Primitive Camping in Vermont
Camping in the Green Mountain National Forest:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/gmfl/recreation/camping-cabins or 802-747-6700.
Overnight Sites Along the Long Trail - https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/overnight-accommodations/
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has a number of rules for primitive camping around the state.
Primitive camping is prohibited in the following situations:
People can find more information about primitive camping (including maps of where you're allowed to pitch a tent), and other camping options, at https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/activities/camping/primitive-camping
Primitive Camping on Wildlife Management Areas
Primitive camping for purposes of hunting, fishing or trapping is allowed on designated WMAs for no more than 3 consecutive nights. Primitive camping involves occupying a site in a natural environment with no developed facilities, leaving the site in its original condition so there is no or minimal evidence of human visitation.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/gmfl/recreation/camping-cabins or 802-747-6700.
Overnight Sites Along the Long Trail - https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/overnight-accommodations/
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has a number of rules for primitive camping around the state.
- Primitive camping is allowed within designated areas of selected state lands.
- Camping must be at least 100 feet from any stream or body of water
- Camping must be at least 200 feet from any trail or property line, and 1000 feet from any traveled road.
- Camping is allowed up to three consecutive nights in the same area.
- Groups of eleven or more individuals must obtain a permit from the District Office in order to primitive camp.
- Only dead and down trees or branches may be used for firewood.
- We require one responsible adult for every 4 campers under the age of 14.
- If you carry it in - carry it out!
- Leave your campsite so clean that no one else can find it.
- The use of backpacker stoves with self-contained fuel is urged.
- Some areas have remote lean-tos for overnight camping
Primitive camping is prohibited in the following situations:
- Above 2,500 feet in elevation, unless otherwise designated.
- On land leased to other people.
- In areas designated as a state-owned natural, fragile, or waterfowl management area. (An authorized agency representative must give written permission.)
People can find more information about primitive camping (including maps of where you're allowed to pitch a tent), and other camping options, at https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/activities/camping/primitive-camping
Primitive Camping on Wildlife Management Areas
Primitive camping for purposes of hunting, fishing or trapping is allowed on designated WMAs for no more than 3 consecutive nights. Primitive camping involves occupying a site in a natural environment with no developed facilities, leaving the site in its original condition so there is no or minimal evidence of human visitation.