Halifax VermontHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Halifax, Vermont.
1. Molly Stark State Park
HISTORIC FOREST TRAILS
Molly Stark State Park offers scenic hiking trails through lush Vermont forests with historical significance. The trails range from easy to moderate difficulty, making them accessible for hikers of various skill levels. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys while exploring the park's natural beauty.
2. Haystack Mountain
PANORAMIC SUMMIT VIEWS
Haystack Mountain features a moderately challenging trail that leads to breathtaking views from its summit. The trail winds through dense forest before opening up to spectacular panoramic vistas of the southern Vermont landscape. Hikers are rewarded with 360-degree views that are particularly stunning during fall foliage season.
3. Fort Dummer State Park
HISTORICAL WOODLAND PATHS
Fort Dummer State Park combines historical significance with natural beauty through its network of hiking trails. The moderate difficulty trails take hikers through diverse ecosystems and past the site of the first permanent European settlement in Vermont. The park offers educational opportunities alongside recreational hiking, with interpretive signs detailing the area's rich history.
4. Mount Snow
ALL-SEASON MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Mount Snow provides extensive hiking opportunities with trails of varying difficulty levels across its slopes. During summer and fall, hikers can use the ski resort's lift system to access higher elevation trails or challenge themselves with a full summit ascent. The trails offer spectacular views of the Green Mountains and surrounding valleys, with options for both casual walkers and serious hikers.
5. Mohawk Trail State Forest
ANCIENT FOREST EXPERIENCE
Mohawk Trail State Forest features old-growth forest trails within reasonable driving distance from Halifax. The moderate to challenging trails wind through some of the oldest and tallest trees in Massachusetts, creating an immersive woodland experience. Hikers can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere along the Cold River and discover remnants of the area's Native American heritage.
6. Hogback Mountain
YEAR-ROUND RECREATION TRAILS
Hogback Mountain offers year-round public access for hiking and other low-impact recreational activities. The trail system features routes of varying difficulty that wind through diverse forest habitats and occasional open areas. Hikers can enjoy seasonal changes in the landscape, from spring wildflowers to winter snowshoeing opportunities across the mountain.
7. Windmill Hill Ridgeline Trail
EXTENDED RIDGE HIKING
The Windmill Hill Ridgeline Trail stretches 16 miles across southeast Vermont, offering an undulating journey across small peaks including Putney Mountain and The Pinnacle. The trail features moderate difficulty with gentle grades, occasionally passing over exposed bedrock outcrops and through diverse forest ecosystems. At The Pinnacle summit, hikers are rewarded with west-facing vistas, rock benches, and access to a hiker's cabin.
8. Headwaters Trail
SCENIC BROOK CROSSING
Headwaters Trail offers a blue-disc-blazed path that winds around slopes and connects to the larger Windmill Hill Ridgeline system. The moderately graded trail crosses the headwaters of Sacketts Brook before climbing to the crest of Windmill Ridge. Hikers encounter historical features such as stone walls while enjoying the diverse forest environment along the narrower, more intimate trail.
9. The Pinnacle Trail
SUMMIT AND CABIN VIEWS
The Pinnacle Trail (part of the Ridgeline Trail) leads hikers 1.3 miles north to the open summit of The Pinnacle. The trail rolls along the spine of the ridge, gradually rising through a woodland canopy of oaks and hop hornbeam trees with unique sedge ground cover near the summit. At the peak, hikers discover a west-facing vista with comfortable rock benches and a hiker's cabin for rest and reflection.
10. Holden Trail
SCENIC RIDGE DESCENT
Holden Trail provides a scenic southeast descent from The Pinnacle summit along the Windmill Hill ridge. The trail offers a different perspective of the landscape compared to the ascent routes, with varied forest compositions and occasional views. Hikers can use this trail to complete a loop journey when combined with Headwaters Trail and the Ridgeline Trail for a comprehensive hiking experience.