Plymouth VermontHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Plymouth, Vermont.
1. Echo Lake Vista Trail
SCENIC LAKESIDE WOODLAND PATH
Echo Lake Vista Trail is a 1.0-mile round trip hiking path located in Camp Plymouth State Park offering beautiful views of Echo Lake. The moderately difficult trail takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and is marked with blue blazes throughout. Hikers will journey through a white pine forest with goldenrod, aster, trailing arbutus, and young forest with birch, beech and aspen trees before reaching the scenic vista overlooking the lake.
2. Camp Plymouth State Park Trails
LAKESIDE RECREATION TRAILS
Camp Plymouth State Park offers popular hiking trails on the eastern shore of Echo Lake within Plymouth, Vermont. The park features a 1.0-mile long hiking trail located on the east side of Scout Camp Road, providing access to woodland paths and lake views. Visitors can enjoy the trail system year-round, with off-season parking available when the main park is closed.
3. Coolidge State Park Trails
MOUNTAIN VIEWS AND FORESTS
Coolidge State Park offers two hiking trails located within the campground portion of the park near Plymouth. One of the trails provides potential views of Mt. Ascutney and traverses through scenic woodland areas. The trails offer hikers a chance to experience the natural beauty of the Vermont highlands in a historic state park setting.
4. Hawk Mountain Resort Trails
EXTENSIVE TRAIL NETWORK
Hawk Mountain Resort features an extensive network of 24 trails that wind throughout the property, offering a wide variety of terrain for all hiking abilities. The circuitous trail system accommodates beginner, intermediate, and advanced hikers seeking outdoor recreation in the Plymouth area. Hikers can explore diverse landscapes and enjoy the natural beauty of the Green Mountains throughout the resort's property.
5. Sunrise Trail
EASY WOODLAND MORNING VIEWS
Sunrise Trail is a 1.0-mile loop trail located within Fort Dummer State Park that offers woodland scenery and scenic views. The easy difficulty level makes it accessible for most hikers, with an estimated hiking time of 45 minutes to complete the full loop. This kid-friendly trail provides a pleasant morning hiking experience in the southeastern region of Vermont near Plymouth.
6. Sunset Trail
QUICK EVENING VIEW PATH
Sunset Trail is a convenient 0.5-mile one-way path in Fort Dummer State Park offering woodland hiking and scenic views. This easy trail takes approximately 25 minutes to complete and is suitable for families with children looking for a shorter hiking option. The trail's western orientation makes it particularly appealing for late afternoon hikes when the setting sun enhances the woodland views.
7. Bear Hill Nature Trail
CHALLENGING WOODLAND LOOP
Bear Hill Nature Trail is a 0.75-mile loop located in Allis State Park featuring moderate to difficult terrain through woodland settings. The trail takes approximately one hour to complete and offers hikers a more challenging experience compared to other nearby paths. Situated in the southeastern region of Vermont, this nature trail provides a secluded hiking experience through diverse forest habitats.
8. Mount Ascutney Trails
SUMMIT VIEWS AND CHALLENGES
Mount Ascutney offers a network of hiking trails that lead to spectacular summit views from this prominent monadnock in southern Vermont. The trail system includes paths of varying difficulty levels, from moderate woodland walks to challenging summit routes with significant elevation gain. Hikers reaching the top are rewarded with panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, New Hampshire's White Mountains, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
9. Camel's Hump Trails
ICONIC VERMONT MOUNTAIN
Camel's Hump is one of Vermont's most recognizable mountains with its distinctive profile and network of challenging hiking trails leading to the 4,083-foot summit. The various routes to the top range from moderate to difficult, with most requiring 3-5 hours for a round-trip journey through diverse ecological zones. Hikers reaching the summit are treated to 360-degree views of the Adirondacks, White Mountains, and Lake Champlain from the third-highest peak in Vermont.
10. Mt. Mansfield Trails
VERMONT'S HIGHEST PEAK
Mt. Mansfield offers Vermont's highest hiking trails, reaching an elevation of 4,393 feet along its distinctive ridgeline resembling a human profile. The East Side trails from Underhill State Park provide several route options of varying difficulty, from moderate forest paths to challenging rocky scrambles above treeline. Hikers reaching the summit area experience rare arctic-alpine tundra vegetation and sweeping views across New England and into Canada.