Summer Hiking

“Hikers find unparalleled views on roads less traveled”

Vermont is home to over 700 miles of hiking trails, and hundreds of miles of quaint back roads that seem to call your name. Many of Southern Vermont’s trail systems deliver you to unspoiled places with grand, sweeping views. Here are some of our top recommended day hikes in the heart of the Green Mountains:

Mount Equinox

Despite being one of the most difficult hikes in southern Vermont, it also has one of the best rewards at the top.

A hike to the top of Mount Equinox will get you endless acres of wildflowers, four-state views, and pristine overlooks of the valleys below.

With an elevation of over 3,500 feet, it is the highest peak in the Taconic Range. From the top, make the short .2 mile trek to Lookout Rock. The overlook is home to a one-of-a-kind marble bench and breathtaking views of Manchester Village

Not into hiking, but want to take in the views? You can also drive up the mountain.

Bald Mountain

Don’t let the name fool you. Bald Mountain isn’t bald; despite a wildfire at the summit in the 1920s.

Sitting just outside of Bennington, the mountain and its trails sit on the edge of the Glastenbury wilderness, located in the heart of Green Mountain National Forest.

This 7.2 mile round-trip hike is perfect for breezy summer afternoons. With an elevation of 2,160 feet, the journey takes just over 4 hours to complete.

The hike features unrivaled views of the Bennington Monument and Mount Greylock, Massachusetts’s highest point.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center

Merck Forest is home to over 30 miles of trails covering 3,000 acres. The trail system offers a variety of terrain of all levels of hikers, with great options for family adventures.

Trails go through the forest, wind along riverbeds, and around the farm, offering beautiful views of the Taconic and Adirondack Mountains. With that many choices, how do you choose?

Mount Antone is the tallest peak on the property with an elevation of 2,600 feet and offers the most breathtaking vista, while the Silviculture Trail is roughly 1 mile in length and educates hikers about sustainable forestry practices with a series of education signs. The staff at Merck Forest is available to help you pick the best hike for what you want to see that day.

Kipling Road

Despite being just minutes away from the bustling of downtown Brattleboro, the small town of Dummerston is surrounded by rolling hills and dirt roads. Kipling Road is not for the avid hiker, but a journey that should be taken nonetheless. Hikers will pass the 600-acre Scott Farm, and Naulakha, the historic landmark and former home of Rudyard Kipling. The Carriage House, part of the estate, sits on the edge of the forest on Kipling Hill. Venture into the woods to experience interconnected trails which lead you upstream to Scott Farm or downstream toward World Learning in Brattleboro

(Photo Courtesy Merck Forest and Farmland Center)