The 10 Best Mountains to Climb in Vermont

Vermont Mountains

Vermont is filled with beautiful mountain ranges. Some of the peaks are smaller while some rise over 4,000 feet above sea level. The natural beauty of Vermont can be overwhelming. Scenic views include other mountains, rivers, and valleys. When the leaves change colors in the fall, it’s an amazing site. Many of Vermont’s mountains also have ski trails and some have ski resorts. There’s something for everyone in the amazing Vermont mountains.

10. Mount Olga, Willmington, Vermont

Mount Olga is located in Molly State Park in Willmington, Vermont. The mountain is not large. It’s 508 feet above tree level. It’s a great spot for beginning hikers to use or for those who just want a leisurely hike through nature. The hiking trail is 1.8 miles. It takes an average of 60 minutes round trip. There is usually light traffic, so if you want to enjoy the peace and quite without a lot of people around, its a great spot. The trail is open from May through October. There’s a river that runs along the trail. Leashed dogs are welcome

9. Spruce Peak, New Cambridge, Vermont

Spruce Peak rises 1,207 feet above sea level. It’s located in New Cambridge, Vermont. The hiking trail on Spruce Peak is moderately difficult and is 2.8 miles. It’s open all season. Hikers are allowed to bring leashed pets. Spruce Peak is a favorite of those who love the outdoors and nature. It’s also a favorite of bird watchers. The hiking trail is open year round, but hikers are advised that the trail gets mushy when it rains.

8. Gastenbury Mountain, Bennington County, Vermont

Gastenbury Mountain is located in Bennington County and offers beautiful views year round. The Mountain rises 3,748 feet above sea level. It features gentle slopes rising to the wooded peak. Nature lover love the wooded trails on top of the mountain. Hiking Gastenbury is a fairly easy climb. The views at the top include tactonics, the Berkshires, and the Adirondacks. Gastenbury Mountain allows access to Vermont’s long trail which stretches the length of the state. It also accesses the Appalachian Trail.

7. Haystack Mountain, Willmington, Vermont

Haystack Mountain is located in Wilmington in southern Vermont. It rises 3,445 feet. The mountain features a sharp cone-shaped peak. Below the peak, at about 3,000 feet above sea level, is Haystack pond. The 36 acre pond was attempted to be stocked with fish, but the acidic level didn’t make that work. Near by is the 3 acre Crystal Pond. The ponds are enclosed by marshes and woodland. There are 2 hiking trails on Haystack Mountain. Chimney Hill leads to the peak. West Ridge goes around Haystack Pond and leads to Mount Snow’s summit. The nature and views are great. There is an 835 acre ski resort on the northeast flank of the mountain. There is a housing development and a public golf course on the lower southeast flank of Haystack Mountain.

6. Killingham Peak, Killington, Vermont

Killingham Peak rises 4,229 feet and is the second tallest in the Green Mountains. It’s located just east of Rutherford. The mountain was settled in 1763 and was originally named Pisgah. Today there are inns, lodges, and condominiums on the mountain. Near the summit is a lodge with a restaurant and bar with panoramic views. A gondola transports guests up the mountain. There are many great hiking trails through the mountain. Views of the White Mountain Peaks and the Adirondacks are amazing. Killingham Peak has earned the nickname “The Best of the East” because of its ski resort.

5. Pico Peak, Rutland, Vermont

Pico Peak is located in Rutland County in the Coolidge Mountain Range. The range is named for President Calvin Coolidge who was a Vermont native. Pico Peak is the northernmost peak in the range. Hikers love the trails of Pico Peak especially during the fall when the leaf foliage is at its most beautiful. There are 57 ski trails on the mountain, one with a 1,967 vertical drop. The slopes are a favorite of double gold Olympic medal winner Andrea Mead-Lawrence. The first T-Bar lift in the country was introduced at Pico Peak in 1937.

4. Mount Hunger, Stowe, Vermont

Mount Hunger rises 3,500 feet above sea level in the Stowe area. It is part of the Worcester Range. There are 2 trails. The Waterbury trail climbs up the west side of the mountain. The Middlesex trail climbs up on the east side. The trails are considered mid-level. They are challenging up to a point but toward the summit the hike is much more leisurely. Along the way, there are amazing views of Mount Mansfield and its Camel’s Hump, and on a clear day, you can see the Presidential Mountains. An interesting fact about Mount Hunger is that the Van Trapp family settled their when they emigrated from Austria

3. Jay Peak, Jay, Vermont

Jay Peak is a favorite spot in Vermont for hikers during the spring and summer and first part of fall and with skiers during the late fall and winter. It’s located in Orleans County. It’s named for John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States who was a local landowner. Jay Peak rises 3,862 feet. It is the last peak before the Canadian border which is just 5 miles north. Long distance hikers through Vermont consider it a significant destination because it’s so far north. The hiking trails are heavily forested. The only un-forested area of the mountain is where the ski slopes are.

2. Mount Ascutney, Ascutney, Vermont

Mount Ascutney is located in Windsor County. The mountain straddles above the villages of Ascutney, Windsor, and Brownsville. The mountain rises 3,144 feet above sea level. The peak rises abruptly from the lowlands. Those daring to reach the peak can take the Windsor trail, but it is 2.7 miles to the summit at a sharp grade of 2,514. There are plenty of trails in the low lands of Mount Ascutney. Trails offer views of rolling hills, cliffs, and ridge lines. At the top of Mount Ascutney there are granite out crops with one being a favorite of hang gliders. Mount Ascutney is interestingly a volcanic plug of a taller former volcano.

1. Mount Mansfield, Underhill, Vermont

Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont. It stands 4,395 feet above sea level, the highest peak in Vermont. Mount Mansfield’s unique peak resembles a face when viewed from the east side. That’s how it got it’s name. About 40,000 hikers visit the mountain each year. The trails are open year round, but it’s advised not to hike during winter months because the trails get icy. There is a ski resort on the eastern flank of the mountain. There are 200 acres of arctic tundra on the mountain left from the ice age. Hikers are advised to stick to the hiking trails and not to tread on the fragile vegetation.

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