We did a quick 15-min hike to the falls and got a somewhat-slippery though gorgeous view of the…read morepowerful falls and all the ways the water has shaped and smoothed the rocks. Loved the up-close view of it all and the shade of the forest. 5 stars!!!!

So glad we did the short but somewhat challenging hike to see these during our visit to Stowe -…read moretotally worth it. We parked at the trailhead (plenty of space on a weekday afternoon). Had to be careful on the rocks but on the whole doable. Wasn't brave enough to jump into the waters but you could. No restrooms that we saw so plan accordingly.

A 15-minute walk that's partially uphill toward the end once you reach the falls. Such crisp, cool,…read morewet air as you approach the falls and a gorgeous view of how powerful they are. Quick, easy, and rewarding hike for any age. 5 stars!!!

Very short and enjoyable easy hike. It is boarded half way…read morethen up some steps to see this heavily flow waterfall. You can also go down to the lower fall with a bit of rock scramble. We did the hike in first week of June and it is very nice and easy. Our first attempt was back in mid April. The trail was still covered with snow. This time going back, the trail looks totally different and more enjoyable. My recommendation go in the month of June and till there is snow in Vermont.

Smuggler's Notch State Park provides hiking, camping, nature programs, and mountain biking…read more Smuggler's Notch Park got its name because In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson passed an embargo act forbidding American trade with Great Britain and Canada. This was a severe hardship for northern Vermonters, since Montreal was closer than other markets in the US. Many local people continued illegal trade with Canada, herding cattle and carrying other goods through the Notch. Later, fugitive slaves used the Notch as an escape route to Canada. During the Prohibition years, liquor was smuggled from Canada over the improved road built in 1922. My mother and I just rode through and it was miles of the park with different areas to explore. The we're many hikers and explorers out. All I can say is the mountains are beautiful and the atmosphere is amazing. I would definitely want to come back in fall to see the trees change colors.

I love this twisty road! The spring is a must stop for a drink of water literally flowing out of…read morethe mountain. It's usually gorgeous in the fall but we missed the leaves this year. There are plenty of places to stop and hike along the notch. It's really a beautiful place.

Such an amazing hike! Me and my family do it every time we visit VT. It's moderate to challenging…read moredepending on your physical fitness and athletic capabilities. Takes around 2 hours. Great length. Definitely uphill most of the way to the top but SO worth it for the view. Incredible summit. It's also easy to navigate because it's an out and back and the trail is very well marked. There's also a second parking lot a bit higher up if you want to do a shorter version of this hike.

Stowe Pinnacle Trail is a quick hike but strenuous in some parts. Towards the top there is a…read moreserious incline which can be tricky if it rained/snowed recently. Took us around 2hrs round trip and the steep incline really got the blood pumping. If you reach the top you are rewarded with a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. I highly recommend!

Nobody said getting back in shape was easy--but if you're going to suffer, you might as well do it…read moresomewhere beautiful. I picked a hiking trail in Vermont after getting lured in by some stunning photos online. Inspired (and slightly delusional), I stopped and picked up a pair of Oboz hiking shoes and some solid hiking socks--thankfully, one of my better decisions. Let me be clear: this trail was no joke. It twisted, turned, and climbed in ways that made my heart rate spike enough to question my life choices. At one point, I genuinely thought I heard Bigfoot breathing down my neck--turns out it was just me gasping for air. Here are the stats: 4,083 ft summit 7.4 miles round trip 2,645 ft vertical rise 6 hours of hiking The mountain is known as Tawabodi-e-wadso, which means "The Saddle Mountain" in the Waubawakee Native American language. Yes, I did my research--mainly because I felt like I needed to know the name of the place that almost killed me. (Kidding... kind of.) But here's the real truth: it was absolutely worth it. The trail winds through beautiful groves of maple and oak, with peaceful river streams breaking up the climb. It was majestic, serene, and a perfect reminder of why nature is one of the best places to push your limits. And yes, the shoes held up like champs. Bottom line: A tough but rewarding hike--equal parts humbling and awe-inspiring. If you're looking to reconnect with nature and your cardiovascular system, this one's for you.

We started the hike via the Huntington parking lot and hikes the Burrow trail…read more Do not underestimate this hike. It is all incline up and lots of rock scrambling. We are not experienced hikes and took us 5 hrs to finish. It is true that it is shaded the whole time, but no one mentioned about the amount of bugs on the whole trail. After asking a local, we find out that they are called "black flies". They are small and annoying little bugs that cling on to your skin and bite you. We put bugs spray but did not keep them away from us. Apparently they come in season that received alot of rain. (first week of June) And it just happens to hatch new eggs as the weather gets hot and wet. So if you plan to hike this with there is alot of rain, I suggest wearing a netted hat. Because these flies are soon annoying and just takes out the fun of the hike. Although it was not an easy hike with annoying bugs biting our skin, the summit was one of 360 view of the landscape. It is beautiful and view are breathtaking!!!!

Great hike right off the freeway, so super convenient if you are just passing though the area. The…read moreloop trail was great, it was a good workout when we were going up a slight incline, and then relaxing as we came back. The trial was pretty well marked, but a bit confusing in certain places. It would have helped if the signs had the distances. Overall, a very nice place!

I guess this trail doesn't get enough love because parking is extremely limited. We were fortunate…read moreto get one of the three available parking spots near the residential entrance. The trail is well-marked with bright yellow diamond markers on trees, and additionally annotated by sharpie at trail forks. We skipped the alternate route that presumably would've led to a longer loop that included a small waterfall at the river (according to AllTrails), so it only took an hour round trip for us to reach the Wu Ledges vista, then get back to our car before a rainstorm hit. The gorgeous views of the shorter leg were worth the effort. We were occasionally plagued by mosquitoes and flies, so I'm glad we packed the bug repellant.

This is the loveliest place to walk / hike / run / snowshoe with children in the Mad River Valley…read moreIMHO. The loop is about 1.7 miles IIRC, an easy (but not too wimpy) trek for my seven-year-old, with gentle ups and downs, even with thick snow cover on the ground in regular winter boots. (The Pardner forgot to throw our snowshoes and crampons in the car = demerits!) Although there are only three parking spots, there are enough accumulated visitors that there's a nicely packed, easy-to-follow trail. From the top, there's a nice view of the town with, I think, Mad River Glen, in the distance. Yellow trail markers are easy to follow up to the viewing point, less well marked on the other side. Lots of deer tracks, racoon and possum tracks, and a few intrepid squirrels out and about in winter. If you need a break from skiing, head to Wu and stop at the Sweet Spot across the covered bridge after. Perfect use of a winter morning. :)

With so much rain this summer 2021, I decided to make most of it and do a waterfalls tour…read more Huntington is a bit out of the way and this review is based on my first visit. HG is a dramatic natural stunner. It's compact, STEEP and loud with ROARING waterfalls. Many falls, you cannot see from above and without endangering self. There's been many fatalities over the years so swimming and climbing down to the falls are heavily discouraged by the local government. There are several very short trails from the road for viewing but the trails were ridden with poison ivies! Also, there were poured granite gravels in an effort to alleviate a landslide (which is rare in VT) from the paved road. One could cross AFTER (not upstream) the Gorge to cross to the opposite side. If you desire to, I'd recommend wearing a pair of water-shoes and perhaps not soon after rain. HG is unlike any other rapids I've seen in VT. It is worth visiting to see the extreme changes of water flow and power of nature. It's an out of place, tiny compact version of gorges that you see out West. Parking is sparse...a handful of spots above the Gorge. It was a bit of a downer to see so much (signs) discouragement. Obviously peeps don't stop coming....maybe they could embrace and build safeguards for everyone to access and enjoy this beauty safely?

Huntington Gorge, the site of Richmond's first grist mill and electric generating plant, is an…read moreawesome, natural beauty. A gorgeous (and dangerous if not respected) gorge complete with waterfalls and swimming holes. Had I not read about it, I would not have known of its previous history... on first glance it appears to be an untouched site as there are no obvious signs of its previous industry. The gorge attracts a number of different types of visitors... photographers, hikers, swimmers, etc. There is a very small parking lot to house everyone stopping in. There is very strict signage posted around the property warning of the danger the site. Heed these warnings as there have been over 2 dozen deaths spanning the last 50+ years in this area. It is easy to see why... the power of these waterfalls can be heard and felt as you approach the rim. If you choose to swim here, do so in the lowest basins (avoid the upper and its currents) and be safe... stay aware of your surroundings. I was more than content viewing the falls from a safe distance despite the elevated outdoor temperature that day. The risk that some people took during my short time there (hanging over the rim for photos, wading through the waters of the upper pools) was just incredible. Be smart. There are several short paths that deliver you to various views of the area. Tread carefully and you will be rewarded with some spectacular views. I just happened upon this location on my way to hike Camel's Hump but I'm so glad my GPS brought me down the dirt road this is located off of. It's worth the visit!

Pay per person, 5$, which adds up way faster than the park is worth. Park worker who took our money…read moredid not tell us beach was closed, and only let us know there was a warning afterwards. We got about halfway to the beach and got passed by another park ranger on an atv, who saw us with our towels and still let us walk all the way to the beach, where he waited for us to turn around. Overall expensive and deceptive. Nowhere near worth the cost.

Short but scenic trail. I'm guessing a little over 3 miles if you take the longest hike. Lots to…read moresee and do tho. There is a beach for swimming. A cove to relax in. And a great view of the mountains. It's a 4 or 5 dollar entry though.

Great place for sliding or snow tubing with the kiddos. Parking adjacent to the hill. Loved it…read more.. depending on where you are, it might be a drive.... nice options for lunch in the city, too !

At the top of Hubbard Park is the Hubbard Tower that was built between 1915 and 1930. Only 65 steps…read moreto the top, it is made of stones gathered from nearby abandoned walls and fences when the park was used as grasing pastures. It was designed to look a bit like a medieval ruin and contains a metal stairway that seemed safe enough to climb today. I opted to drive about as close to the tower as I could and was able to pull off to the side of the road. That left about a half-mile hike to the summit and then the tower. Pretty nice view of the surrounding area from the top. [Review 18520 overall - 118 in Vermont - 2042 of 2022.]