Local Hikes
Mount Mansfield Loop Trail: 7.7 miles; 2,893 ft elevation gain (Difficult)
Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont and is located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. The Mount Mansfield Loop Trail takes you above the tree line. The hike begins at Underhill State Park off of Mountain Road. Because the park has tent camping, there are bathrooms and potable water available at the trailhead.
Sterling Pond Trail: 3.0 miles; 880 ft elevation gain (Moderate)
The Sterling Pond Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Smugglers’ Notch, providing access to a unique mountain-top pond that is perfect for swimming, fishing (VT fishing license required), and observing wildlife. The hike to Sterling Pond is only about one mile each way, and connects to a variety of additional trails to rewarding vistas looking out over the mountains.
Niquette Bay State Park: 1.0 mile (Easy)
The park’s trail system accesses high points along each ridge from which impressive vistas overlook Malletts Bay to the south, the Green Mountains to the east, and the Lake Champlain Islands to the west. There are several loops which offer a variety of hiking combinations. The shortest distance to the lake is 0.5 miles via the Allen Trail on foot.