With the quiet of the woods and the crunch of leaves under your feet, hiking lets you get up close to nature and take in our breathtaking mountain views. Here’s a list of our favorite nearby hiking trails from easy walks in the meditation garden to more adventurous climbs with incredible mountain top vistas. So pack your hiking boots, camelback, hiking sticks and pack some water and snacks, and get yourself up on a mountain with one of our local guides or on your own! Click the links below for directions.
West Mountain Inn Trails, Arlington, VT
We’ll start with our own backyard which includes 150 acres of beautiful, well marked woodland trails. There are several points with beautiful views as well as plenty of meandering trails to explore – finish up with a visit to the Alpacas and the Labyrinth Garden!
Cedar Rock, Arlington, VT
Hike directly to Cedar Rock from the West Mountain Inn. This is about a 45 min hike up and 45 min back. Easy to moderate hike.
Flag Rock, Arlington, VT Hike directly to Flag Rock from the West Mountain Inn. This is about a 4 hour hike. Breathtaking views. Bring food, lots of water and good hiking boots and walking sticks. Some areas are very steep and slippery. Moderate hike.
Grout Pond – The Kellystand – Stratton, Vermont
This is one of Sam Grout’s favorite areas as Grout Pond is named after her family. There is a lovely pond hike that you can walk around the pond or go kayaking, canoeing while up there on the Kellystand. There are also a lot of other trail systems in that area if you want to do more. Very close to Stratton so you could zoom over to Stratton Village for a glass of wine or nice bite to eat after your hike.
Somerset Resevoir – Stratton Vermont
Awesome place for kayaking, canoeing and hiking!
Lye Brook Falls – Manchester, VT (One of our favorite local hikes.)
This hike ends with a beautiful waterfall, easily one of Vermont’s finest! The trail is completely straightforward. 2.3 miles to the falls, gaining about 800-900 feet in elevation, then losing about 200′ to the falls. The climb is very steady and only mildly steep in a couple of places. The view alone is worth the effort. It is a beg to moderate hike. Plan for about two to three hours.
Equinox Pond Trails – Manchester, VT
Located near the base of Mount Equinox in Manchester, Equinox Pond and the surrounding land are part of the Equinox Preservation Trust, which was established in 1996 and includes more than 914 acres of protected land. Beyond the pond, 11 miles of trails that mostly follow old logging roads are open for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Pond Loop is an easy, three-quarter mile walk through the woods around the pond’s perimeter, but there are many other marked trails along the way if you want a more adventurous hike.
Haystack Mountain – Pawlet VT
Once called in local advertisments the “Gibralter of the America,” Haystack affords the hardy hiker one of the best panoramic views in Southern Vermont. To reach the summit will take between 1 and 1.5 hours (bring water and good shoes). This is not an easy hike (the last 20 minutes are steep) but the panoramic views from the top of Haystack are well worth it – especially in the fall!
The Mile-Around Woods – North Bennington, VT
The Mile-Around Woods is an easy, but beautiful walk near the village of North Bennington, VT featuring rich stands of old timber and a circular carriage road laid out after the Civil War by Trenor Park, the builder of the nearby Park-McCullough House. Loved and well-used by the locals, this peaceful hike is a great place to bring the kids or go for a quiet jog through the woods.
Merck Forest Trails – Rupert, VT
All of Merck Forest and Farmland Center’s trails are open year-round for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. With over 30 miles of trails on 3,000 acres of land, the trail system is well-marked, and the trail terrain is variable: some loops cover easy-to-moderate terrain (great options for family treks), while other trails are steeper and rocky (more-suited to the experienced hiker). Many trails go through the forest, around the farm, travel along streams, and include beautiful views of the Taconic and Adirondack Mountains.
Prospect Rock – Manchester Vermont
The hike is ~3miles but is fairly steep oneway, that could make it tiresome for kids or adults with pre existing conditions. The view is amazing and also has a connection to Appalachian trail. T