A Magical Hiking Weekend in Killington, Vermont
Anchored by Vermont’s second tallest mountain, Killington, this aptly named hiking hub encompasses miles of scenic trails, including one of the most lovely sections of the Appalachian Trail and Vermont’s Long Trail.
Make Gifford Woods State Park your camping home base and spend a magical weekend immersing yourself in the Green Mountains on beautiful forested trails.
It’s a weekend of waterfalls, far-reaching vistas, and quiet evenings round the campfire. Is there anything better?
The plethora of Killington hiking trails in the Central Green Mountains makes this a fabulous destination for outdoor lovers, whether you’re a novice hiker or an expert.
At 4,229 feet, Killington Peak is the second-highest summit in Vermont and one of the 48 peaks above 4,000 feet in New England.
The Appalachian Trail/Long Trail passes just 0.2 miles from Killington Peak as a single footpath before splitting up near Willard Gap. From there, the Long Trail continues north to the Canadian border, and the Appalachian Trail continues north to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
With so many trails to chooose from, it can be tricky to plan the perfect hiking weekend in Killington. So, I’m sharing my favorite weekend itinerary with you.
First, set up camp at Gifford Woods State Park, then spend the weekend exploring some of Killington’s most lovely trails.
Featured Read: AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont
Written by Tara Schatz and Jen Lamphere Roberts, this fully revised guide includes classic hikes such as Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, and sections of the Long and Appalachian trails, along with new additions Raven Ridge, Killington Peak, Moose Bog, and more.
Whether you’re looking for an exploration of nature or to bag a 4,000-footer, AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont is indispensable.
Gifford Woods State Park: Your Camping Home Base for Hiking Killington, VT
If you’re planning a hiking vacation in Central Vermont, you’ll need a home base. The campground at Gifford Woods State Park is within a short drive of many Killington hiking trails, some of which start right in the park.
We’re all about limiting our time in the car — road trips are awesome, but trips where we can stay out of the car are even better!
Gifford Woods State Park is our top park to use as a hiking home base.
From Gifford Woods, you can hop on the Appalachian Trail/Long Trail to head to Deer Leap or Kent Pond, and the easy Kent Brook Trail is a loop located entirely within Gifford Woods State Park.
After a day of hiking around Killington, you’ll appreciate being close to Kent Pond, where you go for a swim, toss a line in the water, or go for a sunset paddle before heading back to camp.
Camping in Gifford Woods State Park: The Details
The campground at Gifford Woods State Park is pretty small, with 21 tent/RV sites, 19 lean-tos, and four camping cabins.
Sites are all very private and wooded, with plenty of space between them.
Like all Vermont State Park campsites, the ones at Gifford include a fire ring and picnic table but no hookups for water or electricity.
Because we are tent campers who mostly make reservations in advance, we almost always reserve a lean-to. We set our two-person tent up right inside the lean-to, and we can camp comfortably in the rain or shine without using our rainfly. It also gives us a nice spot to hang out if the weather gets iffy.
On our most recent camping trip in Gifford Woods, we stayed in the Elm lean-to, located in a quiet spot on a wooded hill. We loved Elm, but our favorites are still Apple and Hemlock!
There are two camping loops in Gifford Woods State Park. I recommend choosing the first loop if possible.
The park is pretty close to Route 100, and the sites in the first loop don’t get as much noise from the road. Check out the interactive campground map to see what I mean.
A Perfect Killington Weekend Hiking Itinerary
There are enough hiking trails in Killington to keep you busy for many days, but for a full weekend of adventure in and around Killington, here’s what I’d recommend.
Friday: Drive to Gifford Woods State Park, set up camp, and walk on the Appalachian Trail to Kent Pond. If you arrive early enough, hike to Thundering Brook Falls and back to your campsite (3.6 miles round-trip).
Saturday: Hike the Bucklin Trail to the top of Killington Peak. In the summer, finish your day with a quick swim in Kent Pond.
Sunday: Get an early start and hike the Deer Leap Overlook and Mountain Loop. If you are short on time, start your hike on Route 4 in Killington. Otherwise, pack up your campsite, leave your car in the main lot at Gifford Woods State Park, and do the loop from there.
Trail Descriptions for Your Weekend in Killington
Here’s an overview of the trails included in your weekend itinerary
Kent Pond via the Appalachian Trail in Killington
Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip | Elevation change: 150 feet | Difficulty: Easy | Dogs: Yes | Cost: Free | Day use: $5 adults/$2 kids (included with camping fee) | Trail Guide
This is a super easy Killington hike that begins at Gifford Woods State Park.
If you are staying in the campground, simply walk the campground road toward the park office. You will see the trail to Kent Pond on your right. The trail immediately crosses Route 100 and then heads into the woods to the pond.
The trail hugs the shoreline, and almost immediately you will come to an inlet with several small waterfalls. Cross the bridge and continue on the Appalachian Trail. When you get to Thundering Brook Road, you can turn around and head back, continue along the Appalachian Trail to Thundering Brook, or walk along Thundering Brook Road.
We walked around the road and found that the trail continued along the north shore of the lake. Don’t be fooled into thinking the trail goes all the way around the pond though. It doesn’t.
There are, however, some nice private swimming areas on the north side of the pond, and even a rope swing. Worth checking out!
Thundering Brook Falls via Appalachian Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles round-trip | Elevation change: 400 feet | Difficulty: Easy | Dogs: Yes, on-leash | Cost: Day use: $5 adults/$2 kids (included with camping fee) | Trail Guide
Thundering Brook Falls is one of the prettiest waterfalls in the state. Located along the Appalachiabn Trail, this is said to be the sixth-tallest waterfall in Vermont.
To hike to Thundering Brook Falls from Gifford Woods State Park, follow the Appalachian Trail north for 1.8 miles until you get to the falls. You can also drive to the trail head and hike less than a quarter-mile to the falls on a universally accessible boardwalk.
Here are the directions to the Thundering Brook Falls trailhead (Google Maps).
Killington Peak via Bucklin Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles round-trip | Elevation change: 2,470 feet | Difficulty: Hard | Dogs: Yes, on-leash | Cost: Free | Trail Guide
In my opinion, the best trail to the top of Killington is Bucklin Trail, which begins on Wheelerville Road and climbs the west face of Killington Peak.
Bucklin Trail isn’t easy, but it’s one of the best hiking trails in Vermont if you don’t mind the challenge.
Like many of the Killington trails I’ve mentioned here, this one begins as a nice, level walk in the woods. Turns out, this is my favorite type of trail!
Get your legs all warmed up and your heart pumping because after the first two miles, the trail starts the ascent.
The last quarter mile or so is a rock scramble, at least for someone with short legs like me. Fortunately, you’re not far from the top, where you can relax with a snack and take in the view.
When the gondola is running, you may be disconcerted to see flip-flopped tourists enjoying the views at the end of your climb, but the beautifully forested and serene trail to get there more than makes up for it.
The Bucklin Trail is such a fun hike, but it definitely gets crowded, especially on summer and fall weekends. I recommend starting early in the morning or late in the day so that you don’t have to share the trail with too many other hikers.
Deer Leap Lookout and Mountain Loop (Appalachian Trail)
Distance: 4.6-mile loop | Elevation change: 1,400 feet | Difficulty: Moderate/Hard | Dogs: Yes, on-leash | Cost: $5 adults/$2 kids (included with camping fee) | Trail Guide
As with many of the trails in this area, there are a few different ways to do this one.
We hiked the loop from Gifford Woods State Park because we liked the idea of beginning and ending in the campground, and it’s perfect for Sunday morning before breaking camp. If you are short on time, you can also begin on Route 4 in Killington for a 1.9-mile out-and-back hike with 492 feet of elevation gain. Check out that version of the Deer Leap hike on AllTrails.
The trail from Gifford Woods begins in the campground with a gradual ascent. Again, a nice way to warm up before a good climb.
Unlike some of the other hikes mentioned here, this one isn’t a straight ascent. It goes up and down a bit and even levels off near the top. There are plenty of spots to rest, and the forest in the higher elevations feels nice and open.
The view from Deer Leap overlook is awesome and features Sherburne Pass and the Coolidge Range. Continue on to the top of Deer Leap Mountain – no views – just a pretty trail through the woods before looping back to the main trail and down to the campground.
Don’t want to camp? Lodging in Killington
You don’t have to sleep on the ground to spend a fabulous weekend hiking in Killington! Here are a few lodging suggestions for those of you who crave more of the comforts of home:
- Snowed Inn: Cozy rooms, lovely breakfasts, and an outdoor hot tub, Snowed Inn is within walking distance to Killington Resort.
- Mountain Meadows Lodge: Located in Kent Pond and within walking distance of several trailheads and Gifford Woods State Park.
- Dog-friendly cabin in the woods: This cozy cabin is in Plymouth, but it’s just a short drive from the Killington hiking trails mentioned here. There’s a cozy woodstove, a quiet deck overlooking the forest, and a record player.
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers, an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.
