While it would be impossible to describe all of Vermont — or any state, for that matter — in just one word or phrase, there is one overarching reason to visit the Green Mountain State: the great outdoors.
With secret swimming holes, endless miles of hiking and biking trails, and mind-boggling Green Mountain vistas, Vermont offers an abundance of outdoor recreation that is as exhilarating as it is accessible.
Vermonters take their outdoor pursuits very seriously!
Whether you’re looking for a stroll through the woods, a magical sunset, or a backcountry escapade, Vermont will deliver.
Here are some fabulous things to do in Vermont when you want to get outside.
Table of Contents
1. Hike a Section of the Long Trail – America’s Oldest Long-Distance Trail
Did you know that the Long Trail in Vermont was the first long-distance hiking trail in the United States?
This 272-mile trail follows the ridgeline of the Green Mountains from the Vermont-Massachusettes state line in the south to the Canadian border in the north. Volunteers began working on the Long Trail in 1912 when a route from Sterling Pond to Camel’s Hump was cleared.
Today, the beloved Long Trail is enjoyed by numerous backpackers and day hikers, who come to the woods to find solitude, challenge themselves, and escape the confines of modern life, if only for a short period.
You can enjoy the Long Trail too! No matter which part of Vermont you visit, you’re probably less than an hour’s drive from a trailhead that will connect you with the Long Trail.
And if hiking in Vermont is something you want to do again and again, check out the third edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, authored by Yours Truly!
2. Ride Your Bike on One of Vermont’s Famous Rail Trails
If you’re looking for a way to get outside and enjoy the fabulous Vermont weather and spectacular mountain views, grab your bicycle and enjoy a beautiful ride on one of Vermont’s designated multi-use trails.
Hug the eastern shore of Lake Champlain as you ride 13.4 miles from Oakledge Park in Burlington to the Colchester Causeway on the Island Rail Trail. This truly is one of the most beautiful bike paths in the country – the scenery is beyond gorgeous, and there are numerous spots to swim along the way.
Public beaches, natural areas, and scenic vistas surround you as you cycle, jog, or meander along the path. Take Local Motion’s Island Line Bike Ferry to cross “the Cut,” a 200-foot gap in the causeway, and then continue onto the Lake Champlain Islands.
Or, experience 93 miles of car-free riding through one of Vermont’s most scenic regions. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is New England’s longest rail trail, traveling from Swanton on the shores of Lake Champlain to St. Johnsbury in the Northeast Kingdom.
One of the best ways to explore the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is with an E-bike tour or rental from Lamoille Valley Bike Tours. The self-guided Summer Adventure Tours are designed to be flexible and give you plenty of time to explore the best parts of the trail at your own pace.
A full-day tour allows guests to spend the day traveling this scenic trail on one of our comfortable electric bikes and enjoy shopping, dining, brewery hopping, swimming, fishing, and more.
3. Hike to a Beautiful Vermont Waterfall
Planning a Vermont vacation and want to include some fabulous waterfalls in your itinerary?
Vermont is probably more well-known for its beer and ice cream than its waterfalls, but just because they aren’t famous, doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful.
The good news is that most of Vermont’s most gorgeous waterfalls are easy to get to without much hiking, and some of them are also perfect for cooling off in the summer.
If you’re all about chasing waterfalls, be sure to purchase Vermont Waterfalls before your trip to Vermont.
4. Have a Picnic at the Zen Gardens in Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park
Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park is one of Vermont’s newest state parks, and we think it’s one of the most unique as well.
This is a day-use park without many amenities. There is a portable toilet near the parking area, but the rest of the property remains largely undeveloped. The Japanese garden is located down the hill from the parking area and is the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic.
The hiking trails up to Mount Zion Major or Mount Zion Minor are both short with big views at the end. You can do them both in under an hour.
5. Watch a Magical Lake Champlain Sunset
Lake Champlain makes up much of the border between Vermont and New York, stretching 107 miles from West Haven all the way to the Canadian Border.
From the Vermont side of the lake, visitors are treated to far-reaching views of the Adirondack Mountains, and when the sun sets, the combination of mountain peaks and a firey sky is not to be missed.
There are dozens of public access points to catch a fabulous sunset. My first choice is Oakledge Park in the south end of Burlington, but you can ride along the bike path between Oakledge and Colchester for sublime western views.
Outside of Burlington, catch the sunset from Button Bay State Park, Shelburne Farms, Mount Philo State Park, or Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans.
Also Read: The Best State Parks Near Burlington
6. Explore an Ancient Fossil Reef in the Lake Champlain Islands
Step back in time and explore one of the oldest known coral reefs in the world!
Lake Champlain was once part of a tropical sea, and the fossilized plants and animals at the Chazy Reef are approximately 480 million years old. The Chazy Reef is just part of a 1,000-mile ridge from the ancient Iapetus Ocean that extends from Newfoundland to Tennessee.
You can visit two preserves on Isle La Motte: the 20-acre Fisk Quarry Preserve and the 83-acre Goodsell Ridge Preserve.
Walk the trails and look for fossils on a self-guided tour. Ample signage will guide you on your search, thanks to Isle La Motte Preservation Trust.
7. Canoe to a Remote Campsite on Green River Reservoir
There are a few remote camping spots in Vermont that you can only get to by kayak or canoe, but the most gorgeous spot has got to be Green River Reservoir State Park in Hyde Park.
This 653-acre lake is entirely undeveloped, with 27 private campsites that require a one to two-mile paddle from the launch site.
Reserve your campsite beforehand, and prepare for a summer adventure you will never forget.
8. Drive to the top of Vermont’s Tallest Mountain
That would be Mount Mansfield, at 4,395 feet.
There are several ways to hike to the top of Mount Mansfield, but only one way to drive to the top. The historic Auto Toll Road is maintained by Stowe Mountain Resort. The road to the top is 4.5 miles and not suitable for RVs, trailers, or motorcycles.
The Auto Toll Road in Stowe is open from late May to mid-October from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are $32 for the car and driver and $12.00 for each additional passenger.
9. Hike to the Top of Camel’s Hump
Camel’s Hump is another iconic peak in Vermont that requires a bit more work to get on top of.
Unlike Mount Mansfield, Camel’ Hump is completely undeveloped and one of the best hikes in Vermont for peak baggers.
At 4,083, Camel’s Hump is the third tallest mountain in Vermont and one of just five peaks over 4,000 feet. It’s also one of just three alpine tundra zones in Vermont (Mt. Mansfield has alpine tundra as well).
Our favorite way to hike Camel’s Hump is to head up Burrows Trail to the Long Trail south and then back to our car via Forest City Trail. This strenuous hike totals 5.3 miles.
10. Ski the East at a Vermont Ski Resort
If you’re a skier or snowboarder, you already know far more than I do about Vermont’s incredible mountain resorts. As a parent of kids who learned to ski on Vermont’s mountains, I can recommend a few places for family-friendly ski vacations.
My first choice would be Smuggler’s Notch, which has grown exponentially since I worked there while I put myself through college. Smuggs is an excellent spot for your very first ski vacation. I took a few lessons on the slopes at Smuggs before I realized that skiing was not my thing.
Want advice from people who know more about skiing than I do? Head over to Ski Vermont for information about skiing and snowboarding throughout Vermont.
11. Visit Vermont’s Only National Park Unit
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is located in Woodstock, Vermont, within walking distance of historic Woodstock Village.
Part nature preserve, part history museum, the National Park Service calls this unique park, “the only national park to tell the story of conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America.”
The park is named for George Perkins Marsh, who developed an early philosophy of land stewardship that laid the foundation for the conservation movement in the United States between the 1830s and the 1860s.
Frederick Billings bought the estate in 1869 and established a progressive dairy farm on the property. His granddaughter, Mary French Rockefeller, and her husband, Laurance S. Rockefeller, continued to develop sustainable farming and forestry practices when they took over the property.
They established the Billings Farm & Museum in 1871 and donated the estate to the United States Government in 1992.
If you only have time to hike one trail, I’d recommend the Pogue/Mt. Tom loop, which is 4.2 miles and gains 643 feet in elevation.
Read Next: Visit Woodstock, Vermont in the Fall
12. Visit an Outdoor Sculpture Park
What could be better than getting outside and enjoying a perfect day in Vermont? How about getting outside while discovering art?
For a tiny state, Vermont has an eclectic variety of opportunities to interact with outdoor art.
The largely rural landscape makes an enchanting backdrop for all kinds of art installations, and as the seasons change, so does the experience.
A stroll through the Path of Life Sculpture Garden is a journey. Visitors travel through life, from birth to death and beyond, while interacting with 18 works of art on 14 beautiful acres along the Connecticut River in Windsor.
Set against the beautiful Taconic Mountains in Manchester, the outdoor sculpture park at Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) is an expansive exhibition in fields and forests on a sprawling 120-acre campus.
For even more ideas, read about our favorite outdoor sculpture parks throughout Vermont.
13. Bring Your Dog to Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury
Dog Mountain is set on 150 acres on a private mountaintop in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The grounds are always open to people and their dogs, who are free to run off-leash, play, swim, and meet other dogs!
Visit this unique destination to explore the trails with your dog and visit the Dog Chapel, where people come from all over to pay tribute to dogs they have loved and lost.
Artwork by Dog Mountain creator Stephen Huneck is available for sale in the gift shop, and special dog parties are held throughout the year.
If you’re traveling with a dog, this is one of the most fun and unique things to do in Vermont.
14. Tour Vermont’s Covered Bridges
Red barns and bridges are as ubiquitous to Vermont as black and white cows. They add a touch of nostalgia and romance to the woodland and pastoral scenes of the Green Mountains and are perfect for adding a bit of scenic history to your Vermont vacation.
There are more than 100 covered bridges in Vermont.
These beautiful feats of engineering offer a one-of-a-kind look into a bygone age — a time when ingenious craftsmanship was used to create structures that embodied simple beauty and embraced the natural landscape.
Here’s a map of covered bridges in Vermont to add to your Vermont itinerary.
15. Explore Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon
That would be Quechee Gorge, the deepest gorge in Vermont. This is a popular tourist attraction, and you can easily view the gorge by parking at the nearby visitor center and peering over the Route 4 bridge.
You can also hike down into the gorge from the visitor center or Quechee State Park.
Quechee Gorge is a popular swimming hole in the summer, and the state park is a great camping home base if you want to explore Quechee and Woodstock in the summer or fall.
16. Learn to Fly Fish at the Orvis Fly-Fishing School
One of the best things to do in Vermont for fishing enthusiasts is to visit Machester, Vermont, home to the Orvis Flagship Store and Fly-Fishing School. Head to school for a full day of perfecting your casting technique, setting up your rod, tying on the perfect fly, and safely releasing your catch.
Orvis provides expert instructors, access to a fully-stocked casting pond, and time on the famous Battenkill River. This is a beautiful setting and a unique opportunity for anglers of all ages and abilities.
Orvis fly-fishing classes are offered between April and October for one or two-day intensives. Be sure to visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing while you’re in the neighborhood.
17. Take in the view from a Vermont fire tower
If you’re not afraid of heights, you can check out the views from several fire towers on top of Vermont mountains. While the towers haven’t been used to detect the presence of fires in Vermont for decades, many are still maintained.
Here are a few that are worth the climb:
- Mt. Olga in Molly Stark State Park
- Elmore Mountain in Elmore State Park
- Mt. Ascutney in Ascutney State Park
18. Cool Off in a Vermont Swimming Hole
It’s not summer in Vermont until you’ve braved the frigid waters of a local swimming hole.
Come relax by the river, have a picnic, and enjoy swimming against the flow. This is where families, college students, and empty nesters all congregate on the hottest days of July and August.
Everyone has their favorite Vermont swimming holes – here are our top ten!
19. Ride the Kingdom Trails in the NEK
Come ride 100+ miles of mountain biking trails in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Kingdom Trails is an incredible trail system that works with public and private landowners. Riding the trails was recently named the best thing to do in Northern Vermont by Yankee Magazine.
You can recreate on the Kingdom Trails in the summer or the winter, but you’ll need to purchase an annual, monthly, or daily membership before heading out.
A robust tourism industry has developed around the Kingdom trails, so it’s easy to rent equipment, go out to dinner, or find a vacation rental in the area.
20. Go Ice Skating on the Longest Ice Trail in the Country
That would be the Lake Morey Skate Trail, a 4.3-mile ice skating loop in Fairlee, Vermont. The trail is maintained by Lake Morey Resort, where you can rent Nordic skates and accessories for a small fee. Skating on the trail is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
21. Paddle Down the Connecticut River
The slow-moving Connecticut River near Windsor, Vermont, is a fabulous paddling destination. Cruise under the longest two-span covered bridge in North America, sip locally crafted beers at nearby Harpoon Brewery and pitch your tent at Wilgus State Park for a perfect paddling weekend.
Here are the logistics for planning your Connecticut River paddling trip with Great River Outfitters.
22. Discover Carnivorous Plants in one of Vermont’s Largest Bogs
You can find a few natural bog communities in Vermont, but one of our favorites is Peacham Bog in Groton State Forest.
Peacham Bog encompasses 748 acres of rare plant communities, including carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews. The 4.5-mile hike to Peacham Bog is a beautiful, level trail that travels through many different ecosystems with lots of chances to see birds and wildlife.
23. Camp on Burton Island on Lake Champlain
Fireflies, mountain views, and a whole lotta swimming, paddling, and hammock dozing.
That’s what you’re in for when you spend a summer weekend at Burton Island State Park in Lake Champlain’s northern reaches.
Burton Island State Park near St. Albans can only be reached by boat — either a passenger ferry or your own watercraft. Once you get to the island, you’ll find an awesome trail network, waterfront lean-tos, and a small campground for tent campers.
You can rent a slip for your boat, watch the sunrise and sunset over the water, and swim and paddle to your heart’s content. It’s as close as you’ll get to a tropical vacation in Vermont!
24. Hike Around One of Vermont’s Most Beautiful Ponds
There are so many beautiful ponds in Vermont, but for fall hiking and camping, you won’t want to miss Grout Pond in the southern part of the Green Mountain National Forest.
Pristine, secluded campsites dot the shoreline, and a 2.6-mile trail loops around the pond.
Grout Pond is delightful for swimming in the summer, and you can’t beat the beauty of fall foliage reflecting in the clear waters come October. The hike around Grout Pond is one of the best things to do in Vermont in the fall.
The campground at Grout Pond is open year-round, with reservations accepted in the summer months.
25. Take in the Views from Vermont’s Oldest State Park
Mount Philo State Park was Vermont’s first state park, created in 1924. You can reach the summit by hiking a 1.9-mile loop that climbs 550 feet in elevation, or you can drive to the top for a mountaintop picnic and a beautiful sunset over Lake Champlain.
In addition to beautiful hiking trails, there’s a small campground at the top of the mountain with 11 campsites. Drive up for the sunset, or spend the weekend. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors in Vermont.
These are our favorite outdoor activities in Vermont, but there are so many more — snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, outdoor dining, historic sites, and dinner cruises. I could spend a lifetime exploring the outdoors in Vermont, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do!
Follow us on social media for more Vermont inspiration!
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.