Maybe it’s because the season is so short, but there’s not much that I love more than eating outside with a beautiful Vermont view. Every spring, I vow to up my picnic game. I keep picnic supplies at the ready, test out recipes, and scope out the best picnic spots in Vermont.
It’s no easy feat, of course — because Vermont is full of beautiful spots, and there are lots of natural areas to throw down a picnic blanket for an impromptu feast.
I’m sure there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of picnic tables with mountain or lake views across the state, so believe me when I say that this is not an exhaustive list. Instead, I’m sharing eight beautiful spots where I’ve enjoyed fantastic food, good company, and gorgeous Vermont views.
I live in southern Vermont, and this skews a bit toward southern areas to reflect that. The following Vermont picnic spots are located in Vermont State Parks, national forests, and town parks. One is privately owned but absolutely worth visiting.
Almost all of these spots are easy to drive to, but there are a couple of exceptions — the picnic table on top of Mount Zion Major in Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park requires a short hike, and the island picnic spot on Lowell Lake requires paddling a short distance. They are two of our favorite picnic spots in the state.
Read our road trip picnic ideas before heading out, and enjoy your mini adventure at one of the best picnic spots in Vermont.
Wards Cove Picnic Area in Wilmington
Location: Boyd Hill Road, Wilmington
Cost: Free
Facilities: Port-a-potties, grills, and a changing area
Dogs: Yes
In the summer, vacationers flock to the gorgeous Lake Whitingham (Harriman Reservoir) to swim, boat, sail, and fish.
Lake Whitingham is one of Vermont’s largest lakes, covering more than 2,000 acres. This human-made lake was created in 1923 by the New England Power Company, which dammed the Deerfield River as part of a hydroelectric power project.
Today, Lake Whitingham is more than eight miles long and features more than 28 miles of wild, undeveloped shoreline. There are numerous picnic areas along the shore, but our favorite is Wards Cove on the eastern side of the lake south of Wilmington.
We even have a favorite picnic spot when we can get it — underneath a massive cherry tree overlooking the lake with steps down to the water. This spot is perfect for summer and fall, but it gets quite crowded on hot summer weekends.
Also Read: The Best Things to Do in Wilmington, Vermont
Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park in Hubbardton
Location: 321 St. John Road, Hubbardton
Cost: Free
Facilities: A single port-a-potty near the parking area
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
This delightful view can be yours after a short, steep hike up to the top of Mount Zion Major in Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park in Hubbardton. This day-use park includes a unique collection of hiking trails meandering over 204 acres of fields, forests, gorges, cliffs, and gardens.
Take Spring Trail to the top of Mount Zion Major (1,220 feet), about a half-mile one-way. You can do this hike as a loop, but note that Alyssa’s Trail is very steep and scrambly (not recommended for kids or dogs).
You’ll be treated to spectacular views of the Taconic Range and, on a clear day, the Adirondacks in New York.
If you’d rather not hike with your picnic, head down the hill from the parking area to the Japanese Gardens, where you’ll find small ponds, giant boulders, and Adirondack chairs perched in ways that best take in the peaceful surroundings and stellar views.
We enjoy this park year-round, but in the winter, we usually skip Mount Zion and picnic in the garden or meadow.
Hapgood Pond in Peru
Location: Peru, Vermont
Cost: $5 per vehicle, $20 per night camping
Facilities: Flush toilets, picnic tables
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Website
This tiny little pond in the Green Mountain National Forest makes an excellent spot for a picnic, leg stretch, or photo shoot in the fall. While Hapgood Pond is just 12 acres in size and 12 feet deep at its deepest spot, it’s a quiet retreat to enjoy the woods, the views, and a little solitude.
The hike around the pond is a mile in length, and there’s even a small campground with beautiful, private sites. Campsites are $20 a night and can be booked on Recreation.gov through mid-October.
Our perfect afternoon at Hapgood Ponds starts with a visit to nearby J.J. Hapgood for picnic provisions. In the summer we like to walk the loop trail, go for a swim, and then dig into our goodies. In the fall, we skip the swim, and instead, spend lots of time ogling the beautiful fall foliage.
Mount Philo State Park in Charlotte
Location: 5425 Humphreys’ Road, Charlotte
Cost: $5 for adults, $2 for kids
Facilities: Flush toilets, picnic tables, campground
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
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.
Mount Philo is a small peak at 968 feet, rising steeply from the rolling farmland in the Champlain Valley. Scattered picnic areas at the summit make this a fantastic spot to bring lunch and spend the afternoon. Rocky outcroppings provide impressive views toward Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks beyond.
The road to the summit is open seasonally, from Memorial Day weekend until the end of October.
Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery in South Hero
Location: 190 W Shore Road, South Hero
Offerings: Wine tastings and wine by the glass, cheese, crackers
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Visit Snow Farm Vineyard
If you happen to find yourself in South Hero in the summer or fall, stop into Vermont’s oldest commercial winery for a tasting and a picnic on the back lawn.
The first grapes at Snow Farm Vineyard were planted in 1997, and today, they grow a variety of grapes, including Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Leon Millot, and Baco Noir.
When you stop in for a tasting, you can choose to taste four or eight wines, both red and white.
The white wines range from dry to sweet, and all of the reds are quite dry. You can also order snacks like local cheese and crackers and wine by the glass.
After your wine tasting, you can walk up to the highest point on South Hero — Fox Hill is 279 feet above sea level with fantastic views from the top of the hill.
Also Read: 3 Magical Days on the Lake Champlain Islands
Woodford State Park in Woodford
Location: 142 State Park Road, Woodford
Cost: $5 for adults, $2 for kids
Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables with grills, campground
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
The little slice of wilderness called Woodford State Park is nestled in the mountains of southern Vermont.
The centerpiece of Woodford State Park is a small jewel of a lake called Adams Reservoir. Surrounded by forest, with pretty campsites tucked into the trees and along the shore, this 21-acre lake attracts wildlife, anglers, picnickers, and kayakers who come to find solitude and connect with nature.
We love swimming and picnicking at the day-use area in the summer, and we often bring dinner up here so we can go for a paddle and watch the sunset when we’re finished eating. There are about six picnic tables scattered around the day-use area, as well as a few grills for cooking up your grub.
You can also hike 2.3 miles around the perimiter of the lake, but beware — the trail is often muddy.
Also Read: Four Seasons of Fun in Woodford State Park
Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry
Location: 260 Ice House Road, Londonderry
Cost: $5 for adults, $2 for kids
Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, car-top boat launch
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
Lowell Lake is one of our favorite parks for paddling in southern Vermont, and we were excited to find a beautiful picnic spot on the island in the middle of the lake. Yes, you have to paddle to this spot, and it makes a lovely afternoon adventure in the summer, when you can paddle, swim, eat, and relax while you’re here.
Lowell Lake State Park is a primitive park with no amenities aside from a car-top boat launch and a port-a-potty. There is a lovely 3.5-mile hiking trail around the lake, and a few additional picnic tables near the shore for those who don’t want to paddle.
A day-use fee is charged at Lowell Lake, and cars are turned away when the parking lot is full, which occasionally happens on busy summer weekends.
Burton Island State Park in St. Albans
Location: 2714 Hathaway Point Road, St. Albans
Cost: $5 for adults, $2 for kids
Passenger Ferry: Runs from Kill Kare State Park, $8 per person, round-trip
Facilities: Flush toilets, picnic tables, marina, boat rentals
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
Burton Island State Park is a 253-acre island park off the southwestern tip of St. Albans Point in Lake Champlain. You can only get to Burton Island by boat, and fotunately, the state’s passenger ferry makes the 10-minute trip from Kill Kare State Park several times a day between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
While this is one of our favorite spots for a summer picnic, we actually perfer to spend the whole weekend and we’ll argue that it is one of the best state parks in the United States.
If you’re heading over for the day, you can stop at Burton Island Bistro for sandwiches, craft beer, and dessert, or you can bring your own goodies. Grab one of the picnic tables at the marina, or hike the Burton Island Loop Trail (2.5 miles round-trip) and picnic on the southern tip of the island. I promise it’s worth the walk.
Also Read: Fall in Love with Burton Island State Park
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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.