Hancock VermontHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Hancock, Vermont.
1. Texas Falls Recreation Area
SCENIC FALLS AND TRAIL
Texas Falls Recreation Area offers a well-maintained trail that follows a stream before entering deeper into the woods. The trail is easy to navigate with gentle climbs and descents, making it suitable for hikers of all skill levels. Visitors can enjoy the picturesque falls, glacial potholes in the river, and numerous footbridges along the peaceful, bird-song filled route.
2. Hancock Mountain Trail
MOUNTAIN HIKING ADVENTURE
Hancock Mountain Trail provides hikers with a challenging but rewarding trek through Vermont's beautiful wilderness. The trail offers scenic views of the surrounding Green Mountains and forests as hikers make their way to the summit. Along the journey, visitors can experience diverse flora and fauna native to Vermont's mountain ecosystems.
3. Warren Falls
REFRESHING NATURAL POOLS
Warren Falls is a popular hiking destination near Hancock featuring a series of stunning waterfalls and natural swimming holes. The moderate trail leads visitors through lush forest before revealing the cascading falls and emerald-colored pools carved into the bedrock. Hikers can enjoy both the scenic beauty of the falls and a refreshing swim during warmer months.
4. Thundering Brook Falls
ACCESSIBLE WATERFALL TRAIL
Thundering Brook Falls offers an accessible boardwalk trail that leads to one of Vermont's most impressive waterfalls. The trail is short and easy, making it perfect for families and those with limited mobility while still providing spectacular views. Visitors can witness the powerful cascade as it tumbles down a series of rock ledges surrounded by verdant forest.
5. Lincoln Gap - Appalachian Gap Trail
CHALLENGING MOUNTAIN CROSSING
The Lincoln Gap to Appalachian Gap Trail traverses a challenging section of the Long Trail across the spine of the Green Mountains. This difficult hike offers serious elevation gain and spectacular summit views from multiple peaks along the route. Hikers are rewarded with panoramic vistas of Vermont's mountain ranges, valleys, and on clear days, views extending to New York and New Hampshire.
6. Branbury State Park Trails
LAKESIDE FOREST PATHS
Branbury State Park offers several scenic hiking trails that wind through forests and along the shores of Lake Dunmore. The trails range from easy lakeside paths to more moderate routes that climb into the surrounding hills, accommodating hikers of various skill levels. Visitors can enjoy stunning lake views, abundant wildlife, and access to beaches and picnic areas throughout their hiking experience.
7. Allis State Park
HISTORIC TOWER VIEWS
Allis State Park features several hiking trails that lead to a historic fire tower offering panoramic views of central Vermont. The moderate trails wind through dense forests of hardwood and evergreen trees before reaching the summit of Bear Hill. From the observation tower, hikers can see the Green Mountains, White Mountains, and on clear days, even glimpses of the Adirondacks.
8. Pico Peak Trail
SUMMIT SKI MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE
Pico Peak Trail offers a challenging hike to the summit of this prominent Vermont ski mountain. The trail climbs steadily through diverse terrain including hardwood forests, rocky sections, and alpine vegetation zones. Hikers reaching the 3,957-foot summit are rewarded with expansive views of the surrounding Green Mountains and Killington region.
9. Gifford Woods State Park
ANCIENT FOREST EXPERIENCE
Gifford Woods State Park offers hiking trails through one of Vermont's few remaining old-growth forests with ancient maple, beech, yellow birch, and hemlock trees. The moderate network of trails includes connections to the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail, allowing for short walks or more extended hiking experiences. Visitors can enjoy the rich biodiversity, serene woodland atmosphere, and spectacular fall foliage during autumn months.
10. Bucklin Trail
KILLINGTON SUMMIT ROUTE
The Bucklin Trail provides a challenging but direct route to the summit of Killington Peak, Vermont's second-highest mountain. The trail begins with a moderate climb through mixed hardwood forest before steepening considerably for the final ascent to the 4,235-foot summit. Hikers completing this strenuous trail are rewarded with outstanding 360-degree views from the summit, which includes infrastructure from the Killington Ski Resort.