Newark VermontHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Newark, Vermont.
1. Newark Pond Natural Area
SCENIC WOODLAND LOOP TRAIL
Newark Pond Natural Area features a 1-mile nature trail that loops through the forest to the shoreline. The easy trail offers beautiful views of Connor Island and the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also launch boats from the fishing access for water exploration of the natural area.
2. Appalachian Trail at Gifford Woods
ICONIC LONG-DISTANCE HIKING TRAIL
The Appalachian Trail passes through Gifford Woods State Park, creating an important hiking crossroads where it meets the Long Trail. This section offers hikers the opportunity to experience a segment of the famous trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. Gifford Woods serves as a popular pass-through location for long-distance hikers enjoying the spectacular natural surroundings.
3. Long Trail at Gifford Woods
VERMONT'S HISTORIC FOOTPATH
The Long Trail, which runs the entire length of Vermont, intersects with the Appalachian Trail at Gifford Woods State Park. This historic footpath offers varying difficulty levels as it traverses the Green Mountains. Hikers can access numerous loop trails in the nearby Green Mountain National Forest and Coolidge State Forest from this central location.
4. Deer Leap Mountain Trail
SPECTACULAR VISTA HIKE
Deer Leap Mountain Trail offers spectacular panoramic views from its summit near Gifford Woods State Park. The moderate difficulty trail rewards hikers with some of the most breathtaking vistas in the region. This popular trail is accessible from Gifford Woods, making it a perfect day hike for visitors staying in the area.
5. Thundering Brook Trail
PEACEFUL WATERFALL PATH
Thundering Brook Trail features lovely waterfalls along a scenic path accessible from the Gifford Woods area. The trail provides a moderate hiking experience with the reward of beautiful cascading water features. Hikers particularly enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty found along this trail.
6. Burke Mountain Summit Trail
FIRE TOWER MOUNTAIN VISTA
Burke Mountain Summit Trail leads hikers to a fire tower offering outstanding views of Willoughby Gap and the Northeast Kingdom. The moderate 3-mile trail culminates at the summit where hikers can enjoy panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape. Burke Mountain also offers two lean-to shelters for hikers looking to spend the night on the mountain.
7. Kingdom Trails
HAND-BUILT SWOOPING TRAILS
Kingdom Trails offers 4.9 miles of hand-built swooping trails open to both hikers and mountain bikers in the Northeast Kingdom. These easy to moderate trails wind through areas abundant with wild raspberries and blackberries for hikers to enjoy during summer months. In winter, the trails transform for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking on the forest's old woods roads named Hawkes Loop and Darling Loop.
8. Dog Mountain Trails
DOG-FRIENDLY MOUNTAIN PATHS
Dog Mountain Trails are set on 150 acres of private mountaintop land offering year-round hiking opportunities. The easy trails feature beautiful wildflowers in summer months and welcome canine companions with dedicated dog ponds. After hiking, visitors can explore the Stephen Huneck Art Gallery and the famous Dog Chapel on the property.
9. St. Johnsbury Town Forest Trails
RIVERSIDE FOREST STROLLS
St. Johnsbury Town Forest features 2.9 miles of easy to moderate trails through coniferous and hardwood forest. Hikers can enjoy scenic walks alongside the Moose River and along the historic Logging Road. The forest trails offer a peaceful natural retreat just outside of the downtown district.
10. Weathersfield Trail on Mt. Ascutney
CASCADE FALLS MOUNTAIN PATH
The Weathersfield Trail runs 2.9 miles along the south face of Mt. Ascutney, a unique monadnock that stands alone from surrounding hills. This moderate difficulty trail passes the magnificent Cascade Falls, which is the largest waterfall on the mountain. Hikers can connect to other summit trails via a relatively level path that follows the ridgeline and crosses the mountain's peak.