If you’re short on time but still looking for an outdoor escape for the family, the following nine best hikes in Vermont are easy and kid-friendly. Each one can be accomplished in 30 minutes or less while giving you a taste of the great outdoors. Extend your day by lingering at these gorgeous locations for even more fun activities.
- Burton Island State Park
Google Images/Tony Bilodeau This 253-acre state park in northwest Vermont has two easy kid-friendly trails under 1/2 mile that will take less than 30 minutes to hike. Walk the North Shore Trail or Eagle Bay Trail for a quick family outing. However, once you get on the island with the kiddos, they are going to want to explore even more of this oasis. Visit the park at 2714 Hathaway Point Rd., St Albans City, VT 05481. Burton Island State Park, 2714 Hathaway Point Rd, St Albans City, VT 05478, USA
- Woodford State Park
TripAdvisor/Erika J Woodford State Park is located on a mountain plateau and surrounds Adams Reservoir. The Atwood Trail is a short 1/2-mile loop that is engaging for kids. Rent a boat or do some fishing to extend your visit. Find the park at 142 State Park Rd., Woodford, VT 05201. Woodford State Park, 142 State Park Rd, Woodford, VT 05201, USA
- Brighton State Park
Google Images/Marlie Fuller Brighton State Park has three easy hikes for kids, each taking under 20 minutes. The Red Pine Trail, Shore Trail, and Logger’s Trail are fun paths for children to explore. After a walk, spend some time fishing or swimming to put a perfect end on the day. Find this gem of a park and its trails at 102 State Park Rd., Island Pond, VT 05846. Brighton State Park, 102 State Park Rd, Island Pond, VT 05846, USA
- Fort Dummer State Park
Google Images/Wm. Josiah Erikson The Sunset Trail at Fort Dummer State Park is a 1/2 mile trail through the woodland. A quick walk will get the kids outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Bring along a picnic and enjoy a scenic lunch in the forest. Find this park near Interstate 91 at 517 Old Guilford Rd., Guilford, VT 05301. Fort Dummer State Park, 517 Old Guilford Rd, Guilford, VT 05301, USA
- Niquette Bay State Park
Google Images/Lesley-Anne Stormo Take either the Burns Trail or Allen Trail for hikes that can be enjoyed in under 20 minutes. The 584-acre state park has more than just easy hikes for the young ones. Bring your suits and bask in the sun and water at the lakeside beach. Visit this treasure on Lake Champlain at 274 Raymond Rd., Colchester, VT 05446. Niquette Bay State Park, 274 Raymond Rd, Colchester, VT 05446, USA
- Waterbury Center State Park
Google Images/Callum Rabbitt Kids will love taking the Peninsula Trail at Waterbury Center State Park for a quick 15 minute jaunt. Located on the Waterbury Reservoir, this park also has opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating if you prefer to spend even more time outdoors. Bring the family to the park at 177 Reservoir Rd., Waterbury Center, VT 05677, Waterbury Center State Park, 177 Reservoir Rd, Waterbury Center, VT 05677, USA
- Button Bay State Park
TripAdvisor/toscwolfstar This 253-acre state park on Lake Champlain has loads of family fun. Enjoy either the Button Bay Point Trail or Dog Walk Trail for two kid-friendly hikes around Vermont that each takes just 15 minutes. Both trails run lakeside for some incredible views. Find these short-and-sweet hikes and the park at 5 Button Bay State Park, Vergennes, VT 05491. Button Bay State Park, 5 Button Bay State Park Rd, Vergennes, VT 05491, USA
- Molly Stark State Park
Google Images/MAD.P The Nature Center Spur is a brief 0.20-mile hike that can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. Older children can enjoy the less than one-mile climb up to the fire tower for a more ambitious outing. Visit this little slice of paradise at 705 VT-9, Wilmington, VT 05363. Molly Stark State Park, 705 VT-9 East, Wilmington, VT 05363, USA
- Elmore State Park
Google Images/Joshua Talley This beautiful state park has plenty of family fun to offer. Take the 1/2-mile Beaver Trail for a wooded hike. Enjoy some time at the beach afterward and perhaps run into some feathered residents of the area. Bring the kids to the park at 856 VT-12, Elmore, VT 05661. Elmore State Park, 856 VT-12, Elmore, VT 05661, USA
Add some of these easy kid-friendly hikes to your list. They’re a great way to get the whole family outdoors. If you love a trail with a great pay-off, take one of these waterfall hikes in Vermont.
Google Images/Tony Bilodeau
This 253-acre state park in northwest Vermont has two easy kid-friendly trails under 1/2 mile that will take less than 30 minutes to hike. Walk the North Shore Trail or Eagle Bay Trail for a quick family outing. However, once you get on the island with the kiddos, they are going to want to explore even more of this oasis. Visit the park at 2714 Hathaway Point Rd., St Albans City, VT 05481.
Burton Island State Park, 2714 Hathaway Point Rd, St Albans City, VT 05478, USA
TripAdvisor/Erika J
Woodford State Park is located on a mountain plateau and surrounds Adams Reservoir. The Atwood Trail is a short 1/2-mile loop that is engaging for kids. Rent a boat or do some fishing to extend your visit. Find the park at 142 State Park Rd., Woodford, VT 05201.
Woodford State Park, 142 State Park Rd, Woodford, VT 05201, USA
Google Images/Marlie Fuller
Brighton State Park has three easy hikes for kids, each taking under 20 minutes. The Red Pine Trail, Shore Trail, and Logger’s Trail are fun paths for children to explore. After a walk, spend some time fishing or swimming to put a perfect end on the day. Find this gem of a park and its trails at 102 State Park Rd., Island Pond, VT 05846.
Brighton State Park, 102 State Park Rd, Island Pond, VT 05846, USA
Google Images/Wm. Josiah Erikson
The Sunset Trail at Fort Dummer State Park is a 1/2 mile trail through the woodland. A quick walk will get the kids outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Bring along a picnic and enjoy a scenic lunch in the forest. Find this park near Interstate 91 at 517 Old Guilford Rd., Guilford, VT 05301.
Fort Dummer State Park, 517 Old Guilford Rd, Guilford, VT 05301, USA
Google Images/Lesley-Anne Stormo
Take either the Burns Trail or Allen Trail for hikes that can be enjoyed in under 20 minutes. The 584-acre state park has more than just easy hikes for the young ones. Bring your suits and bask in the sun and water at the lakeside beach. Visit this treasure on Lake Champlain at 274 Raymond Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.
Niquette Bay State Park, 274 Raymond Rd, Colchester, VT 05446, USA
Google Images/Callum Rabbitt
Kids will love taking the Peninsula Trail at Waterbury Center State Park for a quick 15 minute jaunt. Located on the Waterbury Reservoir, this park also has opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating if you prefer to spend even more time outdoors. Bring the family to the park at 177 Reservoir Rd., Waterbury Center, VT 05677,
Waterbury Center State Park, 177 Reservoir Rd, Waterbury Center, VT 05677, USA
TripAdvisor/toscwolfstar
This 253-acre state park on Lake Champlain has loads of family fun. Enjoy either the Button Bay Point Trail or Dog Walk Trail for two kid-friendly hikes around Vermont that each takes just 15 minutes. Both trails run lakeside for some incredible views. Find these short-and-sweet hikes and the park at 5 Button Bay State Park, Vergennes, VT 05491.
Button Bay State Park, 5 Button Bay State Park Rd, Vergennes, VT 05491, USA
Google Images/MAD.P
The Nature Center Spur is a brief 0.20-mile hike that can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. Older children can enjoy the less than one-mile climb up to the fire tower for a more ambitious outing. Visit this little slice of paradise at 705 VT-9, Wilmington, VT 05363.
Molly Stark State Park, 705 VT-9 East, Wilmington, VT 05363, USA
Google Images/Joshua Talley
This beautiful state park has plenty of family fun to offer. Take the 1/2-mile Beaver Trail for a wooded hike. Enjoy some time at the beach afterward and perhaps run into some feathered residents of the area. Bring the kids to the park at 856 VT-12, Elmore, VT 05661.
Elmore State Park, 856 VT-12, Elmore, VT 05661, USA
And if you’ve been searching for “hiking trails near me,” then you’ll want to check out this list of scenic hikes in Vermont.
Which other easy hikes in Vermont have you done? Let us know below in the comments. We love reading about your hiking experiences in Vermont.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Vermont April 14, 2022 Luke What are the most beautiful beaches in Vermont? Some might think that Vermont only has mountains, hiking trails, and swimming holes. However, you can’t forget about its beaches. In fact, Vermont offers some wonderfully pristine and gorgeous sandy beaches for the entire family to enjoy. Check out this article about Vermont’s best beaches. For a quick summary of the article, we recommend visiting the Sandbar State Park in Milton, Leddy Park in Burlington, and Thayer Beach in Colchester to get started. All of the listed beaches are ideal to visit during the summer and fall months. What are the most scenic towns in Vermont to visit? To give an answer to this question is sure to upset some and please others due to its subjective nature. But, with that being said, here are our picks for the five most scenic towns in Vermont that you should visit: 1. Manchester; 2. Woodstock; 3. Grafton; 4. Stowe; 5. Shelburne. Of course, there are many other scenic and worthy towns to visit around the state. If you are still interested in finding more picturesque towns in Vermont, check out our list of the 17 most picturesque towns in Vermont. Let us know which ones you think are the most beautiful and which small towns you plan to visit. What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont? In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England. If we had to choose just one hiking trail in the state, our pick has to be the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail. The trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering include Mount Pisgah Trail, Camel’s Hump Trail, and Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Vermont
April 14, 2022
Luke
What are the most beautiful beaches in Vermont? Some might think that Vermont only has mountains, hiking trails, and swimming holes. However, you can’t forget about its beaches. In fact, Vermont offers some wonderfully pristine and gorgeous sandy beaches for the entire family to enjoy. Check out this article about Vermont’s best beaches. For a quick summary of the article, we recommend visiting the Sandbar State Park in Milton, Leddy Park in Burlington, and Thayer Beach in Colchester to get started. All of the listed beaches are ideal to visit during the summer and fall months. What are the most scenic towns in Vermont to visit? To give an answer to this question is sure to upset some and please others due to its subjective nature. But, with that being said, here are our picks for the five most scenic towns in Vermont that you should visit: 1. Manchester; 2. Woodstock; 3. Grafton; 4. Stowe; 5. Shelburne. Of course, there are many other scenic and worthy towns to visit around the state. If you are still interested in finding more picturesque towns in Vermont, check out our list of the 17 most picturesque towns in Vermont. Let us know which ones you think are the most beautiful and which small towns you plan to visit. What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont? In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England. If we had to choose just one hiking trail in the state, our pick has to be the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail. The trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering include Mount Pisgah Trail, Camel’s Hump Trail, and Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Some might think that Vermont only has mountains, hiking trails, and swimming holes. However, you can’t forget about its beaches. In fact, Vermont offers some wonderfully pristine and gorgeous sandy beaches for the entire family to enjoy. Check out this article about Vermont’s best beaches. For a quick summary of the article, we recommend visiting the Sandbar State Park in Milton, Leddy Park in Burlington, and Thayer Beach in Colchester to get started. All of the listed beaches are ideal to visit during the summer and fall months.
What are the most scenic towns in Vermont to visit?
To give an answer to this question is sure to upset some and please others due to its subjective nature. But, with that being said, here are our picks for the five most scenic towns in Vermont that you should visit: 1. Manchester; 2. Woodstock; 3. Grafton; 4. Stowe; 5. Shelburne.
Of course, there are many other scenic and worthy towns to visit around the state. If you are still interested in finding more picturesque towns in Vermont, check out our list of the 17 most picturesque towns in Vermont. Let us know which ones you think are the most beautiful and which small towns you plan to visit.
What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont?
In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails and nature spots in all of New England. If we had to choose just one hiking trail in the state, our pick has to be the summit hike to Mt. Mansfield’s peak, which provides some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail. The trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering include Mount Pisgah Trail, Camel’s Hump Trail, and Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy hiking!
