Northern Vermont is home to some of the state's most diverse and scenic landscapes, comprising miles of often overlooked and easily explorable destinations throughout the region, from lush lakes to quaint towns, outdoor recreational hubs to top-tier paddling sanctuaries. This personalized list of hidden gems in Northern Vermont has been thoughtfully curated to fulfill the essence of our state's distinctive spirit while keeping outdoor adventure and recreation at the forefront. It would be a disservice to withhold such sacred information in such a unique space!

1. Big Falls State Park

Starting our hidden gems in Northern Vermont tour, que, Troy, Vermont, a small town at the base of the Jay wilderness where you’ll uncover perhaps the most impressive waterfall in our northern sector of the state. Big Falls. The Falls and state park is located along the northern section of the Missisquoi River, mere miles before spilling over the Canadian border. Big Falls State Park can be accessed via River Rd from North Troy and Troy, Vermont, from its north and southern road entrances. The impressive 30-foot falls rush between the depths of alpine crag cliffs, carving through the narrow walls below. The fall’s force will be felt as you approach the waterways headwalls and surrounding scrambles.

Just a 50-yard walk from the parking area, views of Big Falls can be accessed above via a towering vista platform or up close and personal amongst the rock scrambles below. Big Falls State Park can be enjoyed year-round with ample room to lounge, hike, swim, and roam around 2,400 feet of explorable forested area. While no park headquarters exist, primitive camping is permitted on park grounds while remaining cautious of the hazardous rocky terrain and surrounding waterways. As always, please be courteous to the surrounding wildlife area while following the general outdoor park regulations and safety protocols.

2. Lake Willoughby

To truly encapsulate Northern Vermont’s magnificence, a trip to Lake Willoughby and its surrounding wilderness are quintessential grounds for exploration. With an immense system of hiking trails, public beaches, picnicking areas, and accessible waterways, each marvelously centered around the park’s focal point, Willoughby Lake. The glacial lake system showcases interior Vermont’s deepest waterway bottoming out well over 300′. Nestled between two impressive peaks, each jutting out of the lake’s depths, generously providing picturesque views both shoreside and from its surrounding peaks above. The two adjacent summits, “Mt. Pisgah” to its east and “Mt. Hor” to its west, regally overlook the shores of the lake below. Each summit is easily accessible year-round for hiking, backcountry skiing, and general outdoor recreational purposes. The lake is freely accessible via public waterfront shorelines from its north or south sides.

North Beach offers a long stretch of sandy shoreline to walk, swim, and picnic, the closest you’ll get to a beachfront experience in the state’s northern region. The lake’s southern shore is accessible via a newly constructed public parking area while showcasing two smaller beach areas that are each unique in their own sense. For the more liberating crowd looking to strip away the days’ layers, the southwest cove is home to one of the state’s only nude “beaches.” The smaller of the two southern shorelines is a thin stretch of sandy beach directly accessible from the road and is an optimal place to set out on a day’s paddle. Access to daily kayak, canoe, and paddle board rentals are readily accommodated by the “White Caps Campground” and “Country Store” directly behind the south sides public beach way!

3. Greensboro

Greensboro is a small town in northern Vermont nestled in an area greatly inspired by outdoor recreation and quality vacationing experiences that offers everything from hiking, biking, xc skiing, and paddling to craft breweries, eccentric lodges, and hilltop views around each bend! The town’s focal point and aquatic hub, locally coined “Vermont’s most peaceful lake,” is Caspian Lake, with its pristine waters reaching depths of just over 140′ with well over 700 acres of open water to explore. Just steps away from the town center and on the lake’s south side, you can freely access the waterway; via Caspian Lakes public beach and boat launch with facilities afoot. 

Greensboro and its surrounding area are perfect for outdoor lovers who want to be immersed in Vermont’s natural setting. Just a few turns out of town, down into Greensboro Bend, you will have access to Vermont’s longest bike path in, “The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail” (LVRT) that stretches from St.Johnsbury to its south, reaching all the way to the northwestern town of Swanton, Vermont. The “LVRT” runs 93 miles across the state’s northern section through some of Vermont’s most idealistic towns, eventually passing through Greensboro, making this a great centralized location to access the pathway! With top-notch breweries such as “Hillfarmstead” a short drive away and one of the state’s most authentic lodging resorts, two turns out of town, Greensboro and its surroundings are amongst the top of our hidden gems in Northern Vermont list!

3.5 Highland Lodge

On Greensboro’s town edge awaits Highland Lodge, a charming facility with several delectable vacation options ranging from exemplary hotel rooms to private cabins, a public restaurant/ bar, and a lounge area to wine, dine and replenish after a day’s explorations. The friendly staff will welcome and guide you toward your trip’s desires while informing you of the area’s hot spots and can’t-miss events and activities throughout the seasons! The lodge has private lakefront access with several vessels and amenities for patrons to enjoy a summer’s day on Caspian Lake. Throughout the warmer months, Highland Lodge hosts weekly pop-up events welcoming locals and vacationers to enjoy variously themed events, such as their infamous “Margarita Mondays,” where local food trucks pair their Mexican-inspired cuisine with Highland’s carefully catered beverage list to create a culmination of food, fun, and entertainment for folks throughout the summer! To learn more about Highland Lodge and their lineup of events click here!

4. Craftsbury/ Craftsbury Outdoor Center

Down the road from Greensboro and Highland Lodge is Craftsbury, Vermont. The town of less than two thousand is heavily influenced by its outdoor recreation area, the “Craftsbury outdoor center” and neighboring “Sterling College” where environmental sustainability is each space’s focal point. The outdoor center boasts over 60 trails dedicated to outdoor recreation, including pathways for xc-skiing, biking, trail running, and more! From challenging single-track to mellow flow trails, each corresponding to xc-ski trails come wintertime, ensuring a heart-pumping day in the woods well throughout the seasons! The recreation area “centers” around “Great Hosmer Lake,” where paddling is a priority; the facilities provide a plethora of aquatic vessels to ensure a safe and enjoyable day on the water, from paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes at the ready! Access to the trail/waterways is free for local folks; at the same time, day, week, and annual passes are available to the public for purchase. For more info on the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and to learn more about their facilities, check out their website!

5. Hazen’s Notch/ Route 58

Hazen’s Notch is a scenic pass running between Sugarloaf Mountain to the north and Haystack Mountain to its south, dividing the northern section of the Green Mountains, connecting Lowell, Vermont, to Montgomery during the warmer months of the year while following along the western section of route 58. Route 58 is a 30-mile scenic byway that starts in Montgomery, passing through the narrows of Hazen’s Notch, eventually leading up to its terminus at junction 5A near Lake Willoughby. The roadway provides an incredible hour-long drive through some of Vermont’s most picturesque landscapes, crossing through densely forested areas while winding in and out of small towns as you traverse the state’s northern region. The notch road closes for the winter as its rugged, steep, winding roadway is challenging to maintain and unsafe to pass throughout the snowy season.

Hazen’s Notch and its surroundings are beautiful terrains to explore, with its peaks offering ample avenues for adventure in the form of hiking, biking, and leisurely drives through the narrow notch way. The “Long Trail” (Vermont’s hiking path that traverses the spine of the green mountains from north to south) splits directly through Hazen’s Notch allowing hikers to explore the mountains through accessible parking areas and trail access on either side of the road. To the north, via the Long Trail, access to Sugarloaf Mountain is just a mile hike from the road and less than a half mile from Hazen’s Notch Camp. For folks planning a longer journey northbound while passing along the northern traverse, this 7-mile section will carry you along a stretch of summits approaching the Jay Range. Along this final stretch of the Long Trail, you will be pointed toward the northern exodus of the thruway, eventually passing by Jay Peak and all of its areas offerings.

To the south via the Long Trail, the low-trafficked 3.5-mile out-and-back hike up Haystack Mountain awaits, granting you access to views of the northern Green Mountains and its surrounding vistas. Along the southern section, you will be welcomed by a network of camps, ridge runs, and viewpoints on your way to the state’s highest summit, Mt. Mansfield. Either direction, the notch is the perfect medium to start your journey and a great home base to set out on any day of exploration. Looking to spend the night in the notch area? The Hazen’s Notch Campground on Lowell, Vermont’s side of the pass, is publicly available for campers. A great place to call home base and hitch up for the night to continue exploring the delectable area.

6. Mt Belvedere

Further south, between Hazen’s Notch and Mt. Mansfield, you will stumble upon Mt. Belvedere and the area’s glory. Belvedere Mountain sits at 3,340 feet, and atop its summit, you can climb to the top of a 50-foot fire tower to view the surrounding peaks and beyond. With spectacular views of the northern Green Mountains and its neighboring Cold Hollow Range, alongside glimpses into the bordering regions, Mt. Belvedere is undoubtedly a gem amongst its peers of northern peaks. The summit is accessible from hiking trails on both its north and south faces via the “Frank Post Trail” off “Tillotson Rd” or on the south side’s more accessible “Eden’s Crossing Long Trail Parking Lot” on route 118 between the towns of Belvedere and Eden.

Mt Belvedere can be easily identified by its prominently exposed eastern aspect; once, an active asbestos mine formed-forbidden scar in the guts of the mountainside. This section is off-limits to explore by foot, but visible roadside and even easier to spot from afar. The base’s south-side is a unique area to explore, with a mellow walk through the woods to further explore Belvedere’s ground floor and into the depths of “Devil’s Gulch.” The Gulch is a section of the Long Trail where massive boulders pile atop each other, scattered and scrambled, forming a wayward labyrinth in the den of Belvedere’s base, a rare spectacle seen along the small sector of the trail and well worth the 2-mile downward descent from the route 118 trailhead. With various ponds scattered around the Belvedere wilderness, there are plenty of spots to cool off after an afternoon spent venturing through the terrain!

7. Green River Reservoir

Continuing south, off the “Long Trail” and deeper into the forest, you will find one of Northern Vermont’s finest paddling retreats. Green River Reservoir. The reservoir is home to one of Vermont’s most extended and undeveloped shorelines, a vast 19 miles worth, comprising boat-accessible islands, fingers, swimming zones, and 27 remote camp spots scattered throughout the 653 acres of navigable waters. The mountain views (Mt. Belvedere to the north) and heavily forested/ underdeveloped surroundings create a wild yet tranquil feel, perfectly complementing each other as you cross the waterways.

In the center of the reservoir, this aquatic retreat’s focal point and overarching theme are “loon” and “picnic” islands. “Picnic Island” is, as advertised, a centrally located island, accessed only by paddling, in an optimal location to dock up and snack before carrying on with the day’s adventures. “Loon Island,” on the other hand, is off-limits to the public as it acts as a nesting zone for the lake’s revered mascot, the northern loon. Each way you paddle, you’re accompanied by this aquatic bird and its fellow nest mates, with their chatter enhancing the ambiance throughout the day and well into its evening chorus, composedly lulling campers to sleep. The paddling experience is even more profound on a calm summer evening. On these select nights, the stars will illuminate the water’s surface, reflecting like a mirror in the night; while unmistakenly overhearing the loons’ chatter echo off the water as if they’re inviting you into their evening affairs, an incredible phenomenon each paddling enthusiast must witness that is granted regularly on the shores of Green River Reservoir.

Each of the reservoirs’ 27 camp spots is accessible via paddle boat, with some sites upwards of a 2-mile paddle from the launch point. Camping on-premise must be reserved before setting off, and the park does not provide access to any watercraft or safety equipment. Be sure to check out the area’s site availability, safety protocols, and regulations here.

8. Jay Peak Area

The Jay Peak Wilderness and resort area offers various explorable spaces, from wintertime skiing, year-round hiking, beautiful vistas points, and standard resort amenities. You’ll surely find a nook worth exploring in the Jay Peak area. The resort area consists of hotels, restaurants, general stores, and ski lifts. But behind the ordinary lies features only found in Jay’s neck of the woods. The ski resort features the state of Vermont’s lone aerial tramway, connecting guests from its base area to the summit of the mountain that reaches just shy of 4,000′, overlooking the northernmost section of the state.

On the clearest of days, views from Jay span north to our Canadian neighbors, with the all-elusive sighting of Quebec’s metropolis, Montreal. To the south, stunning views of New England’s most endowed peak, Mt. Washington, and Vermont’s most significant, Mt. Mansfield, are an eyeshot away, towering over its surrounding cast of presidential peaks. To the east and a seeming stone’s throw away, Newport’s Lake Memphermagog sits in the nearby valley, sharing most of its waters with our northern neighbors in Quebec. And for dawn patrollers, the sun’s daily emergence is best enjoyed as it breaches over the horizon of the eastern hills each morning, shedding 360 degrees of light on the kingdom.

Jay’s western sights sit in some of our best regards. The views span well into New York’s Northern Adirondack Mountains, skipping over shore shots of the state’s water barrier, Lake Champlain, and regularly peering over at fellow ski resort White Face, New York, as the sun passes between peaks in a sunset seance. The views you’ll encounter are part of Jay Peak’s benefits package, as exploration, adventure, and entertainment will be encountered around each corner and crevasse. With frequent events at the resort and within the surrounding townships, you’ll be sure to stay entertained as the seasons progress! Click here to stay updated with what’s happening in the Jay area.

9. Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails

Forty-five minutes south of Jay and just past Willoughby’s gap, you’ll enter one of the most overlooked hidden gems in Northern Vermont. Burke, Vermont, USA. A fellow ski resort and once small sibling to Jay Peak, Burke Mountain, and its surrounding areas often get overlooked compared to its northern counterpart. Burke is a small ski resort stacked up against Vermont’s top dogs, but what it lacks in volume gains in character. The slow-paced ski town boasts one of the country’s top downhill ski racing schools “Burke Mountain Academy,” producing world-class skiers and a household name, olympian, and highly decorated in the racing community Mikaela Shiffrin. The resort prides itself in flying under the radar as it is unlikely to suffer the typical issues most ski resorts possess; the all-dreaded lift lines. Spending more time on the slopes and less on standby, boosting morale and spreading stoke!

While Burke is traditionally tranquil in winter, the small town comes alive in summer. The Burke Mountain Bike Park, in conjunction with the renowned “Kingdom Trails,” is an east coast mountain biking mecca. With Burke Mountain hosting lift access to 12 downhill trails and a pedal-fueled approach to 10 cross-country pathways with more sections often added, there is a path for everyone with options for riders across all skill levels. Kingdom Trails, on the other hand, is the bridge that connects the two trail networks and has inspired growth in the mountain biking community over the last 25 years. Kingdom Trails is a mountain bike trail system throughout Burke, connecting trailways on and off Burke Mountain Resort. The network has reached over 100 miles of double-track, single-track, and Nordic ski trails throughout the surrounding area, developed and maintained by private landowners and volunteers since its establishment in 1994. Find your thrill year-round at Kingdom Trails and learn more about what makes it one of the nation’s premier trail networks!

Hidden Gems in Northern Vermont | Final Thoughts:

Whether you’re looking to enjoy a peaceful day of paddling, world-class adrenaline-filled fun, or just an afternoon spent frolicking in the woods, this thoughtfully created list of hidden gems in Northern Vermont will have you well on your way to enjoying a weekend getaway in our corner of the state! Are there any other places we missed, or spots you think are worth sharing in Northern Vermont? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations! Until next time, get out there and explore the area; the local way!