Hikes, Walks & Strolls
Exploring the Mad River Valley on foot is the most popular way to discover the scenic beauty of our community. Walking experiences are incredibly varied and include spectacular day hikes with sweeping views from the spine of the Green Mountains, downtown walks, scenic strolls along the river, a meander through an enchanted forest, or a challenging backpacking adventure along the Monroe Skyline on the iconic Long Trail. There are options for every age, ability and area of interest.
The Mad River Valley’s extensive trail system is a watershed-wide network created and maintained through a collaborative of trail organizations, generous property owners, local towns, the State of Vermont, the US Forest Service, and many volunteers. Our trails reflect the Mad River Valley’s love of the outdoors and commitment to stewardship of land and recreational opportunities for current and future generations.
Middlesex Town Forest
The Middlesex Town Forest has a small network of trails. You can hike up the Notch Road, a class 4 dirt track that runs for 0.7 miles one-way. For a…
Moretown Town Forest
This relatively small 2.5 mile multi-use trail system is popular among hikers and mountain bikers. The network can be accessed from either the Moretown Elementary School parking lot or from…
Little River State Park and Cotton Brook Trails
Suggested Trails in the Little River State Park Network Dalley Loop Trail The trail follows an old logging road through the forest, over small brooks, and past the remains of…
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain is located in LR Jones State Forest, the oldest State Forest in Vermont. The 2.2 mile trail to the summit of Spruce Mountain, a 3,037 foot peak, climbs…
Mount Hunger via Waterbury Trail
The Waterbury Trail is a 5 mile out and back trail that takes hikers up through C.C. Putnam State Forest to the summit of Mount Hunger. The ascent is steady…
General Stark Mountain via Stark Mountain Trail
The Stark Mountain Trail is 2.5 miles to the summit or 5 miles round trip. with a 2,036’ of vertical gain. This trail follows a wide, well established, “work road” up to…
Burnt Rock Mountain
A steep, 5.2 mile round-trip that takes you up to some of the best viewing on the Long Trail. The trail begins at the parking lot at the end of…
Wu Ledges Trails
Please note that parking at the trail head is exceedingly limited (only 2 spots). Please respect the homeowners property when parking. There are three main trails at Wu Ledges. A…
Scrag Mountain Trails
The out and back trail to the beaver pond near the summit of Scrag Mountain is 4.2 miles in length. This 750 acre forest, owned by the Town of Waitsfield,…
Blueberry Lake Trails
The Blueberry Lake trails are multi-use trails that are most popular for hiking and mountain biking. They were designated in 2013 as an International Mountain Bike Association Model Trail-Gateway network…
Boyce Town Forest Trail
A gentle 1.2 mile round trip hike where you will hike up an old road through alpine meadow to gentle peak with 270-degree view. Can see Mad River Glen, Mt.…
Mad River Path – Warren Path, Vista Trail and Interpretive Trail
A network of easy to advanced trails through forests studded with rock outcrops and boulders. The Warren Path & Interpretive Trail provide recreation hiking opportunities starting at Brooks Field. Warren…
Mad River Path – Yestermorrow Path
A short path that winds along the edge of a beautiful meadow and through the Yestermorrow Building and Design School campus. This 1/3 mile mostly grassed section connects the Kingsbury…
Mad River Path – Mill Brook Trail
A hiking trail through many types of forests with connections to other trail systems. The Mill Brook Trail is a hiking oriented section of the network with sometimes steep, rocky,…
Mad River Path – Austin Walk
A short walk in the riparian zone of the Mad River along with access to the Lareau Swimming Hole. Austin Walk starts at the north end of the parking lot and…
Mad River Path – Fiddler’s Walk
A short walk connecting Irasville Common to the banks of the Mad River. This moderate trail connects Irasville Common to Fiddler’s Green along the Mad River. It passes by the Irasvile…
Mad River Path – Hosford’s Heart of the Valley Trail
A pathway that connects the historic Waitsfield Village to the towns commercial center and provides access to the Mad River. The Hosford Heart of the Valley Trail, named after community…
Mad River Path – Wait’s Way
A flat and easy.5 mile ou and back path. Wait’s Way tucks behind the elementary school and along the river to the north of the General Wait House. It is a…
Mad River Path – Spaulding Greenway
This 1-mile section of the Mad River Path network is flat and easy and offers mountain views. The Spaulding Greenway follows the outside edge of an active farm field and along…
Mad River Path – Kingsbury Farm Path
Kingsbury Farm Path – The Kingsbury Farm Path heads north and is an easy 1 mile trail (out and back) traveling between a riparian buffer and farm fields to its terminus…
Blueberry Lake Recreation Trails
Recreational trails ideal for non-motorized recreation. Good for beginner and intermediate levels. Add the element of speed and experts will thoroughly enjoy these trails. Access by the dam at Blueberry…
Long Trail: Mt. Abraham via Battell Trail
Challenging, 5.8 miles out and back, elevation gain 2500’ One of Vermont’s five 4,000’ mountains, the rocky summit of Mount Abraham offers 360 degree panoramic views of the White Mountains,…
Waitsfield Country Roads Loop
Moderate, 5 mile loop, elevation gain 500’ (paved and dirt roads) This walk offers beautiful views of the Green Mountains across the valley. Along Common Rd, notice the Skinner Barn,…
Sunset Ledge
(Download Printable Hike Description PDF) Easy/moderate 2.2 miles out and back, elevation gain 400’ Sunset Ledge is a favorite, family-friendly destination. As the name implies, this short hike is well…
Mad River Path – West Greenway Path
The West Greenway is an easy 2.3 mile (out and back) trail. It is a charming path along the Mad River with beautiful vistas of the mountains and farm fields.…
Burnt Rock Mountain
A steep, 5.2 mile round-trip snowshoe that takes you up to some of the best viewing on the Long Trail. The trail begins at the parking lot at the end…
Dana Forest Trail
The Valley’s own “Enchanted Forest” beckons. So-called because of the hauntingly beautiful stand of pines about halfway along the trail, the Dana Forest Trail traverses a piece of Camel’s Hump…
Phen Basin Trail
The trail begins at the Battleground Condominiums. It is about 4 miles out and back but can be made longer by connecting to the Catamount Trail which then crosses the…
Hemlock Hill Trail
A new trail in the Phen Basin Wilderness, it was a former logging road and is now acknowledged by the state of Vermont as a public hiking/showshoeing trail. As the…
Long Trail: Gap to Gap (Monroe Skyline)
A full day, or overnight, and 11.6 miles along the Long Trail will take you to the Summit of Mount Abraham, across the top of Lincoln Peak, Mount Ellen, and…
The Warren Path
(Download Printable PDF of Hike) Moderate, 2 miles out and back, elevation gain 420’ The trails feature easy grades in a beautiful mixed hardwood forest, then some more challenging steep…
Mad River Path – Kingsbury Greenway
Kingsbury Greenway – The greenway is an easy/intermediate 2.5 mile round trip path heading north along the river. From its southern terminus at the Riverside Conservation Area, the path crosses…
Bragg Hill Road Walk
Moderate, 4 mile loop, elevation gain 850’ (paved and dirt roads) Bragg Hill Road has few panoramic rivals in the Valley. The mountains are so close, you can almost touch…
Fuller Hill – Warren Village
A 7.5 mile road-walk loop that starts in Warren Village. Trek up the Freeman Road, locally known as the Dump Road. Continue walking east as the road becomes Airport Road.…
West Hill Loop
This 5-mile loop will take you on a ramble through back-country roads with good views along the way. Park in Warren Village, cross Rt. 100, and start up the steep…
Long Trail: Sunset Ledge
The Sunset Rock hike is relatively short hike that quickly takes the participant to absolutely spectacular views of the Valley and the Adirondack Mountain Range from an elevation of over…
Camel’s Hump via Monroe Trail (Duxbury)
This challenging and spectacular 7.4 mile round-trip hike takes you above the trees to the 4,083′ summit of Vermont’s highest undeveloped peak. You hike through birch, beech, and maple forest…
Camel’s Hump from Huntington
A lesser-used 5.6 mile round-trip loop trail to the summit of Camel’s Hump approaches the mountain from the west. The Forest City Trail begins at a road junction east of…
Long Trail: Stark Mountain and Mount Ellen
A 9.3 mile out and back hike through forest across the top of Mad River Glen to the summit of General Stark Mountain and then on to the summit of…
Long Trail: Molly Stark’s Balcony
A 2.4 mile round-trip hike that gains over 500′ of elevation to a unique lookout. From Rt. 17 you hike north on the Long Trail, which climbs steeply, passes a…
Mad River Path – Mad River Park
Recreational fields with a 0.5 mile walking and running path, picnic area and memorial benches for the public to use and enjoy. Formerly a quarry and an airfield for small…
Long Trail: Lincoln Gap to Mt. Abraham
The Lincoln Gap to Mt.Abraham portion of the Long Trail is a challenging hike to one of the most impressive summits in New England. At over 4000 feet you have…
Mad River Glen
Mad River Glen is a ski area like no other. It’s a place where skiing is still a sport, not an industry. A place where skiing remains an outdoor adventure…
Hikes, Walks & Strolls in the MRV
Capital District Excursion
Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, 4403 Main St, Waitsfield Vermont 18024963409Directions & Details