North Country National Scenic Trail (VT)

The North Country National Scenic Trail Vermont segment is a 69-mile (111 km) point-to-point route crossing the Lake Champlain lowlands and the Green Mountains, accumulating roughly 2,700 m of elevation gain over 5–7 hiking days. Rated moderate to strenuous, it threads pastoral farmland, mature hardwood forest, and mountain terrain before joining the Appalachian Trail at Maine Junction in the Green Mountain National Forest.

About the North Country National Scenic Trail (VT)

The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest National Scenic Trail in the United States, stretching 4,800 miles (7,700 km) across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont. The Vermont segment — the trail's eastern terminus — covers 69 miles (111 km) and was the final link in the chain, completed in 2021 following congressional authorisation under the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation Act of 2019.

The Vermont section begins at Chimney Point State Historic Site on the Lake Champlain shoreline, reached via a half-mile bridge from Crown Point, New York. From there the trail moves inland across agricultural fields and quiet back roads before climbing into the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area — 20,000 acres of managed forest on the western slopes of the Green Mountains — and finally ascending to join the Long Trail for its last 23 miles to Maine Junction near Willard Gap. At that junction, the North Country Trail (NCT) meets the Appalachian Trail (AT), linking two of America's great long-distance footpaths.

The trail is jointly overseen by the National Park Service and the North Country Trail Association, which coordinates more than 10,000 volunteers who maintain the route across all eight states. In Vermont, trail surfaces on the forest sections are generally well-maintained, though roughly 25% of the route follows paved and gravel roads through farmland. That character mix — pastoral openness alternating with genuine backcountry — defines the Vermont experience and sets it apart from purely wilderness trails.

Hikers planning a Vermont thru-hike typically allow 5–7 days at a daily pace of 10–14 miles (16–22 km). The terrain is most demanding in the Green Mountain National Forest section, where the Long Trail overlay involves sustained climbing on rooted, rocky ground. Day-hikers and section-hikers are equally welcome, and frequent road crossings make it straightforward to break the route into manageable chunks without logistical complexity.

Route Overview & Stages

The Vermont segment divides naturally into four stages based on terrain type, road access, and available camping. Distances and elevation figures are cumulative for each stage.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Chimney Point State Historic Site — The Vermont trailhead sits at this 18th-century landmark on the Lake Champlain shore, where a small museum documents 3,500 years of human history at the crossing. The site is a fitting starting point that frames why this corridor has drawn travellers for millennia.
• Crown Point–Chimney Point Bridge — The half-mile (0.8 km) span linking New York to Vermont carries trail traffic and everyday vehicles alike. Walking it at dawn with the Adirondacks behind you and the Green Mountains ahead is one of the trail's signature moments.
• Snake Mountain — At 1,287 feet (392 m), this isolated summit delivers a disproportionately wide panorama of the Champlain Valley and Adirondack peaks. A short spur from the NCT leads to the top, which once hosted a Victorian hotel.
• Lake Dunmore — A glacially formed lake within the Moosalamoo NRA, ringed by state forest and a sandy beach at Branbury State Park. It is the main mid-route rest point and swim stop, with vehicle-accessible camping nearby.
• Silver Lake (Green Mountain NF) — Sitting at 1,080 feet (329 m), this backcountry lake is reached via the Silver Lake Trail and offers designated free camping. Loons call at dusk. Most section-hikers name it the highlight of Stage 3.
• Texas Falls — The Green Mountain National Forest's most-photographed waterfall cascades through sculpted pothole gorges just off VT-125. A 15-minute detour from the NCT route, it remains powerful through early summer as snowmelt feeds the flow.
• Robert Frost Country — The trail passes near Ripton, Vermont, where Robert Frost spent 23 summers at the Bread Loaf Campus. The adjacent Robert Frost Interpretive Trail (1.2 miles / 2 km) uses his poems as trail markers — a memorable cultural pause before the final mountain push.
• Maine Junction — The eastern terminus of the entire 4,800-mile NCT, where it meets the Appalachian Trail at Willard Gap in Green Mountain National Forest. A carved wooden signpost marks the confluence of two great American footpaths — a worthy end-point photograph.

Best Time to Hike the North Country National Scenic Trail (VT)

The Vermont hiking season runs from mid-May through mid-October. Trail conditions, weather, and insect pressure vary considerably across that window, so timing matters more than on lower-elevation routes.

June and July offer up to 15.5 hours of daylight, wildflowers on the forest floor, and reliable water at streams throughout the route. The drawback is black fly season, which peaks from late May through late June — experienced hikers carry a head net. July temperatures average 75–82°F (24–28°C) in the lowlands, comfortable for forest walking but warm under full sun on exposed farm sections.

August is Vermont's driest month on average, with lower insect pressure and warm nights. Trail surfaces are firm and forest shade keeps temperatures manageable. Streams run lower by late August, so carry extra water capacity through the Moosalamoo section between resupply points.

September is the single best month to hike the Vermont NCT. Average highs of 65–72°F (18–22°C), near-zero bug pressure, stable high-pressure weather patterns, and the opening of foliage colour — peak typically arrives 25 September through 10 October — combine to create near-ideal conditions. Nights cool to 45–55°F (7–13°C), comfortable sleeping weather without heavy cold-weather kit.

October opens with spectacular colour in the hardwood forest, with maples flaming orange and red on the Green Mountain slopes. Cold fronts arrive fast, however. By mid-October, overnight temperatures regularly drop below freezing above 2,000 feet (610 m), requiring a sleeping bag rated to at least -5°C. Snow is possible from early November onward.

As of 2026, the North Country Trail Association updates a trail-conditions board weekly during the hiking season — it is the most reliable source for real-time mud and blowdown reports on the Vermont segment before you commit to dates.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The Vermont NCT is fundamentally a backpacking route, and the Green Mountain National Forest allows dispersed camping at no cost, with a minimum 200-foot (60 m) setback from water sources and trail corridors. Designated sites include Silver Lake (free, first-come first-served) and several backcountry tent pads along the Long Trail overlap. Expect those pads to fill with AT thru-hikers on peak-season weekends.

For hostel-style accommodation, the Long Trail Lodge near Sherburne Pass charges approximately $35–60 per bunk night (roughly €32–55). In Middlebury — the main town nearest the Moosalamoo section — budget motels start around $80 per night (€74). The Bread Loaf Inn near Ripton operates as a literary retreat with limited hiker accommodation at approximately $120 per night (€110); reserve well in advance for September.

Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore has tent sites for $18–28 per night (€17–26) with hot showers — a welcome mid-route luxury. The park is open mid-May through mid-October.

Getting There & Back

The western trailhead at Chimney Point is most conveniently reached from Burlington, Vermont. Burlington International Airport (BTV) is 55 miles (89 km) north of Chimney Point; the drive takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. No direct bus serves Chimney Point, so a car rental or rideshare from Burlington is the standard approach.

The eastern terminus at Maine Junction lies near Middlebury. The Amtrak Vermonter calls at Middlebury seasonally (May–October), with connections from New York Penn Station in approximately 7 hours or Washington D.C. in about 10 hours. From Middlebury station, the Willard Gap trailhead access is a 20-minute taxi ride (around $25 / €23). Vermont's rural road network has no rideshare coverage outside Burlington, so arrange shuttles in advance. Many hikers use the informal shuttle board on the North Country Trail Association's online community to coordinate a car drop between trailheads.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike the Vermont NCT. Dispersed camping in Green Mountain National Forest is free and permit-free under Leave No Trace rules, with the 200-foot setback from water required. Branbury State Park charges a day-use fee of $4 per person (€3.70); camping fees are additional as listed above. Chimney Point State Historic Site charges $5 admission (€4.60) for the museum, though the trailhead itself is accessible at no cost. Pack out all waste — trail stewardship on this route depends entirely on hiker compliance.

Gear & Packing List

The Vermont NCT's mix of hard road walking and rugged mountain terrain calls for a versatile setup. Footwear that handles both pavement and wet, rooted forest trail is essential — a mid-height waterproof boot or reinforced trail runner works across all four stages. The Long Trail section demands good ankle support on rocky, root-crossed ground.

For a 5–7 day trip, pack capacity in the 45–65 L range suits most hikers. The Osprey Aether 65 is a dependable choice for those carrying a bear canister and camp kitchen; the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 balances capacity and carry comfort for a moderate base weight. Ultralight hikers keeping base weight under 5 kg should look at the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider, whose Dyneema Composite Fabric shell handles Vermont's unpredictable rain well without the weight penalty of coated nylon.

Essential items beyond the standard Ten Essentials:

• Head net — mandatory in June, strongly recommended through July
• Trekking poles — the rooted Long Trail terrain rewards them on descents
• Water filter — streams are plentiful, but beaver activity is common; treat all sources
• Sleeping bag rated to -5°C — nights drop sharply in September and October at elevation
• Rain layer — Vermont weather changes fast regardless of forecast; carry one every day

Resupply is straightforward: Middlebury has full grocery options, and the Bread Loaf Campus in Ripton accepts mail drops. At trail effort levels across this terrain, expect to burn 3,500–4,500 kcal per day — our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day explains how to dial in your food weight for a multi-day route. For those reconsidering their pack setup before departure, the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 covers the latest options tested under real trail conditions.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Vermont NCT appeals — long-distance walking, mixed terrain, and genuine scenery without heavy crowds — these US trails offer a similar spirit at varying lengths and settings. The Panorama Trail delivers concentrated scenery in an accessible day-hike format. For dramatic canyon environments with vertical relief, the South Kaibab Trail and North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon offer an entirely different scale of landscape. The Clouds Rest Trail in Yosemite provides above-treeline exposure with sweeping valley views, while Hidden Canyon adds technical interest to a shorter, half-day format.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Vermont section of the North Country Trail?
September is the optimal month: temperatures average 65–72°F (18–22°C), insects have largely cleared, and early foliage colour begins to light up the hardwood ridges. Trails are dry and firm after Vermont's low-rain August. June and August are solid alternatives — June brings long daylight hours, while August offers the driest conditions overall, though insect pressure lingers into mid-July.

How difficult is the Vermont NCT?
The route ranges from easy on the paved and gravel road sections through the Champlain Valley to strenuous on the Long Trail overlap in Green Mountain National Forest. Overall difficulty is moderate for fit hikers with some backpacking experience. The 23-mile Long Trail segment from Ripton to Maine Junction presents the most sustained climbing, with rocky, rooted terrain that significantly slows pace compared to the open farmland sections.

How many miles per day should I plan for?
Most hikers cover 10–14 miles (16–22 km) per day, completing the 69-mile Vermont route in 5–7 days. Road sections allow faster progress — 14–16 miles per day is achievable — while the Moosalamoo and Long Trail stages are better planned at 10–12 miles per day. Build in an extra half-day if you want to make a side trip to Texas Falls or climb Snake Mountain.

What accommodation is available along the trail?
Free dispersed camping is available throughout Green Mountain National Forest, with designated tent pads at Silver Lake. Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore offers established camping with hot showers for $18–28 per night (€17–26). Hostel and motel accommodation is available in Middlebury, the main service town near Stage 3, with budget beds from around $35 / €32 per night. Book ahead for September and early-October foliage weekends, which fill months in advance.

Do I need a permit to hike the Vermont NCT?
No permit is required for day-hiking or backpacking the Vermont segment. Camping in the Green Mountain National Forest is free and permit-free under Leave No Trace rules. Branbury State Park charges a small day-use fee of $4 / €3.70 per person. The only fee-gated attraction on the route is the Chimney Point museum at $5 / €4.60 admission — the trailhead itself is freely accessible at any time.