Great Family Hikes in Stowe, Vermont

Hiking with the kiddos is one of our favorite ways to spend quality time together. Stowe offers an abundance of family-friendly hiking options.

“There’s no Wifi in the forest but you’ll find a better connection.”

Here are a few of our favorites and why we like them:

Moss Glen Falls (1 mile, 45 minutes)

From the historic village, take Route 100 North 3 miles to Randolph Road on the right. The first road on the right is Moss Glen Falls Road. Proceed 0.6 miles to a small parking area on the left. Follow the trail signs. This is a short, scenic hike to a spectacular waterfall. The trail is not well marked, but the route is obvious by following the brook upstream to the falls. Be careful at the falls. Loose debris at the edge of the trail can be slippery and dangerous. The view is spectacular.

Sunset Rock (1 mile, <1 hour)

From the historic village, take Sunset Street to the end. The trail starts to the left of the road. For a shorter climb, from the village take School Street for about 0.4  miles. Bear left onto Taber Hill Road and continue about 800’ to the parking lot on the left. Pretty place to sit and catch the sunset over town and the mountain.

Sterling Pond (2 miles, 2 hours)

From the historic Stowe Village, take Route 108 North 9.7 miles to the top of the Smuggler’s Notch and park on the left in the parking area. The trail starts across the road and is a great hike on a well-maintained trail, including some rocky stairs. At the top, you’ll reach Vermont’s highest elevation pond and some truly beautiful views.

Pinnacle (3.6 miles, 2.5 hours)

From the historic village, take School Street for 0.3 miles. Bear right at the fork onto Stowe Hollow Road for 1.6 miles, continuing straight onto Upper Hollow Road for 0.6  miles. The parking lot is on the left. The Pinnacle Trail is wooded with a short, steady climb to a rocky summit with views of Camel’s Hump, Mt.Mansfield, the Worcester Range and the Sterling Range.

Lake Mansfield Trail (3.2 miles, 2.5 hours)

From the historic village, take Route 100 South about 2.5 miles. Turn right onto Moscow Road. Continue for 2.0  miles bearing right onto Nebraska Valley Road to the Lake Mansfield Trout Club. At the trailhead, there is a great view of a large glacial cirque (a rounded, scooped-out valley). The trail meets the Long Trail at Taylor Lodge. Taylor Lodge has an open porch with picnic tables and an enclosed bunk room. This is a great family hike with good views along the trail, beaver dams, and a waterfall. Be sure to pack a picnic to enjoy on the porch!

Barnes Camp Loop

This new loop has become an instant favorite since it’s relocation was completed last spring. From Stowe village, take Route 100 North approximately 9 miles. Park at the lot at Barnes Camp. Enter the new accessible boardwalk at the end of the short-term parking area. After a few hundred feet of up-close wetland views and possible beaver sightings, the path leads off the boardwalk onto brand new single track trail. Soon, the white-blazed Long Trail will split off to the left, but the loop hiker will continue forward on new, blue-blazed trail. A junction appears shortly for the Smugglers’ Notch Picnic Area, but the loop hiker will stay right and descend to the Little River’s West Branch. After fording this stream (or rock-hopping during low-water), the hiker will climb steeply, 400 feet in a quarter mile, to another junction with the Long Trail. Taking a right again, the hiker descends gradually back to Barnes Camp, completing the loop.

It is important to all of us at Yellow Turtle that these beautiful Vermont hikes are here for many generations to come. That is why we have joined forces with our favorite brand, Patagonia, in donating a percentage of our online sales to 1% For the Planet.org, a group of businesses and individuals making a 1% for the Planet environmental commitment. Their mission is to help bring dollars and doers together to accelerate smart environmental giving.

For more information visit Patagonia's website 1% For the Planet