Northern Vermont
Vermont’s northernmost region reveals the state’s greatest contrasts. To the west, Burlington and its suburbs have grown so rapidly that rural wags now say that Burlington’s greatest advantage is that it’s “close to Vermont.” The north country also harbors Vermont’s tiny capital, Montpelier, and its highest mountain, Mt. Mansfield, site of the famous Stowe ski resort. To the northeast of Montpelier is a sparsely populated and heavily wooded territory that former Senator George Aiken dubbed the “Northeast Kingdom.”
via Northern Vermont Travel Guide – USATODAY.
2026 Update:
Northern Vermont: The Rugged Spine (The “Long Trail” Counties)
North of Rutland, the counties contain the Green Mountains but not the Appalachian Trail. This region is wilder, the valleys are deeper, and the peaks are more iconic.
Addison County
Addison County presents a dramatic contrast: the flat, agricultural expanse of the Champlain Valley (the “Land of Milk and Honey”) abruptly hits the steep western wall of the Green Mountains.
The Presidential Range of Vermont
This section of the Long Trail includes a high ridge of peaks over 4,000 feet.
- Mount Abraham (4,017 ft): Located in Lincoln, this peak features a bare, alpine zone summit—one of only a few in the state. The view is 360 degrees. The Battell Trail is a popular access route.
- Mount Ellen (4,083 ft): The third-highest peak in the state. While hosted by Sugarbush Resort, the ridge line remains wild.
- Bread Loaf Mountain: A massive, loaf-shaped mountain that anchors the Bread Loaf Wilderness (25,000 acres), the largest wilderness area in Vermont. It is a dense, black bear habitat.
The Gaps: Gateways to the East
East-west travel in Addison County is dictated by “Gaps”—mountain passes that are often closed in winter or challenging to drive.
- Middlebury Gap (Route 125): Passes the famous Bread Loaf Campus of Middlebury College, where Robert Frost taught. The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail is a fully accessible path through the woods nearby, celebrating the poet’s connection to the landscape.
- Lincoln Gap: Famous for the steepest paved mile in the U.S. (grades exceeding 20%). It is a bucket-list climb for cyclists and the trailhead for Mount Abraham.
- Appalachian Gap (Route 17): Locally known as “App Gap,” this pass connects Bristol to the Mad River Valley. The top offers a stunning view west to the Adirondacks. It is crucial to note: despite the name, the Appalachian Trail does not cross here; the gap is named for the mountain system.
Washington County
Washington County is home to the Mad River Valley and the Worcester Range.
Camel’s Hump: The State Icon
Camel’s Hump (4,084 ft) is perhaps the most beloved mountain in Vermont. Unlike Mansfield or Killington, it is entirely undeveloped.
- Conservation: In the 1960s, a proposal to build a ski resort on the mountain was defeated, leading to its designation as a state park and a natural area. The summit is home to fragile alpine tundra vegetation (Bigelow’s Sedge, Mountain Sandwort) that is a relic of the Ice Age. Hikers are strictly confined to the trail to protect these plants.
The Mad River Valley Culture
The valley towns of Waitsfield, Fayston, and Warren have developed a unique mountain culture summarized by the bumper sticker “Mad River Glen: Ski It If You Can.”
- Mad River Glen: This ski area relies on natural snow and features the only single-chair lift in the lower 48 states. It preserves the narrow, twisting trails of early New England skiing, rejecting the wide, groomed boulevards of modern resorts.
The Worcester Range
East of the main range lies the Worcester Range (or Putnam Range).
- Mount Hunger: A jagged, rocky peak that offers a spectacular view of the main Green Mountain spine. It is a popular, steep hike for residents of Montpelier.
- Montpelier: The state capital is tucked into the Winooski River valley. It is the only state capital without a McDonald’s, reflecting a fierce local business independence. Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks nearby showcases the agricultural integration with the mountain forest.
Chittenden County
Chittenden County is the urban heart of Vermont, but its eastern edge forms the state’s highest vertical rise.
Mount Mansfield (4,395 ft)
The highest point in Vermont. The summit ridge resembles a profile of a face (The Forehead, The Nose, The Chin—the true summit, The Adam’s Apple).
- Underhill State Park: On the western slope (Chittenden side), trails like Sunset Ridge offer an exposed, above-treeline hike for over a mile, providing some of the best hiking in New England.
- Bolton Valley: A high-elevation ski village. The Long Trail crosses the Winooski River here (the lowest point on the trail) and immediately climbs to the highest peaks, creating a grueling section for thru-hikers known as the “Winooski River crossing”.
The Far North: The Kingdom and The Border
The northernmost counties—Lamoille, Franklin, Orleans, and Essex—contain the wildest, coldest, and most remote sections of the Appalachian chain in Vermont.
Lamoille County
Lamoille County is the “Ski Capital of the East,” centering on the eastern slopes of Mansfield and the Sterling Range.
Smugglers’ Notch
Separating Mount Mansfield from Spruce Peak and the Sterling Range is Smugglers’ Notch.
- Geology: A narrow pass lined with 1,000-foot vertical cliffs. Massive boulders, torn from the cliffs by freeze-thaw cycles, litter the forest floor.
- History: Named for its use during the Embargo Act of 1807 (smuggling cattle to Canada) and Prohibition (smuggling alcohol). Route 108 through the notch is so narrow and winding that tractor-trailers frequently get stuck, despite massive warning signs. It is closed in winter, becoming a playground for ice climbers and cross-country skiers.
The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
Converting the old St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad line, this 93-mile trail offers a flat, accessible way to experience the mountain landscape. It parallels the Lamoille River, offering views of the northern peaks without the vertical exertion.
Orleans and Franklin Counties
These counties border Quebec. The mountains here are the “Northern Green Mountains.”
Jay Peak and the “Jay Cloud”
Jay Peak (3,862 ft) is a geological outlier in terms of weather. Ideally situated to catch moisture from the northwest, it receives more snow than almost anywhere else in the eastern U.S. (often exceeding 350 inches).
- The Resort: Jay Peak Resort has adapted to its remote location by building a massive indoor waterpark (“The Pump House”), creating a surreal juxtaposition of sub-zero arctic winds outside and tropical leisure inside.
- The Long Trail Terminus: The Long Trail ends at the Canadian border (Journey’s End) in this region, marking the completion of the “Footpath in the Wilderness”.
Belvidere Mountain and Asbestos
Belvidere Mountain features a fire tower with a 360-degree view. To the east, hikers can look down upon the scars of the Lowell/Eden asbestos mines. For decades, this region was one of the largest producers of asbestos in the U.S. The mines are now closed and serve as a somber reminder of the extractive industries that once dominated the Appalachians.
The Glacial Lakes
In Orleans County, the mountains frame spectacular lakes. Lake Willoughby is the most famous. Carved by a glacier, it is over 300 feet deep. The sheer cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor rise vertically from the water, creating a landscape reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. This is a designated National Natural Landmark.
Essex County (The Northeast Highlands)
Finally, in the far northeast corner, lies Essex County. While the user queried about the Appalachians (often synonymous with Greens), this region contains the Northeast Highlands.
- Geology: These are granitic plutons, geologically related to the White Mountains of New Hampshire rather than the compressed metamorphic rocks of the Green Mountains.
- Character: This is the most remote part of Vermont, a logging landscape of spruce bogs and moose. It is the only part of the state that truly feels “boreal”.
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