Things To Do
Lake Champagne puts you within reach of fire towers, waterfalls, gorges, historic carriage roads, and some of the state's highest peaks. Whether you're looking for an easy family walk with a view or an all-day climb above treeline, there's a trail for it.
Randolph's 55-acre town forest with a network of trails through mixed forest, along a stream, and past a small waterfall. A good option for a morning walk or run without driving far. Open for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
A 1-mile loop trail to a fire tower with 360-degree views of central Vermont, Killington, Pico, Mount Ascutney, Camel's Hump, and Mount Mansfield are all visible on a clear day. The trail is easy and the fire tower is climbable, making this the best quick hike near the campground for views relative to effort. Picnic areas and restrooms at the park. The park also has 26 campsites.
A four-peak mountain with 360-degree views, managed by the New England Forestry Foundation and Ridgeline Outdoor Collective. The trails here double as mountain bike trails, so watch for riders. More rugged and remote-feeling than the town forest. Good for hiking and backcountry skiing in winter.
A short, scenic hike to a rocky ledge overlooking the White River Valley. The trail starts from the edge of South Royalton village, park on the street near the town green and walk to the trailhead. Combine with lunch at Worthy Burger in South Royalton.
A 3.3-mile out-and-back hike with 1,213 feet of elevation gain to a 2,953-foot summit. Part of the Rochester Valley trail network maintained by Ridgeline Outdoor Collective. Views from the top and a good workout. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours.
Vermont's deepest gorge, 165 feet straight down. You can view it from the Route 4 bridge above, or hike the trail down to the base along the Ottauquechee River (about a mile round trip, moderate with steep sections). The gorge trail runs about 2 miles total along the rim.
A 4.2-mile loop through Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park that hits two highlights: The Pogue (a scenic mountain pond) and Mount Tom's south peak (1,250 ft) with panoramic views of Woodstock village and the surrounding Green Mountains. Vermont's only National Park site, with 20 miles of trails and carriage roads.
A 900-foot accessible boardwalk leads to a viewing platform at the base of a 140-foot waterfall, the 6th tallest in Vermont. Only 0.2 miles from parking to the falls.
A 0.9-mile loop trail through the Green Mountain National Forest to a series of cascading falls that drop through a narrow rocky gorge. The falls are only a quarter-mile walk from the parking area.
These are longer drives but worth it for the right hiker. Plan for a half-day or full-day outing.
Hiking trails through the woods near the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch. Combine with a visit to the Coolidge historic site and the Plymouth Artisan Cheese factory.
A stone fire tower on Owl's Head Mountain with panoramic views of Kettle Pond, Lake Groton, and the surrounding forest. The loop trail is 4.7 miles with 682 feet of elevation gain. Groton State Forest is a 26,000-acre block of forest with seven state parks.
A 4.5-mile loop through Vermont's second-largest bog (748 acres) with boardwalk sections over sphagnum moss, pitcher plants, cotton grass, and huckleberries. Flat and easy terrain.
These destinations are a bit more of a drive, but they're some of Vermont's most iconic hikes. Plan for a full day.
Vermont's third-highest peak at 4,083 feet. The Burrows Trail is the most popular route, 2.1 miles to the summit with about 2,280 feet of gain. The summit is above treeline with exposed rock and alpine vegetation; stay on marked trails. Allow 4 to 5 hours round trip.
One of Vermont's 4,000-footers at 4,006 feet, with an exposed alpine summit and views in every direction. About 5 miles round trip with roughly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Parking at the gap is limited (~20 spots) and fills early.
A shorter alternative to Mount Abraham, head south on the Long Trail from Lincoln Gap for 1.5 miles to a rock outcrop with spectacular westward views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. About 2.2 miles round trip.
A 2.3-mile climb from Steam Mill Clearing to a pristine mountain pond at elevation. The basic out-and-back is about 4.7 miles; extending via the Long Trail pushes it to nearly 10 miles, a serious all-day hike. Skylight Lodge (a GMC shelter) sits near the pond.
All drive times measured from Lake Champagne Campground, 53 Lake Champagne Dr., Randolph Center, VT 05061.
Trail info verified February 2026. Always check conditions before hiking, especially during mud season (mid-March through late May) when many trails close to prevent erosion.
2026 Season · May 15 – October 12