Mount Philo State Park, near Burlington, VT
Sweeping views of farmland, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks.
This past Friday and Saturday marked "Family Weekend" at our son's college, so we took a trip to Vermont. Although almost November, the fall yellows and oranges were still holding on and the landscape was filled with farms, cows (so many cows), and color.
Since the few hotels near his college in Middlebury were booked, we ended up staying in Burlington - traveling the 50 minutes back and forth between the two places each day. The silver lining of this plan: there was a lot more excitement for our younger son in Burlington, and we got to see some gorgeous scenery on the drive in-between.
During our trip back to campus on Saturday, all four of us in the car, I suggested we stop for a hike along the way. Much to my surprise, no one contested this plan, so I pulled up All Trails and found a quick hike en route: The Summit Trail at Mount Philo State Park.
Located in Charlotte, this 237-acre park atop a 969-ft mountain became Vermont's first state park in 1924. Here are some quick details on this easy hike:
Distance: 1.7 miles (out-and-back)
Elevation gain: 594 feet
Total hiking time: 49 minutes
Dogs: permitted throughout the park!
Accessiblity: the summer access road allows visitors to drive to the summit
Camping: 7 tent sites, 3 lean-to sites
Fees: from late-May through mid-October; $5/adults, $2/children
Amenities: a summit lodge that seats up to 60 people
About 1/4 of the way up, we came across an impressive glacial erratic and our boys found some climbing chalk left on its surface. Although rock climbing is not permitted or established on this trail, we're pretty sure it's been attempted.
These well-maintained trails feature plent of stairs, built from a mix of wood and stone. The summit trail follows blue blazes, but the path is well defined and it would be hard to get lost.
This hike provided some much needed exercise, fresh air and a quick boost for our family before a full day of activities.
I've learned never to force hiking on my kids or my husband, but I always suggest it, wherever we go. Often the answer is a yes, sometimes it's no, but over time it's become the one thing we do most consistently on every trip. And pretty consistently, hiking as a family has led to great conversations (no screens!) and shared memories, and I plan to keep sneaking them into our trips for as long as I'm alive.
We saw lots of young kids and families on this hike. Easy hikes with great views provide the perfect way to get your kids hooked…start ‘em young and just keep climbing.
