Read on to discover some of the best kid-friendly hiking trails within a short driving distance to Burlington.
Exploring the outdoors with young children can be a challenge, but that shouldn’t stop your crew from enjoying some of the more kid-friendly hiking trails in our area. Hiking is about the whole excursion, not just the final destination. So, take some time to teach your youngsters and nurture their love of nature!
Hiking with kids should focus on their natural interests, such as climbing rocks, searching for wildlife, or throwing stones. Kids don’t think about the end goal. They care about what’s in front of them at that exact moment. All you need to do is choose a trail that has plenty of stimulating elements, rest stops, cool things to see, and places to explore along the way.
There are many short hikes and gentle adventures to tackle with your young children around Burlington. To help you out, we rounded up 9 of the most kid-friendly trails in the area. Whether you’re a parent looking to get your kids out of the house, or you’re a babysitter or nanny in need of a fun outing for them to do, these 9 kid-friendly hikes will help you keep your kiddos entertained.
Happy trails!
Red Rocks Park, South Burlington
Location: Central Ave., South Burlington, VT 05403
Drive Time From Burlington: 5 minutes
More of a walk in the woods, the paths at Red Rocks Park are the closest trails to Burlington and some of the most enticing for young kids. Hop on the Lake Trail — a mostly hard-packed gravel trail that meanders along Lake Champlain. The trail is wide and flat with lots of foot traffic (and dogs). It will take you to various lookouts with views of Lake Champlain and eventually a public beach. The beach has bathrooms (always a plus when hiking with kids), picnic tables and a lifeguard.
Sunset Hill, Williston
Location: Sunset Hill Road, Williston, VT 05495
Drive Time From Burlington: 20 minutes
This mostly flat walk through the woods will please any adventurous kid. The trail takes you over bridges, around boulders and past a small pond. It twists and turns through the woods until the last 100 or so feet. Sometimes the path is overgrown with bushes, which will add to the adventure element of this hike.
You’ll spend the last 500 feet pushing to the top of a wide-open clearing. The top has a bench to rest and incredible panoramic views of the Champlain Valley. If it’s winter, consider bringing a sled to sled down the top part of the hill.
Sunset Hill also goes by the name Five Tree Hill, depending on where you start from (Sunset Hill Road or Five Tree Hill Road). This hike requires minimal effort and has great rewards for both you and your young kids.
LaPlatte River Marsh Natural Area, Shelburne
Address: 1366 Bay Road, Shelburne, VT 05482
Drive Time From Burlington: 20 minutes
This easy trail follows the water’s edge of the LaPlatte River Marsh. It has awesome views the entire time and excellent opportunities for bird spotting. It’s a breeding ground for more than 60 species. This is truly a natural oasis in the middle of Chittenden County. You can head off the main trail into the woods and follow the path up Alan’s Hill. There are great views of the lake from up there, and it’s not too difficult a climb for young kids. When you finish, there are picnic tables and a large grassy area to play. And if you have some extra energy, Shelburne Farms is a two-minute drive down the road.
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne
Address: 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT 05482
Drive Time From Burlington: 20 minutes
Shelburne Farms isn’t the first place you might think of to take a hike, but it may be the best. With 10 miles of trails, including a packed gravel stroller trail, there is so much to explore. You won’t be gaining tons of elevation, but some of the hills will challenge young kids.
Start at the entrance parking lot and make your way to the Farm Barn for your first pit stop. Here you can feed animals, chase chickens and see cheese-making in action. When you’ve had your fill, head out the back of the Farm Barn and onto the Lone Tree Hill Trail. This half-mile round-trip trail could be the end of your journey, or you could venture off into the maze-like trails of the meadows below. If your kids have lots of energy, make your way to the Dairy Barn to see cows and the milking process.
Mt. Philo, Charlotte
Address: 5425 Mt. Philo Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
Drive Time From Burlington: 25 minutes
This fast-moving, 1-mile hike is moderate to hard but short and with epic rewards. It’s uphill the whole way, with stone steps and a few spots that are quite steep. Once you get to the top of Mt. Philo, it opens up into a big grassy field with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, bathrooms and panoramic views of the Champlain Valley. Kids will love all the space to run around, and adults will love the vista.
Eagle Mountain, Milton
Address: Eagle Mountain, Milton, VT 05468
Drive Time From Burlington: 30 minutes
Eagle Mountain is the highest point along Lake Champlain and an easy 30-minute drive from downtown Burlington. This gentle and interesting hike perfectly fits the bill for a group with young kiddos. In the short time it will take you to hike this “mountain,” you will walk through woods and fields and get a nice view of Lake Champlain. At just a 1.5-mile round trip, it shouldn’t take you too long. It’s a good add-on activity to a day exploring the Champlain Islands.
Moss Glen Falls Trail, Stowe
Address: 369-615 Moss Glen Falls Road, Stowe, VT 05672
Drive Time From Burlington: 50 minutes
This is an easy hike, even for the littlest ones in your family. From the parking lot, it’s just 0.3 miles to the upper viewpoint of the amazing Moss Glen Falls. It’s a steep scramble up, but young kids shouldn’t have an issue. They’ll be in awe over the roaring water and will want to keep hiking to the lower viewpoint. There are many spots along the river to wade in and cool off, if the weather allows. Be careful, the path can get slippery near the falls, and your youngest ones will need a hand to hold.
Mt. Elmore, Elmore
Address: 856 VT Route 12, Lake Elmore, VT 05657
Drive Time From Burlington: 1 hour
A key element for hiking with young kids is to choose a trail with plenty of stimulation. Mt. Elmore Trail in Elmore State Park offers just that. It has plenty of things to see and explore on the way up. The end reward of this hike is what will excite your kids the most — a fire tower! Take the (mostly) gentle 2-mile Ridge Trail to the top. It’s a gradual climb that passes a huge balancing rock the kids will love. Climb the fire tower at the end of the Ridge Trail for 360-degree views.
Sterling Pond, Jeffersonville
Location: Mount Mansfield State Forest, Mountain Road, Jeffersonville, VT 05464
Drive Time From Burlington: 1 hour
Sterling Pond is one of the best short hikes around. It’s steep in parts but not too challenging for motivated little ones. The trailhead starts at the top of Notch Road — the windy and narrow mountain road that cuts between Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch. Don’t let the beginning turn you away. It’s a steep, rocky climb to get to the trail, but it soon flattens out a bit.
After the rough start, it’s a gradual 1-mile climb to the intersection of the Long Trail. Turn left and walk another quarter-mile to reach Sterling Pond. Kids will love skipping stones, splashing in the pond and looking out for wildlife on the banks of the water. Spread out on one of the rocks overlooking the pond to eat lunch, but don’t let this be the end of your hike. A final push to the top brings you to the peak of Smugglers’ Notch. There are chairlifts to sit in, winter warming huts to explore and views of the ski slopes to enjoy. If yours is a family that skis in the winter, seeing the slopes during the summer is an exciting experience.
