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Willoughby State Forest Hiking Trails

This trail system is currently PARTIALLY OPEN. See Trail Alerts tab for details.
This trail system is currently PARTIALLY OPEN. See Trail Alerts tab for details.
Willoughby State Forest features two mountains, Mount Hor and Mount Pisgah, whose sheer cliff faces make up the "Willoughby Gap" with Lake Willoughby sitting in between the cliffs. The state forest offers hiking trails with breathtaking views of the gap and the cliffs as well as swimming opportunities.
Trail Activity
Hiking
Length
26.30 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate, Advanced
Towns
Sutton (VT), Westmore (VT)
Surface
Packed Earth/Dirt, Rock/Ledge, Sand, Road, Unpaved
Pets
Permitted on leash
Fees
No

Description

MUD SEASON CLOSURES:

The Mount Hor Trails are currently closed for mud season; the rest of the trails remain open.

Willoughby State Forest provides opportunities for hikes to dramatic vistas, fire towers, waterfalls, ponds and swimming areas. 

Please see the individual trail postings for detailed descriptions of all of the hikes.

Haystack Mountain

Mount Hor

Bald Mountain

Mount Pisgah

Wheeler Mountain 

Wheeler Pond

Moose Mountain

South Shore and South Beach

 

Trail Manager

For more information about the forest visit the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation online or contact: 

Westmore Trails Committee
Town of Westmore
54 Hinton Hill Road
Orleans, VT 05860
Phone: (802) 525-3007
clerk@westmoreonline.org
View website

NorthWoods Stewardship Center

NorthWoods Stewardship Center
154 Leadership Drive/PO Box 220
East Charleston, Vermont 05833
Phone: (802) 723-6551
info@northwoodscenter.org
View website

VT Dept. Forests, Parks & Recreation District 5: St. Johnsbury District

VT Dept. Forests, Parks & Recreation District 5: St. Johnsbury District
374 Emerson Falls Road
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Phone: (802) 751-0136
Luke.OBrien@vermont.gov
View website

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know your limits – it’s okay to turn back. Your home is the ultimate destination, not the summit.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

Willoughby State Forest is accessed from VT-5A, six miles north of West Burke. 

All trails have individual postings that provide detailed directions to the trailheads. 

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
abrookswisc
March 31, 2016
Great maps!
It would be very helpful to include include better coverage of roads leading to trail heads in Westmore. For example, the Long Pond Road leads to the trail heads for both Haystack and Bald Hill Mts. Hinton Hill Road will get one to the Telegraph trail to Bald Hill Mt. Both of these roads connect to Highways on the east side of the mountains as well as from the Willoughby Lake side. The CCC roads in the Willoughby Forest should also be included. All the roads mentioned show up well on the USGS topo maps.
Looking forward to summer on the trails.
Art Brooks, President, Westmore Association.
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Trail Alerts

Trails
Hiking Mud Season
March 20, 2024 – May 24, 2024

It is mud season in Vermont. Even if a trail is marked as open, pay attention to trail conditions. If you encounter mud or ice, turn around. Come back once the trail has had time to dry out.  

Trails
Mud Season Trail Closure
March 20, 2024 – May 24, 2024

One or more trails in this system is currently closed due to muddy or wet conditions. Please help to protect our trails by not walking on them when they are soft and easily damaged. Learn more.

If any trails are open, they will be listed on the Details tab.

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