Gile Mountain - Norwich, VT

This short and sweet hike is the perfect family-friendly adventure. We discovered it one November day while searching for a hike within two hours of home, and it fit the bill perfectly. At the time, we had an older dog who was (sadly) past his hiking days and perfectly content supervising the house from the couch. So, knowing we had a free day to explore some new-to-us trails and grab lunch, we hit the road.

I’ll be honest after reading the reviews of Gile Mountain on AllTrails, I was a little nervous. For a hike that’s only about 1.5 miles round trip, the reviews made it sound like a full-blown expedition. I think it was the stairs that freaked people out. Yes, there are quite a few… but they’re really not that bad. If you can handle a few flights of stairs without dramatically questioning your life choices, you’ll be just fine.

At the summit, you’ll find a fire tower and that’s where the views are. If you’re afraid of heights, gather every ounce of courage and climb to the top. I promise the views are worth it. When we hiked, we could clearly see Killington, where they were already making snow. There’s something magical about spotting ski season gearing up in the distance.

Gile Mountain Stats

  • Mileage: 1.4 miles

  • Elevation Gain: 387 ft

  • Dog Friendly: YES!

  • Family Friendly: YES!

  • Views: 6/10

  • Difficulty: 2/10

Quechee Gorge - Quechee, VT

After the short hike up Gile we were ready for more so we headed to Quechee to explore Quechee Gorge, another family-friendly option. A small warning, though: you start by going downhill. And as we all learned at some point in life… what goes down must come back up. Save a little energy for the return trip to the car (your future self will thank you).

This isn’t a mountain hike, but if you’re visiting the area, it’s absolutely worth the short trek. The gorge was formed when an ice sheet retreated about 13,000 years ago, carving out what is now the deepest gorge in Vermont. It’s pretty amazing to think you’re walking through a landscape shaped by the Ice Age, cool, right?

Quechee Gorge Stats

  • Mileage: 1.3 miles

  • Elevation Gain: 154 ft

  • Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash

  • Family Friendly: YES!

  • Views: 6/10

  • Difficulty: 1/10

After our hikes, we drove over to The Vermont Country Store in Rockingham, VT and if you’ve never been, I highly recommend it! They have a of couple locations. The one we went to is not the original but closer to where we going that day. The store is huge and packed with candy, baked goods, Vermont maple syrup, and just about anything nostalgic you didn’t know you needed. It’s impossible to leave empty-handed. (Trust me. We tried.)

We wrapped up the day at Mildred's Dairy Bar, and it was absolutely delicious. After two easy hikes, it felt fully justified to enjoy every bite. Because balance. 🍦