Mt. Pisgah – Willoughby State Forest, Vermont

View of a scenic landscape with rolling green hills, a large body of water, and a partly cloudy blue sky, taken from a high vantage point surrounded by trees and rocks.

Located in Westmore, Vermont, in the Northeast Kingdom, Mt. Pisgah is truly a magical spot in New England. This post isn’t about how stunning the NEK is (because trust me, it’s gorgeous), but instead about one of its most beautiful hikes.

Trail sign in a forested area indicating the South Trail, 1.9 miles to the summit, and encouraging staying on marked trails. The sign also warns of work in progress and varying conditions.
A scenic view of a lake surrounded by green forested hills and mountains under a clear blue sky, with tree branches framing the scene.
Information display boards at Willoughby State Forest, Mount Pisgah South Trail with maps and guidelines, surrounded by green foliage.

We hiked the South Trail off VT Route 5A. Parking is free, but fair warning there’s no bathroom. So plan accordingly before your coffee kicks in. The trail is part of Willoughby State Forest, and on the day we went, there were people actually working on the trail. I’ve always wondered how hiking paths magically stay so nice, so it was pretty cool to watch the behind-the-scenes action. Spoiler: it’s not actual hiking elves, but these folks work just as hard.

The hike begins with a steady incline, and about a mile in you reach your first beautiful viewpoint. This is just a teaser for what’s to come. From here, you can spot the southern beach on Lake Willoughby. The actual summit is 1.9 miles in, but there’s no real view from the peak so don’t stop here. Keep going!

A person hiking on a dirt trail surrounded by dense trees in a forest near a body of water.
A scenic view of a forested mountain and a body of water, with trees and rocky ground in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

One of my favorite hiking tips is to always look behind you. Partway up, after climbing over some rocks, the trees opened up and behind us we could see Burke Mountain Ski Resort. I loved how this hike gave us such a variety of views.

A landscape view of mountains in the distance with a clear blue sky and a few clouds, framed by tall evergreen trees in the foreground.
A wooden trail sign attached to a tree with the text 'Mt. Pisgah 2786\
Two people, a man and a woman, standing on a forest trail, smiling, with hiking poles in hand. They are in a wooded area with trees and green leaves, and a sign on a tree reads "Mt. Pisgah, 2786 feet." Mount Pisgah Peak in Vermont North East Kingdom
Wooden trail sign with directions in a green forest, indicating south and north trail, south lookout, and west lookout.
View from a mountain or hilloverlooks a lush green valley, a river, and rolling hills under a partly cloudy blue sky. Lookout on Mount Pisgah trail Vermont Hike
Two people, a woman with long hair in braids and a man, standing on a trail surrounded by greenery with a mountain and lake in the background, smiling at the camera on a sunny day. Lookout on Mount Pisgah Vermont Hike

A little farther along, at the 2.3-mile mark, you’ll arrive at the North Overlook the jaw-dropping finale. While it’s not a huge area, there’s a bit more room here than at the West Overlook, and I felt safer standing close to the edge. The views are spectacular, stretching out over Lake Willoughby and beyond.

This is a great family hike, though I’d call it a moderate hike rather than one for beginners.

After your adventure, reward yourself with a Vermont classic: a maple creemee. We stopped at the Willoughby Lake Store, and maybe it was because we had just finished hiking, but it was one of the best maple creemees of our trip. If you’ve never had one, check out Mike’s blog post all about them. Then plan your trip to Vermont before maple creemee season is done for the year.

📏 Mileage: 4.5 miles round trip
📈 Elevation Gain: 1,650 ft
🐾 Dog-Friendly: Yes! Your pup will love it.
👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly: Mostly, great for adventurous kids who can handle a moderate climb.
🌄 Views: 10/10 😍
💪 Difficulty: 7/10 (a solid moderate family friendly hike)

Scenic view of a large body of water surrounded by green forested hills under a partly cloudy sky. View from Mount Pisgah in Northeast Kingdom Vermont
Two people sitting on a rocky ledge wearing hiking shoes, overlooking a scenic landscape with a lake, forested hills, and mountains in the distance.
Maple Creemee cone held by a person outdoors on a sunny day, with a scenic background of trees, a stop sign, and a building. Vermont family trip