Green Mountains Mountains

The Green Mountains are a north-south mountain range running through the U.S. state of Vermont and form a central spine of the state’s topography and identity. The range includes multiple prominent peaks used for recreation, forestry and conservation and gives Vermont its state name (Green Mountain State).

Peaks in the range include Mount Mansfield, the highest point at 1,339 meters (4,393 feet), and other well-known summits such as Camel’s Hump and Killington Peak; the Long Trail runs roughly the length of the range and is one of the United States’ oldest long-distance hiking trails. Ski resorts, state forests and extensive trail networks make the Green Mountains a major outdoor recreation area for hiking, skiing and backcountry travel.

Geologically the Green Mountains are part of the northern Appalachians and are characterized by metamorphic bedrock and forested ridges; land use mixes protected areas, recreational infrastructure and working forests.

The range extends through central Vermont from the Massachusetts border north toward the Canadian border; Burlington and other population centres lie to the west of the main ridge, while small towns such as Stowe and Killington sit near key access points.

• Long Trail: The Long Trail follows the spine of the Green Mountains for about 273 miles (approximately 439 kilometers) from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, passing many of the principal summits.
• Seasonality: Best seasons are late spring to early fall for hiking and summer for mountain biking; winter brings extensive ski resorts but also severe weather at higher elevations.

What to See#

• Mount Mansfield: Mount Mansfield, the range’s highest peak at 1,339 meters (4,393 feet), forms a long ridgeline with exposed summits and is a popular hiking and ski destination.
• Camel’s Hump: Camel’s Hump, rising to about 1,244 meters (4,083 feet), is a distinctive near-symmetrical peak with extensive alpine and subalpine habitats and well-used hiking trails.
• Killington Peak and ski area: Killington Peak and the Killington ski area form one of the region’s largest lift-accessed recreational zones and draw winter visitors from across New England.

The Green Mountains run north-south through Vermont and are accessed by a network of state and interstate roads. Major routes serving different parts of the range include I‑89 and I‑91 (approaching from the west and east) and Vermont Route 100 which runs along much of the spine; numerous trailheads and parking areas are reached from local state routes.

Many popular trailheads are within a 30-90 minute drive of Vermont’s larger towns (for example Burlington and Montpelier) depending on which section you aim for. The Long Trail (and where it coincides, the Appalachian Trail) traverses the Green Mountains and is reached from marked trailhead parking areas.

• For peak foliage, time visits to mid‑September through early October for lower elevations and later in October for higher Green Mountain summits - check current local reports each year.
• To avoid congestion on popular peaks (Mount Mansfield, Camel's Hump), start hikes very early on weekends or choose weekday mornings when trailhead parking and summit viewpoints are quieter.
• Explore lesser-known trailheads in the Green Mountain National Forest and approach popular overlooks from backroads-many visitors stick to the same few trails and miss quieter ridge walks and local vistas.