Ricker Pond by Sundar M / CC BY-SA 2.0
Vermont is a favorite destination for those who love beautiful autumn colors and gorgeous mountain views, which means the state has a lot to offer for nature and landscape photographers. The scenery can be found many places throughout the state, so just driving through the mountains can lead to plenty of great photo opportunities. But on this page we’ll point out several of the most noteworthy locations for photographing Vermont. The interactive map below shows the location of each spot mentioned on this page.
This page will continue to be a work in progress, so please feel free to leave a comment with your own suggestions of great places to photograph.
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains run north to south through the state of Vermont. The same mountain range continues into Massachusetts where it is known as the Berkshires. The Green Mountains are well known for amazing autumn colors and scenery. This is a large area since the mountain runs throughout the state, so below we’ll mention a few specific points of interest.
Hogback Mountain
Hogback Mountain is located in southern Vermont. Catching an amazing view from Hogback Mountain is easy from Route 9.
View from Hogback Mountain by chensiyuan / CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Abraham
Mount Abraham offers a great view of the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley and is popular with hikers. You can reach the summit from the Long Trail or Battell Trail, both require about a 2.5 – 3 mile hike to reach the summit. You can get more hiking information on this page.
View from Mount Abraham / Public Domain
Camel’s Hump State Park
Located in northern Vermont, Camel’s Hump is a distinct peak in the Green Mountains. Camel’s Hump State Park is an undeveloped state park (there are no facilities) that provides hiking trails to explore Camel’s Hump. There are parking lots on Camel’s Hump Road that give access to trailheads. The trails close from the time snow starts to melt until the Memorial Day weekend because they get very muddy.
Camel’s Hump by Thomson20192 / CC BY 2.0
View from Camel’s Hump by bcpnyc / CC BY-SA 2.0
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch is a popular resort area in northern Vermont that offers skiing in the winter and great scenery year round. Smugglers’ Notch State Park offers some camping and hiking opportunities to enjoy the 1,000 foot cliffs that create a notch in the mountains.
Smugglers’ Notch by Bre LaRow / CC BY 2.0
Green River Reservoir
The Green River Reservoir is located in northeastern Vermont. Green River Reservoir State Park manages the area and provides access to amazing scenery and wildlife. This is a mostly natural and undeveloped area, there are not a lot of park facilities. There are some campsites available, but all of them must be reached by boat. Day use is available, but to a limited number of visitors. Parking is also very limited.
Green River Reservoir by Christian Aubry / Public Domain
Ascutney State Park
Ascutney State Park is located near the New Hampshire border. It is a 2,000 acre park that provides great views of the surrounding area. You can drive Summit Road most of the way up Mount Ascutney. From the parking lot a hiking trail will take you the remaining 0.8 miles to the summit.
Mount Ascutney by Doug Kerr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Allis State Park
Allis State Park is located in eastern Vermont, about 60 miles north of Ascutney State Park. The park lies on Bear Hill and offers great views in all directions from an observation tower.
Allis State Park by Kevin Jarrett / CC BY 2.0
Ricker Pond State Park
Ricker Pond State Park is located in eastern Vermont, about 50 miles southeast of Green River Reservoir State Park. The pond and its surrounds make for beautiful photos, especially in the fall. The park is located next to Groton State Forest, which includes 17 miles of hiking trails, including the Cross Vermont Trail.
Ricker Pond by Sundar M / CC BY-SA 2.0
Quechee Gorge
Quechee Gorge is located about 20 miles north of Ascutney State Park. The 165-foot deep gorge is park of Quechee State Park, which includes trails on either side of the gorge. You can also view the gorge from the bridge on U.S. Route 4.
Quechee Gorge by Drew Tarvin / CC BY 2.0
Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughy is located in northeastern Vermont, about 35 miles northeast of Green River Reservoir State Park. The southern end of this beautiful, deep lake (more than 300 feet deep) is surrounded by the Willoughby State Forest. The beauty of the area attracts a lot of vacationers.
Lake Willoughby by Jack Flanagan / CC BY 2.0
Sylvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
The Sylvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge includes divisions in 4 different New England states. Vermont is home to the Nulhegan Basin Division and the Putney Mountain Unit. The Nulhegan Basic Division is in northeastern Vermont and the Putney Mountain Unit is located in southern Vermont. The Nulhegan Basin Division is more than 25,000 acres of forest, wetlands, and swamps in a remote location. There are several hiking trails as well as gravel roads that are accessible Memorial Day through mid December. The Putney Mountain Unit is nearly 300 acres of forest that is accessible, but no official trails currently exist (they are planned for the future).
Sylvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Nulhegan Basin Division by Tom LaPointe / CC BY 2.0
Lake Champlain
lake Champlain lies mostly in Vermont and New York, but a small part extends into Canada. There are also several islands on the lake that are a part of Vermont. On those islands, South Hero, North Hero, and Grand Isle are great spots for photographing the lake.
Lake Champlain by johnoghue / CC0
Hildene
Hildene, located in southwestern Vermont, was the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln) and Mary Harland Lincoln. the 400+ acre estate features a beautiful landscape, great views, and gardens.
Hildene by Rolf Müller / CC BY-SA 3.0
Want to learn more about neighboring states and provinces? Please see:
- The Best Places to Photograph in New York
- The Best Places to Photograph in Massachusetts
- The Best Places to Photograph in New Hampshire
- The Best Places to Photograph in Quebec, Canada
Photo license links: CC0, CC BY 2.0, CC BY-ND 2.0, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-SA 3.0
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