Lake Willoughby Area Events and Attractions

Lake Willoughby

The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is a haven for tourists spring, summer, winter and fall. Summer visitors enjoy the pristine lakes and natural beauty of the region every summer. Parking is free.

Lake Willoughby is, by far, the most strikingly beautiful glacial lake in the Northeast Kingdom. It resembles a Norwegian Fjord with its length extending between two mountain ranges. The lake is also the deepest lake in Vermont, with depths exceeding 300 feet. Waterfalls, cradled in rock formations, empty into the lake at various points from the surrounding mountains. Known as the Lucerne of America, Lake Willoughby is listed as a Natural National Landmark.

The lake is also home to Loon and the Peregrine Falcon. The cliffs of Mount Psgah and Mount Hor provide a natural habitat for the rare falcon and the Loon find private nesting places along the remote shoreline.

Lake Willoughby holds the world's record for the largest trout ever caught through the ice. The fish weighed in at 39 pounds, (18 kg). Lake Willoughby contains rainbow trout (wild and stocked), land locked salmon, rainbow smelt, burbot, yellow perch, longnose sucker, white sucker, lake chub, common shiner and round whitefish, a native species to Vermont.

Visitors enjoy the north and south beaches of this glacial lake. Parking is free and available at both ends of Lake Willoughby.

Biking, Hiking and Fall Foliage

Willoughby State Forest

Willoughby State Forest is found at the southern end of Lake Willoughby and is comprised of 7,757 acres of woodlands with hiking trails that will bring hkers to elevations of over 2000 feet to enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges and lake front. Seven trails are available on the southern end of Lake Willoughby that comprise over 20 miles of hiking trails in and around Willoughby State Forest. Most of the trails offer a mild to moderate climb for the novice to intermediate hiker. For entrance location, elevations, difficulty level and distance information Click Here

Westmore Town Forest

The Town Forest is one mile from the north end of Willoughby Lake off Town Road No. 4 on the west side of the lake. The trails are marked. Bridges should be tested and crossed with care.

Kingdom Bike Trail

Throughout the spring, summer and fall, visitors enjoy the outdoors for their wilderness, trails and foliage. If you are here during the spring, summer or fall, don't miss the Kingdom Bike Trails, a multiple-use trail system unlike any other and recently voted as the BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL NETWORK in North America by Bike Magazine in their annual Reader's Poll. The Kingdom Bike Trails were also the Editors' Choice in the 2011 edition of the Yankee Magazine Travel Guide to New England.

Enjoy this pastoral setting in the rolling hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom while you are MOUNTAIN BIKING, HIKING, TRAIL RUNNING, NORDIC SKIING, and SNOWSHOEING.Visit Website.

Alpine and Cross Country Skiing

Burke Mountain Ski Area & Resort

Renowned for its breathtaking views and ski racing heritage, Burke Mountain is the best kept secret in the Northeast. Home of the Burke Mountain Academy, the preeminent ski academy in the country with 45 Olympians to its credit, Burke Mountain features sweeping, winding trails, an average of 217 inches of snowfall each year, 45 trails and glades on 250 acres of terrain, and a vertical drop of 2,011 feet. For alpine and cross country skiing at Burke Mountain information - Visit Website.

The VAST Trail

For decades, snow sports enthusiasts have been enjoying the trails and lakes of Vermont in the winter months by way of the snowmobile. The VAST Trail system is designed for snowmobiling, originated in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and has grown to extend well into Quebec, New Hampshire, New York, as well as parts of Connecticut. In the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, you'll find that the VAST Trail extends through miles of untamed wilderness to lakes frozen and passable and is a means of travel from township to township.

In Westmore and Barton, The VAST Trail extends through the woods and touches upon Lake Willoughby, Lake Parker, Crystal Lake and many nearby towns. From Barton and Westmore, one can ride the trails to Quebec, New Hampshire or points south.

For more information visit The Vermont VAST Trail Network Website.

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