By state
National parks in Vermont
Every national park and public-land unit in Vermont, scored and ranked by our Experience Score.
Vermont's National Park Service sites focus on trails and land ethics, not large visitor centers or crowded viewpoints. The Appalachian Trail and the North Country Trail run through the state. These two long-distance scenic trails offer a sustained experience in Vermont's forested ridges and quiet backcountry. Hikers and campers will find them rewarding. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock anchors the cultural aspect. This park is one of the few NPS sites dedicated to conservation history and the connection between land stewardship and community. It works well for families as well as those focused on trails. Vermont appeals to travelers who prefer a slower pace. It suits those interested in walking or the ideas behind a landscape, and who don't mind the absence of large crowds found in bigger western parks.
95DOES IT ALL
Photo Credit: ATC/Benjamin Hays
National Scenic Trail · CT
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail, a monumental 2,190-mile footpath, traverses 14 states from Georgia's Springer Mountain to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
95DOES IT ALL
NCTA
National Scenic Trail · MI
North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country National Scenic Trail presents a singular case: not a park unit, but a 4,800-plus-mile continuous footpath.
88DOES IT ALL
Tom Remp
National Historical Park · VT
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller presents a compelling case study in conservation.
61GOOD RANGE
USACE
Lake & Reservoir · VT
Ball Mountain Lake
Ball Mountain Lake, an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in southern Vermont, offers a no-fee, four-season base camp experience.
How the Vermont order is set
These 4 Vermont units are ranked by one number, run identically nationwide: the Experience Score, built only from public records on documented breadth and access. It says nothing about scenery or how busy a place gets. Same formula everywhere, so a Vermont park and a desert one are read on the same terms.
Keep the blind spots in mind: scenery, seasonal crowds, trail conditions and program quality are all outside this score. A quiet, single-focus spot can land low and still win the weekend. The ranking is a fair look at what is documented, not a ruling on which Vermont park you will love.