Why Vermont built its first state park on a mountain barely 1,000 feet tall

It’s been drawing crowds since 1924

You drive south from Burlington for about 20 minutes, and then a small mountain rises straight out of flat farmland like it doesn’t belong.

That’s Mount Philo, and it has held the title of Vermont’s very first state park for over a century. The peak only reaches 968 feet, but it punches well above its size.

The views from the top stretch across Lake Champlain, over the Adirondack Mountains, and back toward the Green Mountains. What makes this little summit worth the trip goes beyond the scenery.

One woman’s gift turned a hilltop into history

In 1924, Frances W. Humphreys donated the Mount Philo property to the state of Vermont.

She wanted the land preserved for public outdoor recreation, and the state made it official as Vermont’s first state park that same year. The paved road that now winds to the summit started as a horse carriage path.

A decade later, the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the road and added structures to the grounds. A rustic lodge from that 1930s era still stands on the mountain today.

Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks spread out below you

From the summit, you look west over Lake Champlain and straight into New York’s Adirondack range. Turn east, and the Green Mountains line up behind the valley, with Camel’s Hump rising above the ridgeline.

On a clear day, you can pick out Mount Mansfield, the tallest peak in Vermont.

Below you, the Champlain Valley stays mostly farmland and open land, so nothing blocks the sight lines. Plenty of visitors rank this view among the finest in the state.

A steep trail or a winding road gets you there

You have two ways up. The hiking trail starts at the base and climbs about three-quarters of a mile to the top.

It’s short, but it goes steep the whole way, so bring good shoes and water. If you’d rather ride, a seasonal road lets you drive right to the summit.

The road is narrow and climbs hard, so leave the trailer and large RV behind. Either way, you’re at the top in under 20 minutes.

Picnic tables, breezes and signs that tell the story

The summit opens up into a grassy spread with picnic tables scattered across it. You can sit down, pull out lunch, and take in the full sweep of valley, lake, and mountains.

Interpretive signs along the area walk you through the park’s natural and cultural past. The elevation keeps the air moving, so the top often feels cooler than the valley floor below.

Note that from June through August 2026, the park is improving summit facilities, so expect some construction activity up top.

Hawks ride the ridge winds every fall

Come mid-September, the summit turns into one of New England’s top hawk-watching spots. Birds of prey catch the wind currents that push along the ridge and ride them south.

The peak season runs from mid-September into early November, and watchers gather at the top with binoculars and spotting scopes to track the flight.

You might spot peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and a rotating cast of raptors passing overhead. The birds come close enough here to make the wait worth it.

The Lake Champlain flyway brings warblers and geese through

Mount Philo sits along the Lake Champlain flyway, a corridor that funnels migrating birds through the region every spring and fall. Warblers, thrushes, and vireos move through the trees on both ends of the season.

Canada geese fly past in large formations, sometimes close enough to the peak that you hear them before you see them.

A dedicated hawk-count observation point on the North Vista trail gives birders a fixed spot for watching raptors. The park even hands out a bird guide to help you identify species.

Deer browse the edges and moose show up sometimes

White-tailed deer stick close to the trail edges, and you’ll likely catch a few browsing on your way up or down. Moose turn up in the park from time to time, though they keep their distance.

Red squirrels are the loudest residents, chattering at anyone who walks past. Most of the wildlife here stays far enough away that you watch them, not the other way around.

For the best chance at quiet sightings, get on the trail early in the morning before the foot traffic picks up.

An ancient sea built this mountain millions of years ago

The rock under your feet started as sediment at the bottom of a shallow inland sea, millions of years before anything resembling Vermont existed.

That sea eventually receded, and long after, glaciers moved through the region and carved the surrounding land flat. Mount Philo held its shape.

Marine sand deposits at the base of the mountain still mark where the old sea once reached. The result is a peak that juts up sharply from the valley floor, a clear landmark you can spot from miles away.

Fall foliage draws crowds and winter opens a sledding run

Summer fills the trails with shade and the summit with cool breezes. But fall is when the mountain puts on its real show.

The hillsides turn crimson, orange, and gold, and the blue of Lake Champlain sits behind all of it. That autumn color pulls in crowds every year.

When winter arrives, snow covers the trails and opens the park up to snowshoeing. The summit road gets a second life too, turning into a popular sledding run once the snow packs down.

Seven tent sites and three lean-tos on the quiet side

A small campground sits on the north side of the mountain, tucked away from the busier summit area. You get seven tent sites and three lean-tos, and the restrooms have flush toilets with hot and cold running water.

The setting is rustic and quiet, the kind of place where you hear the wind in the trees and not much else. Pets are welcome throughout the park as long as you keep them on a leash.

Book early if you’re aiming for a lean-to.

Kids, strollers and dogs all make it to the top

The short climb works for kids, older visitors, and anyone who just wants a casual walk with a payoff at the end. If you have a stroller, the paved summit road is smooth enough to push one up.

An accessible path at the top leads to a viewpoint, so everyone gets the full panorama. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout the park.

You put in maybe 30 minutes of effort and walk away with a view that sticks with you for a long time. That’s Mount Philo’s whole deal.

Explore Mount Philo State Park in Charlotte, Vermont

If you want to see all of this for yourself, Mount Philo State Park sits in Charlotte, Vermont, about 14 miles south of Burlington. The park opens seasonally, typically from Memorial Day weekend through late October.

Day-use hours run from 8 a.m. to sunset, and you’ll pay a small entrance fee at the gate. Check the official website before you go for the latest on hours, fees, and any construction updates.

Give yourself a full morning or afternoon to hike, eat lunch at the summit, and watch the sky.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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