Stowe: Nature, Trails and Local History

Stowe can be explored through a range of interests: its landscape, trails, cycling and local history shape the destinations described here. To plan your stay, it helps to compare the options based on specific features. This lets you make short walking paths, longer routes, mountain biking or museums the focus of your trip planning.

Nature and Landscape in Stowe

Sunset Rock is a 23-acre scenic area overlooking Stowe Village. Short, accessible trails can be reached directly from the village. If you’re looking to combine a short walk with a view of the town, you’ll find just that here.

Cady Hill Forest is in the heart of the village of Stowe and covers 320 acres. Its 11 miles of multi-use trails are suitable for mountain biking. While Sunset Rock focuses on views and short, accessible trails, Cady Hill Forest offers a much larger area and trails suitable for mountain biking.

Mount Mansfield is Vermont’s highest mountain and is located in Stowe. Hiking is available there in summer, and mountain activities are possible year-round. The Green Mountain Byway also runs directly through Stowe.

Getting Around on Foot and by Bike

The Stowe Recreation Path is a flat, 5.3-mile trail for walking and cycling. It starts in downtown Stowe and ends at a covered bridge. Its length, flat terrain and two permitted uses provide clear guidance for planning; the bridge endpoint is another distinctive feature of the route.

The Quiet Path is also in the town of Stowe. It is about 1.2 miles long, has a natural surface and is intended for walkers and joggers; bicycles are not allowed. The two paths therefore differ in their approximate length, surface and permitted uses. When comparing routes, pay particular attention to the bicycle ban on the Quiet Path.

At the foot of Mount Mansfield, Stowe has more than 65 miles of interconnected mountain biking trails. The terrain offers varying levels of difficulty. For planning, you can therefore consider different types of routes: a flat trail for walking and cycling, a natural-surface path where bicycles are not allowed, and mountain biking trails with terrain for different skill levels.

Church, Museums and Local History

Stowe Community Church was built in 1863 and has the tallest steeple in Vermont. The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum is housed in the preserved Old Town Hall. It features changing exhibitions, historic equipment and stories about winter sports athletes.

The Stowe Historical Society Museum is housed in restored 19th-century schoolhouses. It presents artifacts, photographs and the history of local families. The cultural focus varies: Stowe Community Church represents a historic building, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum is dedicated to winter sports, and the Historical Society Museum explores local and family history. When planning your stay, you can choose which of these subjects interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Eden, Hyde Park.

Return to the regional travel overview: Lamoille.