Devil’s Hill Trail Sounds Scary, But It’s One of the Best Hikes in Vermont

New England is always my favorite spot to be at Halloween, because the lore runs deep and it's easy to find places where the legends are dark and haunting. One such spot, Devil's Hill Trail, sounds like a perfect scary hike in Vermont that is only for the brave, whether it's October or any other month. But surprisingly, this hike has a lot of rumors around it, but the only thing you're guaranteed to encounter is some of the best views in this area of the Green Mountain State.

Located in the heart of Groton State Forest, a sprawling natural area that's home to seven state parks, the Devil's Hill Trail is a hike ideal for those who want an adventure and some amazing vistas but aren't up for tackling a major mountain. If you're a fan of the arcane and mysterious, you'll want to read up on the history of this area and see if you spot anything that seems out of the ordinary. But for most people, the eerie name is just a unique little touch on an area of Vermont that's far more beautiful than it is haunting.

Why Is It Called Devil's Hill Trail?

The legends surrounding Devil's Hill Trail are fairly vague and date back to the 18th century, but local lore says that nearby residents saw what they believed to be a mysterious, demonic figure lurking around the hill, leading to its fearsome name. However, today the only menacing figure you're likely to see overhead is a large bird like a local turkey vulture — which certainly might have been large and frightening enough to spook a colonial-era resident!

What the Hike Is Actually Like

There's nothing scary about the hike today, though. Located in one of the best state parks in Vermont, this is a moderate hike offering a two-mile loop path through the forest. It features a 446-foot elevation gain, which is enough to take you to the top of a granite summit with amazing views of the surrounding mountains and plains. You should bring comfortable footwear and prepare for some uneven ground, but this is a great hike for those not up to a taller summit.

What to Know Before You Go

Groton State Forest is typically open year-round, and as Devil's Hill Trail is not part of an official state park, you're likely to be able to set your own schedule. That also means you won't have access to park facilities during your hike. The hike is fairly straightforward, but we recommend an app like AllTrails + to help you keep your bearings if you're new to hiking in this area. This hike is rarely crowded, but summer and fall are when you're most likely to see other hikers.

Is Devil's Hill Trail Worth Hiking?

It's one of the most beautiful hikes in the area, so we can definitely say so! What I love about this hike is the way it provides a slight challenge, rewarding the exertion with a beautiful view, but never feels like an endurance test. And keep an eye on the sky — you never know when you'll see a bird soaring overhead just like the one that likely gave this trail its name.

Have you braved Devil's Hill Trail in Groton State Forest before? If not, a trail with a name like this is best tackled with friends, so tell a hiking buddy about this "scary" hike in Vermont and discover it for yourself! You can see more photos of the trail on the AllTrails trail listing, and check out the Groton State Forest website for more details on what you can find in this massive Vermont state park. You're less than an hour away from Montpelier, the state's tiny-but-charming capital, so make sure to drop by Hubbard Park to see the city's famous abandoned tower.

Want to find more natural wonders in the Green Mountain State? Check out Only in Your State's list of the best hikes in Vermont for your next journey into the great unknown!