Family-Friendly Loop Walks Near Vermont's Towns

Around Burlington and South Burlington

The Colchester Causeway begins at Airport Park in Colchester, about 15 minutes' drive north of South Burlington off Route 127, and the out-and-back on the old rail bed is as flat as Vermont gets. Families with small children usually turn around at the first bridge over the broad channel rather than push to the cut, which keeps the outing to roughly two hours. The path is crushed stone and gravel; strollers with wide tyres manage it, but not the narrow-wheeled kind. Parking fills by mid-morning on summer weekends, so an early start from a South Burlington hotel pays off.

Closer in, the Burlington Bike Path runs 12 miles from the waterfront to the Winooski River and is fully paved, making it the best option for balance bikes and scooters. The stretch between Oakledge Park and North Beach is the classic family section, with playgrounds, toilets and shade at both ends. May, June and September are the pleasant months; July and August afternoons get hot on the exposed lake side. I would book this one for a first morning in town rather than a full day.

Walks in the Winooski Valley

The Winooski Valley Park District holds several short loops that suit mixed-age groups. At the Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington's North End, trails wind through river-flat fields and woods for about a mile and a half, with a visitor centre and picnic tables. It drains well after rain, which matters in mud season. From Winooski it is a five-minute drive; from South Burlington, about ten. Parking is free and the paths are mown grass and dirt, so sturdy shoes are sensible and a jogging stroller is fine in dry weather.

Further up the valley, the Mills Riverside Park in Jericho, a 25-minute drive from Burlington via Route 15, offers mown loops across open fields with mountain views and a covered bridge over the Browns River. It is a favourite for snowshoeing from January into March because the terrain is gentle and the fields catch the afternoon sun. There are portable toilets in summer but no café, so bring water. Skip it on a rainy day — the lower fields turn soft.

Montpelier and the North Branch

The North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier sits a few minutes from downtown and maintains a network of short, easy trails along the river, including a boardwalk section suitable for small children. Total distance is around a mile if you link the loops. It is best from late April through October, and the centre runs family programming in summer that is worth checking before you go. Parking is limited, so arrive before ten on weekends. This is the walk I would choose over the more crowded Waitsfield options if you are staying in the capital.

Nearby, Hubbard Park behind the State House climbs gently to a stone tower with a view over Montpelier's roofs. It is about two miles round trip on wide carriage roads, doable with children aged five and up, and free. The grade is steady rather than steep, and the tower is a genuine reward. It is a better choice in October, when the hardwoods colour, than in high summer when the lower path gets humid.

Where to base yourself and what to skip

South Burlington is the practical base: hotels cluster along Williston Road and Shelburne Road within ten to twenty minutes of every walk described here, and you are close to the airport and the interstate. Burlington costs more and is noisier, while Montpelier suits a second night if you want the North Branch and Hubbard Park without a long drive. Book two nights in South Burlington for a lake-and-valley weekend; add a Montpelier night only if foliage is the point of the trip.

Skip the longer ridge hikes marketed as family trails — Camel's Hump and Mount Mansfield are serious half-day climbs with exposed sections. Skip the Causeway on a windy day, when the channel crossing feels bleak. And skip mud season, roughly late March to mid-April, when many dirt trails and trailhead roads are soft and posted for closure. Late May, June, September and early October are the sweet spots for easy walks with children.