Vermont is a wonderful place to hike during spring, summer and especially fall (think fall colors!). There are thousands of hiking trails in Vermont, with some going on for hundreds of miles (The Appalachian Trail) and some just mini hiking trails. Three trails, though, have always been fascinating to me and all for different reasons.

The Long Trail - This is the oldest, long-distance trail in the U.S. as it's been around for almost 100 years. It has a 270-mile main footpath and almost 200 miles of side footpaths, making it a trail you can visit again and again without hiking in the same place. The Long Trail is also challenging, because it's steep in many places. But there are also areas that casual hikers can hike in and not feel too threatened by the climb. Going from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, you can see most of Vermont while hiking this trail, and there are some beautiful places for camping.

Camel's Hump - Some of my hiking buddies tell me this is Vermont's best trail. Camel's Hump is a Vermont mountain with lots of unique plant life and some great bird watching, and the summit provides one of the best views in the state. It only takes around three hours to get up and back, because the trail is just over 3 miles each way. But, yes, it's uphill all the way. When you get to the top and see those amazing views in green and deep blue, you'll be happy you did it.

Green Mountain National Forest - This enormous Vermont forest has well over 25 well-maintained hiking trails for all levels of hikers. You've got to try Mount Horrid, just because of the name. It's also a mini-trail at less than one and a half miles round trip, and it's a good one for inexperienced hikers. Two trails that intersect each other, Rattlesnake Cliffs and Aunt Jenny, are also awesome trails for a couple of hours hike. On these trails, you can see beautiful waterfalls, and on Rattlesnake Cliffs, there are spectacular views of Lake Dunmore.

These are just three of Vermont's hiking trails; there are thousands more. Vermont is a beautiful state with hiking trails that won't disappoint.