Shelburne Farms Loop

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A great place to visit, Shelburne Farms is an iconic site in Vermont. The farm is also a non-profit educational center that focuses on sustainable farming practices.

Start this hike at the Welcome Center and follow Farm Trail to the Farm Barn. The Farm Barn is a historical building originally constructed in 1886. Today the barn houses administrative offices, school programs, the Children's Farmyard (a hands on experience with many learning opportunities), an elementary school, cheese facility and bakery and a furniture maker.

From the Farm Barn, climb to lone tree hill (this is the hardest and steepest part of the hike), home of the farm's sugaring maple trees.Take the Whimsy Meadow Trail to connect over to the north side of the Farm Trail. Take this until it turns south and continue straight onto Market Garden Trail. A short detour down the road here takes you to Coach Barn.

Coach Barn, originally an education center, is now used as.a venue for hosting events for the Farm as well as outside non-profits and private groups. Head back the way you came and follow Market Garden Trail north which skirts the edge of the 7-acre vegetable garden. One back on Farm Trail, follow this east a short distance and take the cut-off trail Market Garden to Dairy Gravel Path. This, yes leads to The Dairy Path, but also allows you to swing by the historic dairy (now only used as agricultural storage).

Take The Dairy Path all the way back to the main road and follow that back to the Welcome Center to complete your hike.

Shelburne Farms has a rich history and it's worth taking one of the tours to learn all about it during your visit. However, they have a great introduction on their website.