Lye Brook Wilderness is a wilderness area spanning 18,122 acres in the southern Green Mountains of Vermont. This rugged landscape is characterized by dense northern hardwood forests, high plateaus featuring ponds and bogs, and numerous rocky streams, including the prominent Lye Brook Falls. The diverse terrain, shaped by a history of logging, now offers a primitive recreation experience for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
Lye Brook Wilderness…
55
Routes
4.8
(33)
Average rating
662
People visited

5.0
(1)
16
hikers
17.6km
05:25
610m
600m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
hikers
3.64km
01:12
260m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
4.50km
01:10
10m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
22.0km
06:53
630m
260m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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10.6km
01:53
960m
190m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
38.2km
02:23
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
3
riders
53.0km
03:48
760m
760m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
riders
22.9km
02:01
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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28
riders
37.2km
01:51
360m
360m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

21
riders
35.0km
01:34
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
73.6km
03:36
740m
740m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
14
riders
102km
06:09
1,110m
1,120m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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8
riders
72.8km
04:59
1,460m
1,460m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
127km
08:53
2,560m
2,560m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
25.1km
01:34
420m
420m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
40.4km
02:54
800m
800m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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7
runners
5.70km
00:47
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
5.13km
00:34
130m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
11.0km
01:26
550m
550m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
7.50km
00:48
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Lye Brook Wilderness offers opportunities for hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling, and gravel biking. The area is managed for primitive recreation, with trails often utilizing old logging roads and railroad grades. For more information, see the Hiking in Lye Brook Wilderness guide.
The Lye Brook Falls Trail is a popular moderate 4.4-mile (7.1 km) path leading to Lye Brook Falls. Another favored trail is Prospect Rock, an easier 3.0-mile (4.9 km) path offering scenic overlooks. Longer options like the 16.3-mile (26.3 km) Lye Brook Trail Loop are also available.
Lye Brook Falls is a prominent natural feature within the wilderness, standing at 125 feet. It is one of Vermont's highest waterfalls and a major attraction for visitors.
Yes, Lye Brook Wilderness offers trails suitable for various skill levels. Prospect Rock is an easier 3.0-mile (4.9 km) path, and the Lye Brook Falls Trail is considered moderate. Explore options in the Easy hikes in Lye Brook Wilderness guide.
While primarily a hiking area, access roads to trailheads, such as Old Rootville Road, are dirt roads suitable for cycling. Komoot offers guides for Road Cycling Routes, Touring Cycling, and Gravel biking in the area.
Yes, the well-worn hiking trails, particularly those following old logging roads and railroad grades, can be suitable for jogging. Less steep sections of trails like the Lye Brook Falls path are good options. Refer to the Running Trails in Lye Brook Wilderness guide for more details.
The wilderness features the 125-foot Lye Brook Falls, a high plateau above 2,500 feet with pristine ponds and bogs, and dense northern hardwood forests. Stratton Pond and Bourn Pond are notable bodies of water within the area.
Parking for trails like the Lye Brook Falls Trail is typically available at trailheads, such as along Old Rootville Road. These access roads are often dirt roads.
The changing foliage in autumn draws many visitors to witness the spectacular colors. The area offers a compelling natural escape throughout the warmer months for hiking and other activities.
Lye Brook Wilderness has been explored by more than 1,000 visitors on komoot. The area's routes have an average rating of 4.91 out of 5 stars, indicating a highly positive user experience.
The rich forest habitat supports a variety of wildlife. Species observed in the area include black bears, moose, deer, pine martens, bobcats, and various bird species.
Lye Brook Wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. The official website is fs.usda.gov/greenmountain, and the main office can be reached at (802) 747-6700.

