Lake Willoughby
Route 5A
Westmore, VT
A long, cold, deep lake squeezed between two mountains whose cliffs plunge straight to the water, often compared to a Norwegian fjord dropped into northern Vermont.
Lake Willoughby is one of the great natural sights of Vermont, a long, narrow, extraordinarily deep lake squeezed into a gap between two mountains, Mount Pisgah on the east and Mount Hor on the west. Their cliffs fall almost sheer to the water at the lake's pinched middle, giving Willoughby a fjord-like drama that has drawn comparisons to the coast of Norway.
The lake was gouged by glacial ice that overdeepened the valley, leaving water hundreds of feet deep and cold year round. Ringed by state forest and topped by cliff-edge hiking trails, Willoughby offers swimming and quiet beaches at lake level and vertiginous views from above, all in the wild heart of the Northeast Kingdom.
What Guests Love
- The dramatic sight of the lake pinched between the cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor
- Cold, clear, deep water with sandy beaches at both ends
- Cliff-top hikes with heart-stopping views straight down to the lake
- Rare arctic plants clinging to the cool north-facing cliffs
Worth Knowing
- The lake is deep and cold, so swimming is refreshing but water stays chilly
- The Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor trails are rewarding but steep, with real cliff-edge exposure
- Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs, and sections may close seasonally to protect them
- Facilities are limited in this remote area; come prepared and respect private shoreline
Details
Westmore, VT
Learn about Lake Willoughby
Carved by ice
Willoughby sits in a deep notch that glaciers scoured during the last ice age. As the ice ground south through a weak point between the mountains, it deepened the valley far below the surrounding land, and when the ice melted the trough filled with water to form the lake.
That glacial origin explains the lake's unusual shape and depth: it is long, narrow, and among the deepest lakes in the state, with the mountains rising steeply on either side of its central narrows.
The same process left the raw rock cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor exposed above the water, the feature that gives the lake its unmistakable profile.
Cliffs, falcons, and arctic plants
The cliffs are more than scenery. Their cool, shaded, north-facing rock preserves rare arctic and alpine plants left behind after the glaciers retreated, survivors from a colder climate that hang on in this unusual microhabitat.
The cliffs are also prime nesting habitat for peregrine falcons, among the fastest birds in the world, which returned to Vermont's cliffs after near-disappearance in the twentieth century. To protect them, sections of the cliff trails can close during nesting season.
Because of these sensitive features, the surrounding Willoughby State Forest is managed to balance recreation with protection of the rare life on the rock.
Hiking and the water
Trails climb both flanking mountains. The Mount Pisgah trails lead to a series of exposed overlooks that stare straight down the cliffs to the lake far below, a genuinely thrilling and, for some, dizzying view. Mount Hor offers its own overlooks from the western side.
At lake level, beaches at the north and south ends give access to swimming in the clear, cold water, and the long, straight lake is a striking place to paddle when conditions are calm.
The combination of easy beach time and demanding cliff hikes lets visitors tailor the day to how much effort and exposure they want.
Season by season
Summer is prime for swimming, paddling, and hiking, though the deep water never warms much beyond bracing.
Fall wraps the mountains and cliffs in foliage and offers crisp, clear air for the long views, one of the most beautiful times at the lake.
Winter is severe and remote in the Northeast Kingdom, with ice and snow; the lake and its trails become a stark, quiet, cold-weather landscape best approached with real preparation.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Westmore
Willoughby State Forest
Surrounding the lake
The state forest around Willoughby, laced with trails up Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor and to smaller ponds.
Bread and Puppet Museum
About 20 miles, a 35 minute drive
A barn of giant political-theater puppets in Glover, one of the Kingdom's cultural landmarks.
Island Pond
About 25 miles, a 40 minute drive
A historic railroad village wrapped around its own island-dotted pond, a gateway deeper into the Kingdom.