Marsh Billings Rockefeller NP, Woodstock VT

• 4-star hike
• 4 mile loop
• Moderate | Gain 650 feet
• Woodstock, VT | Central East Region
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A hiker with a backpack and trekking poles walks along a sunlit dirt path, taking in a scenic overlook through surrounding leafy trees toward rolling green hills, farmland, and a distant valley village under a bright blue sky.

Enjoy the rolling Vermont scenery from Mt Tom's South Peak.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park sits just outside downtown Woodstock, Vermont. The park honors three visionaries connected to the land. George Perkins Marsh grew up here and later warned against the dangers of deforestation. Frederick Billings purchased the farm and put the ideas of Marsh into action by reforesting the hillsides. Laurance and Mary French Rockefeller eventually owned the estate and donated it to the National Park Service. Today, it remains the only national park unit dedicated to the history of American conservation.

This loop offers a fantastic snapshot of the park. It winds through quiet woodlands and open meadows, passes The Pogue as a serene pond tucked into the hillside, and climbs to the South Peak of Mount Tom. From the summit, you are rewarded with sweeping views over the rooftops of Woodstock and the surrounding hills.

Trail Options Expand KMZ · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Loop 4.2 mi loop, moderate, gain 650 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

P Free parking

Most of the route follows wide, historic carriage roads built for the estate during its working farm era. They feature gentle grades and smooth surfaces, making them comfortable for most walkers, and heavy tree cover provides pleasant shade even on bright days. The only technical exception is the closing stretch, where the loop descends from Mount Tom via the Precipice Trail. This narrow, rockier section can get slippery in wet weather, though rebar posts and cable railings have been installed to assist hikers on steeper spots. If you prefer to avoid this challenge, you can simply double back the way you came from the South Peak. More trails are also available for those wanting to explore narrower trails off the carriage roads.

Mount Tom actually features two summits. The South Peak offers the best views, while the true North Peak sits a bit further along. The North Peak provides very little view, but it is a quick addition via the Billings Trail, which can be a bit overgrown in places, for hikers who like to bag summits.

Two hikers with backpacks walk away from the viewer along a sunlit dirt carriage path surrounded by lush green trees and foliage in a dense forest.

Begin with a gentle walk up the wide Carriage Path.

The trailhead begins at the large shared parking lot for the National Park and the Billings Farm and Museum, just off Route 12. Exploring the park hiking trails is completely free. You can also easily combine your hike with a tour of the historic Billings mansion, which requires an entry fee or a valid national park pass, or a visit to the Billings Farm and Museum, which has its own separate admission fee.

For a different way up Mount Tom, the Faulkner Trail starts directly in the village of Woodstock and switchbacks up the hillside over about three miles. You can find that route covered in a separate review linked in the Trailspotting Nearby section below.