King Farm; The Most Picturesque Trail in Woodstock, VT

As someone who’s done tons of hiking all around Woodstock on mountains big and small, I’m going to tell you about one very special trail you may have never heard of in Woodstock, Vermont. You will not find it on AllTrails!

Just over one mile from downtown Woodstock, the 154-acre King Farm is part preserve and part working farm and protected as a Vermont Land Trust. The farm features easy-to-moderate trails and sweeping views you hardly have to work for!

In this post, I share the trail/map I made here since King Farm is not on AllTrails. The 1.74-mile loop brings you by multiple views but there’s also a 3-mile loop here as well as many more miles to hike since the trails intersect with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park trail network.

I’ve been hiking in New England for decades and while there are tons of trails to explore it still surprises me when I find a new favorite. I’ve done all of Vermont’s high peaks so how could I seek out views better than those of Mount Mansfield, Killington, or Camel’s Hump?

So you start discovering lesser-known trails – peaceful woods walks, tranquil meadows, and hills with quintessential Vermont views. 🌲🧡

That’s exactly what the trails at King Farm are like. You aren’t hiking to a big mountain but from the minute you pull onto the street and into the farm to park you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. ❤️

“A historic farm central to Vermont Land Trust history and the Woodstock community.” vlt.org

It’s time for an adventure! Let’s go…

King Farm Trail in Woodstock, Vermont

King Farm Overview:

•   🚗 Located at 128 King Farm Road just 1.5 miles from Woodstock town green
• 🐶 Dogs allowed (on leash)
• 🗺 154 acres to explore featuring sweeping views of the Ottauquechee River valley
• 🥾 King Farm trails intersect with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park where you can make as long or as short a hike as you want
• ⚠️ Stay on mowed paths and keep a respectful distance from the farm buildings and barns as farm tenants and their animals live on-site
• 💚 See the original farmhouse and its 10 additional structures, built from 1793 to 1940

King Farm Trail Details

As mentioned above there are miles of trails to explore here at King Farm Land Trust and none of them are on AllTrails.

So I made my own loop and path on AllTrails for you to follow that takes you on a 1.74 loop and tour of the property with a couple of the best views.

🔗 Click here for the 1.74-mile King Farm short loop 🔗

0-0.1 miles

After parking, walk south back along the road for just a couple hundred feet until you reach the start of the trail. You’ll see a path heading into a meadow lined with stone walls and giving you your first view!

0.2-0.5 miles

From the meadow bear right and head into the woods. You’ll experience a short uphill walk here!

0.5-0.9 miles

At 0.5 miles the trail bends to the right and starts heading toward the main lookout.

0.9 – 1 miles

At 0.9 miles, turn left to start a short uphill walk along a mowed path. At the top of this wildflower hill awaits a beautiful lookout facing southwest toward Mount Ascutney.

1-1.3 miles

Head northwest back into the woods to continue this smaller loop toward another open meadow lookout. (If looking out at the view you would look for the trail on your left :))

Bear right onto the Acer Loop (you’ll see a trail sign) or you can go left to make the walk longer and stay on King Farm Loop trail.

This will bring you right around to another view in a meadow facing east this time.

1.3 – 1.74 mi

From this second meadow lookout you’ll bear left onto another mowed meadow trail that will lead you back down to the farm and parking lot. You’ll pass the red sculpture on your right on the way out with several lovely window views through the trees.

I hope you enjoyed the hike! Continue reading below for more information about this beautiful trail in Woodstock, Vermont. And if you are looking for more – check out my post about the BEST hikes in and around Woodstock, VT!

5 Facts about King Farm:

1. King Farm was established in 1793
2. The 154-acre property is a combination of a working farm, a nature preserve, and a community learning hub.
3. The pastures and barns have been in continuous use for more than two centuries.
4. Visitors can explore the farm’s biodiversity and natural features by following the Poet’s Trail.

The History of King Farm; A Timeline:

Shortly before the American Revolution, the land that would become King Farm was sold to land speculators.

In 1793, a farm was established on this land and has been in use ever since, giving us a unique look into Vermont’s farming history.

King Farm is a great example of a self-sustaining Vermont hill farm. Over the years, the Kings updated the property as farming practices and technology changed. Even with these changes, the farm’s character, layout, and almost all its original buildings are still there, including the old farmhouse, sheep barn, and ice house. 

iIn 1807 the King family started their legacy when Jabez King bought the farm because of its fertile soil, closeness to transportation, and sunny location. Jabez and his wife Abigail worked the land for almost 30 years, and their descendants continued farming for generations.

Over the years, the King family and various tenants raised livestock like cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep and sold products like maple sugar, butter, wool, and, with the addition of the ice house, milk.

Jabez and Abigail’s last descendant was their great-granddaughter Francisca King Thomas (1898-1985). Francisca shared her childhood memories on the farm, like skimming cream and loading it onto wagons for delivery to the local Hood Creamery and splitting ice from 400-pound blocks into smaller pieces she could carry into the house.

In 1960, Francisca moved back to King Farm and lived there for the rest of her life. Francisca left King Farm to the Ottauquechee Regional Land Trust in her will. She wanted the farm to be used for agriculture and forestry and to provide educational opportunities for the local community. ❤️

Two years later, the Ottauquechee Regional Land Trust renamed itself the Vermont Land Trust.

King Farm was the Vermont Land Trust’s first headquarters from 1987 until 1990 and still has a regional office there today. The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission now uses most of the rest of the building.

I learned about the farm’s history on Vermont’s Land Trust site where you can find more info, a map of the property, and even more VT land trusts to explore!

I hope you are inspired to visit the prettiest trail in Woodstock, Vermont!

Thanks for reading and let me know below if you’ve been here or if there’s another Vermont Land Trust that is your favorite.

There’s so much to explore!

Happy Hiking 🥾💗🐶