Shelburne Farms

Scenic walking trails offer beauty and discovery year round

Take in scenery and farm life on the Shelburne Farms trails

This working farm’s ten miles of trails take you past painstakingly preserved historic buildings dating back to the turn of the 20^th century, lovingly tended pastures and farm fields with grazing cattle, and sweeping vistas of Lake Champlain and the surrounding landscape. Benches dot the trails, inviting visitors to pause and soak in the beauty.

From mid-May to mid-October, all trails are open and maintained for walking. From November to April, only the North Gate Path remains accessible.

Walk the trails

• North Gate Path: Start at the Welcome Center & Farm Store and follow the northern edge of the property to the shores of Lake Champlain. Along the way, you’ll pass the Dairy and the Coach Barn. It’s a 1¾-mile journey to the lake (3½ miles round trip), with an optional loop past the Solar Orchard and Market Garden. In the summer, a ¼-mile spur trail leads to the Formal Flower Gardens at the Shelburne Farms Inn.
• Farm Barn Trail: A short ¾-mile walk from the Welcome Center to the Farm Barn, where many programs take place.
• Farm Trail: Continuing from the Farm Barn Trail, the Farm Trail is a 4½-mile loop through the heart of the farm, past pastures, fields, and lakeshore vistas. A spur trail connects to the Solar Orchard and Market Garden. Use this loop to access the Windmill Hill Trail, the Whimsy Trail, and the Butternut Trail.
• Butternut Trail: A peaceful, 1-mile forest walk branching off from the north side of the Farm Trail loop.
• Whimsy Trail: A maze-like path circling Lone Tree Hill, accessible from either side of the Farm Trail Loop.
• Windmill Hill Trail: Stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks await on this trail, which cuts through the Farm Trail loop and links Windmill Hill to the Market Garden.

See the full Trail Map for more info.

Learn by doing on a working farm

A living classroom

Shelburne Farms is more than a farm. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to educate and inspire learning for a sustainable future. Visitors can see the working farm’s practices in action and learn about land stewardship and long-term sustainability — from investing in healthy soils and organic crops to humane animal care.

The farm is home to a herd of Brown Swiss cows, a flock of sheep, and to cows, goats, rabbits, horses, pigs, and donkeys in its Children’s Farmyard. It grows organic vegetables and fruits and produces award-winning cheddar cheese from its cows. Products are sold at the Farm Store and fill the menu for the Inn’s restaurant.

Get in on the farm action

From mid-May to mid-October, visitors can join daily hands-on programs that bring the farm to life:

• Dairy: Hand milk a Brown Swiss cow, bottle feed a calf, or play with goat kids.
• Fiber: Groom an Angora rabbit, spin sheep’s wool into a bracelet, or greet the sheep in their pasture.
• Cheese: Watch the cheesemakers at work and taste a sample or two.
• Animals: Groom a horse, help feed the pigs, and stop in to visit the donkeys and chickens.

Empowering educators to empower students

The Institute for Sustainable Schools

Shelburne Farms has offered sustainability education programs for teachers since 1971, helping educators bring real-world learning into their classrooms. In 2021, these efforts came together under the Institute for Sustainable Schools (ISS), which offers everything from short immersions on developing sustainability-focused curricula to multi-year Graduate Certificates in Education for Sustainability, in partnership with the University of Vermont. Each program connects educators with a network of peers and partners to help deepen teaching and spark new ideas.

The programs aren’t just for educators. Shelburne Farms welcomes school groups, fostering youth engagement in sustainability, land stewardship, and climate action. The nonprofit views conserved land as a living classroom, helping young people and teachers understand the value of healthy land and resilient communities. Since 1971, Shelburne Farms has worked with over a million students and 15,000 educators from across the US and the world.