Vermont’s fjord
Often called 'the Lucerne of America', Lake Willoughby in Westmore is the most dramatic body of water in Vermont — a glacial trench plunging around 300 feet deep, squeezed between the sheer cliff faces of Mount Pisgah to the east and Mount Hor to the west.
From the water it feels like a Norwegian fjord dropped into the Kingdom; the cliffs rise almost vertically from the lake’s north end.
Hiking Pisgah & Hor
The classic hike is the Mount Pisgah trail — about 4.2 miles round-trip, climbing steadily along the eastern cliffs to a series of exposed ledges with the azure lake directly below. Mount Hor on the west side offers gentler trails and quieter overlooks.
Both are in the Willoughby State Forest, with trailheads off Route 5A.
Swimming & paddling
Two beaches bookend the lake — a sandy, shallow North Beach with the best views, and a quiet pebble South Beach beneath the cliffs. The cold, clear water is superb for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding, and the cliffs draw serious rock climbers and peregrine falcons alike.
When to go
Summer for swimming and paddling, early October for foliage reflected in deep blue water, and winter for ice climbing on the frozen cliff faces. It is remote — bring what you need, and expect no crowds.
Good to know
How deep is Lake Willoughby?+
Roughly 300 feet, making it one of the deepest lakes in Vermont and giving it its fjord-like character.
Which mountain should I hike?+
Mount Pisgah (about 4.2 miles round-trip) for the dramatic cliff-edge lookouts; Mount Hor for a gentler, quieter walk.
Where do people swim?+
North Beach (sandy, with the big views) and South Beach (a quiet pebble beach under the cliffs).