Mount Pisgah, rising sharply from the western shore of Lake Willoughby in Westmore, Vermont, challenges you with a brisk yet rewarding climb. The 2.8-mile round-trip hike, gaining roughly 900 feet in elevation, cuts through a lively forest that seems to watch your progress with rustling leaves and whispering pines. The trail’s firmness shifts between rocky footing and soft pine needle beds, demanding sturdy shoes without overwhelming technical skill.

As you push upward, the trees begin to thin, their colors bursting into fiery reds, golds, and oranges — the fall season’s vivid signature. The wind playfully nudges you forward, almost daring you to reach the summit. Once atop, the payoff is immediate and expansive: Lake Willoughby stretches below like a luminous flood, framed by towering cliffs that appear almost carved by ancient hands. The crisp mountain air sharpens your senses, the striking views compelling a moment of quiet acknowledgment between you and this fiercely natural place.

Timing your hike mid-morning maximizes visibility and reduces crowd encounters. Hydration is critical — carry at least two liters of water, as the climb works your lungs steadily, and the summit lacks shade. Footwear with solid ankle support will handle the uneven terrain. Layers matter; the ascent can feel warm, but the summit catches breezes that remind you this mountain is a force to respect.

Westmore’s Mount Pisgah offers more than just a physical challenge. It’s an encounter with a landscape unafraid to show its dramatic angles and mellow moods, a place where every step draws you deeper into a season alive and fiercely itself.