Westmore

Lake Willoughby, carved by glaciers into a deep, narrow gap between Mount Hor and Mount Pisgah, is one of the most dramatic natural features in Vermont — and Westmore is the town that wraps around its shores. The lake's depth exceeds 300 feet, making it one of the deepest in New England, and its cold, clear waters support lake trout and landlocked salmon. The cliffs of Mount Pisgah, rising over 1,000 feet directly from the water, create a landscape that visitors often compare to a Norwegian fjord.

Chartered in 1781, Westmore has a year-round population of only about 386, but that number multiplies in summer when seasonal residents and visitors arrive. The town sits in Orleans County in the heart of the Northeast Kingdom, and its economy is closely tied to recreation and tourism. Town governance operates through a selectboard, and the small year-round community gathers each March for town meeting to handle the budget and the practical decisions of maintaining a community built around one of Vermont's great natural landmarks.