On this page, jump to:   Mountain Biking      Hiking      Short Trips      Disc Golf      Trips with Kids      Breweries      Golf      Fishing      Covered Bridges      Cross Country Skiing      Downhill Skiing      Snowmobiling      Sleigh rides

Spring, Summer, Fall

Hiking -- Mountain Meadows Lodge is on the Appalachian Trail (AT), the 2100-mile hiking trail (foot path) that runs from Georgia to Maine. We are just off the Long Trail, the 270-mile trail that runs the length of Vermont, and alongside Kent Pond at Gifford Woods State Park, so from our lakeside lodge you can take a short hike to nearby waterfalls or set out on an all-day excursion. We've got a hiking guide at the lodge with maps for you to take. The Town of Killington Parks and Recreation Department, 802-422-3932, offers free guided hikes to area attractions!

Excursions -- You can consider a tour through Vermont's backroads. In summer or fall consider riding the gondola to the top of Killington Peak or having loads of fun at the Pico Adventure Center. Both mountains are only 10 minutes away. For a treat visit Quechee Gorge, where the Ottauquechee River plunges into a narrow, rocky cleft 165 feet deep and over a mile in length. There's even rock-climbing (outdoor and indoor) within minutes of the Lodge.

Mountain Biking -- Mountain Meadows Lodge is situated on 31K of cross-country ski trails. These trails, some jeep/ski-mobile trails and some trails around River Road offer some remote/wilderness mountain biking challenges. Less than 10 miles north on Rt. 100 from Mountain Meadows Lodge is a popular mountain biking spot called the Contest Trail off Liberty Hill Rd. Get there by finding Forest Road 223, located 2.4 miles south of Rochester off Vermont Route 100. In this area there are opportunities for loop travel and great views. A little further away, about 28 miles, are 265 miles of mapped trails in the White River Valley. You can get on in Randolph Vermont. Another option is mountain biking down Killington Mountain: you climb aboard the K-1 gondola and ride to the top of the mountain. Then you bike down (and try not to die).

Fishing -- The lake right outside your window is stocked with trout and bass. You can get a fishing license online. We've got some fishing poles for the kids, or schedule a fly-fishing lesson right here on our lake. The Vermont Fish and Game hosts kids fishing events as well.

Golf -- Lots of options

• Green Mountain National - right here in Killington - virtual course tour
• Killington Resort
• Lake St. Cathering Country Club - in nearby Poultney
• Ruland Country Club - about 20 minutes away
• Neshobe Golf Club - in Brandon ~30 miles away
• Okemo - in Ludlow, two courses
• Proctor Pittsfield Country Club - 802-483-9379, about 20 minutes away
• Stonehenge - 802-773-2666, about 30 minutes away in North Clarendon
• White River Golf Club - in Rochester ~22 minutes away

Disc golf -- Right next door is an awesome disc golf course!

Vermont's Covered Bridges -- If there is one image that defines New England and perhaps Vermont itself, certainly it must be the covered bridge. There's a nice selection of covered bridges within a few minutes drive of Mountain Meadows Lodge. The closest ones are just south of Pittsfield, and just west of Woodstock.

• Virtual Vermont Covered bridge list - has a cool map feature
• Covered bridge site - more links and beautiful photo gallery

• The Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory tour
• Billings Farm and Museum genuine working Vermont farm
• Cabot Creamery cheese making tour
• Montshire Museum of Science hands-on science exhibits
• New England Maple Museum and Maple Market learn how maple syrup is made
• Rock of Ages Quarries tour a working quarry
• Plymouth Notch President Calvin Coolidge birthplace
• Shelburne Museum 45 acres of exhibits
• Sugarbush Farm cheese and syrup made here
• UVM Morgan Horse Farm see the horses
• Vermont Marble Museum geology exhibits and more
• Vermont Teddy Bear Company tours
• VINS Nature Center bird exhibits, nature center, workshops
• Heritage Hills Farm Horse-drawn sleigh and carriage rides
• Kids fishing events from VT Dept of Fish & Wildlife

Microbreweries -- Long Trail Brewery is just down the street and Magic Hat, Otter Creek, and Harpoon Brewery are not too far away.

Winter

CrossCountry Skiing -- 31K of cross-country skiing or snow shoeing at Mountain Meadows Cross Country Ski. Ski out the door onto Kent Pond or off into the wilderness. You can even arrange kite-boarding or kite-skiing on the lake!

Downhill Skiing -- For downhill enthusiasts there are many opportunities. Less than five miles from Mountain Meadows Lodge are two downhill ski resorts: Killington (Killington trail map) and Pico (Pico trail map). Another nearby mountain is Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont - only 22 miles away. All three resorts offer loads of skiing and boarding options, lessons, and other activites.

The Catamount Trail -- Mountain Meadows Lodge is only about a mile from the Catamount Trail on which you can ski the length of Vermont. We're close to Section 13 and there is parking at the trailhead.

SnowMobiling -- Mountain Meadows Lodge is close to the VAST network of snowmobile trails. The Chittendon Dam area is a popualr parking spot if you have your own equipment. If not, you can rent from Killington Snow Mobile Tours and take a tour close to the Lodge.

Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides -- Very close to Mountain Meadows Lodge is Heritage Hills Farm. You can arrange a sleigh ride through the country side!

Local Links

Food, drink, stores, museums, theaters, recreation, and Vermont-related attactions are all nearby in the Killington/Rutland area.

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