Activities & Attractions

Welcome to our beloved cabin in the middle of the Green Mountain National Forest in Goshen, VT. Bordering the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, we're convenient to Middlebury, Rutland, Killington, and Route 100. We just wanted to share a few of the things we enjoy most about the property and the surroundings.

Favorite Activities

Some of our favorite local things to do include:

• Wild blueberry picking at the Blueberry Management Area, maintained by the National Forest Service. The scenery and berries are a real local treat. Head up the hill for the best views and berries. (July to mid-August)

• Buying goat’s cheese from the stand at Blue Ledge Farms in Leicester. Nationally renowned and award-winning cheese created on a family farm (April to December). 

• Pizza by the Pond at Goshen's charming Blueberry Hill Inn, just minutes away.

• Getting a maple creemee in the summer. The closest one may be in Middlebury right on Rt 7 next to a furniture store (all summer long), but our favorite is the Village Creeme Stand in Bristol (seasonal).

• Taking in the fall foliage with a nice drive on Route 100. One of the most scenic drives around – it goes along the spine of the Green Mountains and winds through some of the most quaint towns around (September/October).

• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center. (They also have a pizza oven at the Inn and do various “pizza by the pond” evenings in the summer!) 

• Getting a morning bun and coffee at Morningside Bakery and Cafe in Brandon and enjoying the sound of the waterfalls from the park next door.

• Heading to Brandon on a Friday night in time for trivia night at Red Clover Ale (they start at 6 pm, so get there early!) The beer is some of the most incredible tasting around and the trivia is challenging! Be sure to pre-order your wood fired pizza at Morningside Bakery and Cafe before they run out of dough. If you miss out on pizza there, you can order from Brandon Pizza just across the street.

• Heading to Middlebury on a Saturday to check out the stores and to grab a coffee at Little Seed Coffee. They have the BEST maple latte around. (Be warned that not many stores are open in Middlebury on Sundays, so it’s not always the best day to visit).

• Taking in the hike on the Falls of Lana trail from Lake Dunmore to the other side of Silver Lake (summer/fall).

• Spending a summer’s day taking a dip in Lake Dunmore where the water is surprisingly warm (be warned that Silver Lake is VERY cold!) 

Outdoors

We are on the edge of the Green Mountain National Forest's Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, with a variety of hiking trails, mountain bike trails, cross country ski trails, snowmobile trails, the Robert Frost Trail and camping areas at Silver Lake and Moosalamoo campgrounds.

Cross-Country Skiing

• We are just 5 minutes from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and biking/hiking/trail running in the summer at the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center

• The Rikert Outdoor Center in Ripton is about 16 minutes away offers nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-biking

Downhill Skiing

We are under an hour from several downhill ski areas including:

• Middlebury Snow Bowl (18 min)

• Pico Mountain (40 min)

• Killington (50 min)

• Sugarbush (55 min)

• Mad River Glen (1 hour)

Snowmobiling

We are close to VAST snowmobile trails in Goshen, Brandon, Leicester, and Ripton.

Hiking & Biking

• Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center offers hiking/trail running/mountain biking in the summer and offers a map of their local trails

• The Moosalamoo National Recreation Area Association offers area guides and a detailed trail map
  (PDF: Trail Map Front; Trail Map Back)

• The Brandon Gap Trailhead for the Long Trail is just 10 minutes away.

• Routes 73 and 125 are popular for road biking

• Local bike shops for repairs and parts can be found in both Rochester (Green Mountain Bikes) and Middlebury (Frog Hollow Bikes)

Swimming, Fishing, & Boating:

• Silver Lake (includes trails, lake, campground, & picnic area)

• Goshen Dam/Sugar Hill Reservoir

• Falls of Lana

• Branbury State Park (Lake Dunmore)

• Local rivers such as the Neshobe River, Middlebury River and Otter Creek, and Goshen Dam/Sugar Hill Reservoir are popular for trout fishing.

• Swimming & boating suggestions from the Moosalamoo Association

Eating & Drinking

Although we are in the middle of the forest, we are just a quick 15 minute drive to Brandon where you’ll find a Hannaford’s grocery store, Walgreens drug store, a top-notch bakery (Morningside Bakery and Cafe), stellar nanobrewery (Red Clover), and French restaurant (Cafe Provence). 20 minutes east is the charming town of Rochester, with more cafes and restaurants, plus a bookstore and quirky bike shop (ask to see their drawbridge!). Just 35 minutes in either direction to Middlebury and Rutland for even more shopping and eating options. If you're driving through Ripton, don't miss the Ripton Country Store for an authentic general store experience complete with penny candy and more.

Some of our favorite restaurants/drinking establishments include:

• Morningside Bakery and Cafe (Brandon); baked goods, bottles of wine, gourmet foods, coffee, sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas

• Red Clover Ale (Brandon); beer and limited snacks (very limited days/hours)  

• Brandon House of Pizza (Brandon); standard pizza and sub options

• American Flatbread (Middlebury); woodfired pizza, salads, beer (very limited days/hours) 

• Maple Soul (Rochester); Upscale American cuisine with local ingredients (nice for a “fancy” night out) (limited days/hours) 

• Little Seed Coffee (Middlebury); pastries and in our opinion, the best coffee in Vermont 

• The Tillerman (Bristol); high-quality farm-to-table cuisine including pizza and salads 

Many of these are also listed in our Online Guidebook. We hope you enjoy your stay in Goshen as much as we do!