We joined our neighbors at Silver Lake Trail just outside Middlebury… our favorite trail. Also, Abbey Pond Trail, Middlebury / Ripton is a wonderful hike that steadily climbs 2.2 miles past Abbey Pond Cascades and ends at Abbey Pond. The cascades and the pond offer delightful winter scenery making this a great snowshoe option. We have a comprehensive list of over 50 great Vermont winter hikes.
Hello Everyone From Pond Mountain Inn!
Uncertain times need stimulating ideas. This summer and early fall, our guests have worked al fresco, others practiced outdoor yoga, one couple cooked 100% Vermont organic meals, another foraged for wild edibles, one forty-year-old guest designed her entire wellness program and helped us with ours! Three did our Adventure Wellness, and one dined on the fish they caught, and most everyone hiked over fifteen different trails. One couple is planning to work from home for six weeks at Pond Mountain Inn! The point is; everyone approached their time away from home much differently and were rewarded for thinking creatively.
The foliage is arriving 8-12 days early this year. Normally, peak foliage is around October 15 We’ll likely see the best fall colors late next week.
See the most amazing photographs in our October Newsletter, titled, Gorgeous Vermont Foliage: https://conta.cc/30usDeV
All our very best,
Kay & Glenn
The Long Trail is arguably the most famous hiking trail in Vermont stretching 272 miles with another 166 miles of side trails. Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest hiking trail in the United States and was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail both of which come together for 100 miles in the southern part of the state. We have a list of nearby favorites some as close as a few miles from Pond Mountain Inn. See our favorite hike just minutes from the inn!
More Experiences & Discoveries in our area!
Another Social Distancing Activity… There are so many outdoor activities found in Saratoga!
Kay and I have spent time in Saratoga previously for the races but the highlight of this day trip was hiking along Geyser Creek Trail located in Saratoga Spa State Park – an easy walk featuring two signature springs; Island Spouter and Orenda Spring. An hour from Pond Mountain inn, Saratoga offers many interesting and fun places to experience!
Learn about our last visit to Saratoga that includes more about the Saratoga Racetrack!
Take a day trip to Saratoga! See our Saratoga Springs, New York • Day Trip: Itinerary
Hiking is a wonderful Social Distancing Activity, and like the spring blooms, Vermont is opening up again…
Lake Dunmore is a freshwater lake about an hour from Pond Mountain Inn and spans the towns of Salisbury and Leicester, Vermont. With a surface area of 985 acres, it is over 3 miles long and up to 1 mile wide. Moosalamoo National Recreation Area is part of the Green Mountain National Forest has excellent hiking trails with breathtaking views of the lake.
Fishing has been enjoyed at Lake Dunmore for many years and the lake provides cold and warm water varieties, lake trout, salmon, pike, rock bass and more. More information about fishing Lake Dunmore Here
Let Us Plan Your Next Adventure! Check out our Inspiring Day Trips & Unique Itineraries
Pond Mountain Overlooking St. Lake Catherine • Wells, Vermont.
Exercise – not meaningfully for over six years, so I’m beginning slowly. I’m 62, a former athlete, three knee operations under my belt along with two hernias and a third not far away, so I need to be even more careful than most. And, now with social distancing and gym closures, any formal exercise is out of the question. But, there’s good news… Vermont!
Of course, we all know a thirty-minute brisk walk every day is incredibly beneficial – helps maintain a healthy weight; prevents or helps manage heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and strengthens your bones and muscles. So, tell me something I don’t already know…
Hiking, especially in nature is so powerful especially for our health and well-being that leading-edge doctors are prescribing hiking in addition to traditional treatments for disease. Research this for yourselves, but evidence suggests that hiking in dense forests may provide far more benefits due to certain organic compounds that trees emit that boost mood and improve our overall mental and emotional health.
We’ve been actively hiking for the last two weeks and we found ourselves happier, more creative and calmer despite the many hardships that this coronavirus pandemic is causing. Maybe it’s that we’re getting far more oxygen to our brain, eliminating massive sensory-overload, and the mental fatigue that comes from the persistent daily demands of life. Join us in Vermont amongst the thousands of square miles of forested mountain terrain that many would call the epicenter of happiness… at Pond Mountain Inn.
Photo: the midpoint of our two-mile hike at the top of Pond Mountain overlooking St. Lake Catherine, Wells, Vermont.Â
You can find beautiful Hiking trails in Vermont with 10-15 nearby Pond Mountain Inn bed and breakfast. Our favorite is Haystack Mountain, just ten minutes away!
Take in the awesome views of what the locals call Three Sisters, Haystack, Middle and Bald Mountains. In 2012 the summit of Haystack was conserved by a local group, Friends of Haystack. This summit at 1,919 feet offers views of New York, Mettowee Valley and Mount Equinox, Manchester. The photo above is Mount Equinox.
We have a list for you to choose from for short walking trails or a longer adventure. Just let us know….
See more Experiences and Discoveries Pond Mountain Inn has to offer!
Our Winter guests took advantage of the treasures Vermont has to offer! They spent ten fulfilling days skiing, hiking, painting the landscape, dining in Dorset and Manchester and relaxing around our roaring fireplace. Dorset is just 25 minutes north and Manchester 30 minutes south of the inn. There are many things to do at Pond Mountain Inn Bed and Breakfast in the Winter months, whether you looking for adventure or a quiet place to relax, we can accommodate you with incredible cuisine and hospitality that will make your stay with us unforgettable!.
See our Winter Packages and Our Inspiring Day Trips & Unique Itineraries
The Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences located at Quechee, Vermont is extraordinary!
The VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science ) is a nonprofit environmental education, avian rehabilitation and research organization supported by members.
We spent a half day at their incredible 47 acre campus which is open year round, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. It offers “state-of-the-art raptor enclosures, exhibit spaces, classrooms, and interpretive nature trails”, and a beautiful Forest Canopy Walk.
See what else Quechee has to offer on our Woodstock / Quechee • Day Trip: Itinerary
A wonderful two hour hike that was rewarded by incredibly majestic views of the Mettowee Valley and RT 30 south just minutes from Pond Mountain Inn. Sometimes referred to as the Gibraltar of America with some of the best panoramic views in Southern Vermont.
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Pond Mountain Inn 