Where in Vermont should we go camping?

July 14, 2008 9:34 PM

Where in New England should we go camping? We have a pop-up camper and are looking for decent hiking trails and maybe some area attractions. An alpine slide would be a big plus! I have a few Vermont ideas, (Killington, Gifford Woods, Bromley Mountain) and would like some feedback or new ideas.

We are planning a three day midweek camping trip July 28th-31st and have been looking in Vermont.

We would like
-Drive in campsite
-Secluded area (woodsy prefered, not open fields with parking spaces!)
-Hiking trails (we're semi-experienced but up for a challenge)
-Water&Electric Hook ups - although it seems that most state parks only have water or no hook ups at all. Is this a good reason to go to a campground instead, or is a state park a better choice? (cheaper? more secluded?)
-Some area attractions. I have seen a few alpine slides, something I'd love to get to do, and also a couple places have gondolas and rent mountain bikes for a ride down the mountain.

Right now my idea is going to Killington Mountain and camping at Gifford Woods State Park.
I have also looked at White River Valley Campground. It's 15 miles from Killington, but would be nice to have hook ups. Is it worth it? Or is it better to stay in the state park, skip the hook ups and be more in the woods and have more trails to hike?
We have checked out Bromley Mountain also, but don't know where to camp around there.

Any suggestions, or any other areas that I haven't found yet?
I'm open to Central and Southern Vermont, and also Western Mass or New Hampshire.

posted by Andrea2880 to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)

I live near there. Killington area is going to have the most in the way of amenities. The WRV place is lovely, really super nice, but it's sort of in a small town on the side of the highway. There's great places to walk around and see on the one side, highway on the other, a few stores in town and a long drive to get other places. I'd skip the hookups because in Killington you're nearer more and better trails and you're walking distance from some decent amenities in addition to the whole resort-ish area. They also have a library not too far off [a mile, half mile] with free wifi.
posted by jessamyn at 9:48 PM on July 14, 2008

Re Gifford: can't beat the location. Near a couple ponds, Killington for hiking and mountain biking and Pico for hiking and Alpine Slide. Lots of other hiking in the area (e.g., Mendon Mountain) -- ask @ the EMS in Rutland. Not too far from Woodstock if you have a rain day. Ditto the Long Trail brewery. Quechee Gorge and Clarendon Gorge not too far away too. Say "Hi" to the moose that hangs out @ Kent Pond if you go (though there were a couple roadkill incidents in the area of late -- hopefully neither was my buddy.)

I can't guarantee my memory on this since I've only hiked through the campground and that was 5 years ago but I think the sites were pretty wooded. Definitely not out in a field or anything like that.
posted by Opposite George at 11:17 PM on July 14, 2008

BTW, I like Pico better for a day hike than the big K but of course taste is personal.
posted by Opposite George at 11:18 PM on July 14, 2008

Smuggler's Notch State Park (aka Smuggs) has drive in sites, and the surrounding area is beautiful and chock-full of trails. See this previously for more info on hikes in the area.
posted by kidsleepy at 6:23 AM on July 15, 2008

There's an Alpine Slide at Stowe Mountain Resort and the town of Stowe and surrounding area has lots of fun summer stuff to do.
posted by johnvaljohn at 7:34 AM on July 15, 2008