General Info

Stay in a classic mountain lodge for your vacation that includes lessons and trail rides on wooded trails at the Mountain Top Inn’s 350-acre resort in Vermont, nestled amid the Green Mountains overlooking a beautiful mountain lake eleven miles from Killington. The four-day and three-night combination package of lessons and trail rides allows riders to explore this picturesque area of Vermont on horseback. During special Adult Horsemanship Clinics, beginners may learn to ride, while more experienced equestrians may hone their skills through lessons and hacks. Enjoy lessons in English or Western, Jumping, and Introduction to Cross Country Jumping instruction. Trail ride on miles of scenic mountain trails offering spectacular views and a chance to ride Thoroughbreds, Quarter horses or another mixed breed. Take a driving lesson with the resort’s loveable Clydesdales, learning the basics of hitching and harnessing. 

For those who want to try other activities or visitors who don’t want to ride, the resort’s facilitates include tennis, swimming in the outdoor pool or off the beach at the lake, boating, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, massage therapy, clay bird shooting and nearby golf. There are also lots of museums, antique shops, historic towns and sights, and horsey events and attractions nearby, like the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm. The Vermont Summer Horse Festival, Six Weeks of Top Equestrian Competitions in July and August in nearby East Dorset, is a fun event to add onto your stay in Vermont, perhaps for the weekend before or after your stay at the Mountain Top Inn. It’s also a horsey event non-riders may enjoy during their stay.

The interior of the warm main lodge, which features large Douglas fir beams, large windows and a glass "silo" staircase, grants panoramic area views. Guests at the Mountain Top Inn may also enjoy fresh Vermont food, much of which the chef gets from local farmers. The resort’s Highlands Tavern offers a more casual pub atmosphere and serves a variety of local Vermont microbrews. Guests may enjoy a more upscale “foodie” experience in the Highlands Dining Room, where a selection of fine wines and creative Vermont fresh cuisine can be enjoyed for a romantic candlelit dinner or family meal. Weather permitting, dine outdoors on The Terrace (for seasonal outdoor dining), and take in the views.

Vermont Green Mountain Inn- 4 days, 3 nights- Arriving on Sun, Mon, Tues
* consider attending the July and August Vermont Summer Horse Festival, six weeks of top equestrian competitions, in addition to or during your stay.

5 Day Adult Horsemanship Clinics- Learn to ride or hone your skills in Vermont's Green Mountains

July 5 - 9, 2010 — Beginners

July 12 – 16, 2010 — Advanced Beginners/Low Intermediate

July 19 – 23, 2010 — Intermediate/Advanced



Awards & Accolades
Featured in Equitrekking's Vermont episode from season one of the PBS TV series.
Wine Spectator Restaurant Award

 

Packing

Please see Equitrekking Travel's Packing List for Suggestions.

Also recommended: layers and a warm sweater or fleece jacket for cool Vermont nights.

 

About the Horses

35 or more Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, Quarter Horses and other mixed breeds.

Activities/Events

Activities At the Resort:
Free of charge:
Tennis courts
Racquets are available.
Complimentary use of the court for Resort guests.
Swimming in the outdoor pool or off the beach at the lake
Kayaking and canoeing
Hiking
From the resort, there is easy access to the Long Trail, Catamount Trail and VAST system.

*Additional Cost
*Driving Lesson
Take a driving lesson with the resort’s loveable Clydesdales, learning the basics of hitching and harnessing. 2 hours (1 or 2 people) $200 per person

*mountain biking
$10 per hour, half day (3 hrs) $15, full day $30
Includes a helmet and use of K2 mountain bikes. Reservations are suggested. Guided tours may be arranged with prior notice.

*clay bird shooting
Lesson with 20 shots- $40, each additional shot $2
participants must be 15-years-old or older.

*pontoon boat ride
adult $20, child (4-11 yrs) $10, children under three are free.

*Area Golf Courses
• Green Mountain National,
• Killington Golf Course,
• Proctor Pittsford Country Club
• Rutland Country Club

*Fly-fishing
For a great fly-fishing experience we recommend
Otter Creek Anglers in Rutland, VT.  They will come to the Resort or take guests off-site, depending upon the needs of the guests. Click here to visit the website for rates and contact information.

*activities with additional fees

Other nearby events and adventures:
Non-riders may consider the following nearby adventures. Riders may also want to visit these destinations or add a few days on to their Vermont vacation to visit:

Morgan Horse Farm
University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm in Middlebury. Tour the farm and visit the Morgan horses, Vermont’s state animal. (28.8 mi – about 49 mins)

Vermont Summer Horse Festival
Fourteenth annual Vermont Summer Festival at the The Harold Beebe Farm, a well equipped hunter/jumper facility just off scenic Route 7 North in East Dorset. The festival features top equestrian competitions for six weeks throughout July and August. See their website (http://www.vt-summerfestival.com/) for more information. This might be a good thing to add onto your stay in Vermont, perhaps for the weekend before or after your stay at the Mountain Top Inn. (1 hour)

6 golf courses nearby, local antiques, art galleries, working farms and museums

Woodstock, Vermont
Quaint, historic town. Shop boutiques and for specialty gifts. (45 min)

Manchester, Vermont
Shop designer outlets and handmade crafts from local artisans. (45 min)

Simon Pearce glassblowing
Manufacturing facility and retail store in Quechee, Vermont (approx 1 hour and 15 min)

Middlebury
Classic New England College town with Robert Frost’s favorite bookstores, Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Vermont Folklife Center, local craft shops and restaurants (45 min)

Shelburne Museum
Museum with paintings, folk art, quilts and textiles, and New England history (1.5 hours)

Burlington
Vermont’s capital City with Church Street Marketplace and its boutiques, restaurants, and performers. (1 hour and 45 minutes)
 

Accommodations/Food

Accommodations
You’ll stay in the Mountain Top’s luxury rooms. Each are individually decorated with themes that reflect the Vermont style of a traditional mountain resort and the feeling of warmth and coziness found in a country inn. Each luxury room features sweeping views of the lake and has one king or two queen beds. All rooms either have a jacuzzi or steam shower or both. Rooms with kitchenettes are available upon request, as there are only so many. 

Ask Julie, Equitrekking Travel's preferred provider of travel services, about renting a private chalet. These vary in size from two to six bedrooms; have full kitchens with dining area, living room, TV/VCR, fireplace, and additional amenities and are great for groups. There are discounted rates and chalet rentals for groups of 6-10 people.

In the 1870’s the Mountain Top Inn was originally a barn for a turnip farm. In the 1940's, William Barstow, an associate of Thomas Edison, purchased the farm because his wife, Francoise, wanted an overflow lodging option for guests. Over the years, improvements and additions to the original building were made, however still maintaining the integrity of its Yankee origin and the beauty and ecology of its natural surroundings. In 1945, William & Margery Wolfe purchased the Inn. They were proud to play host to President Eisenhower and his entourage during a fishing expedition in 1955. In 1977, a fire destroyed the majority of the original Inn, which was later rebuilt in a style to reflect the classic Vermont lodge that you see today.

Food
Breakfast each morning in the Highlands Dining Room is included in your vacation package, as is lunch on the trail during your three hour trail ride. For other meals, options include The Highlands Dining Room, The Highlands Tavern and The Terrace (for seasonal outdoor dining). The Mountain Top Inn is part of Vermont Fresh Network, which connects local farmers to chefs. Menus change seasonally to allow the Chef to take advantage of the freshest ingredients from area farmers and vendors, making the restaurants popular with guests and local clients and visitors to the area. Every menu is complemented by a variety of wines. The Highlands Dining Room was honored with the Wine Spectator Restaurant Award. This classic restaurant is decorated with antler chandeliers, a fireplace and allows for stunning mountain and lake views. A childrens menu is available.

Drinks
The resort’s full service bar offers and extensive wine list and selection of Vermont micro brews.
 

The Ideal Traveler

A rider, perhaps with non-riding companions, who want a classic New England escape to a mountain lodge.

4 Days/ 3 Nights

Dates and Rates for 2010: 

Mid-week Package- Departures either on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday

available July & August with lessons. In June and September this package is available with trail riding only- no lessons.
$899 per person double occupancy 
$1279 single

Please ask about discounted rates and chalet rentals for groups of 6-10 people

* Rates include breakfast each morning, 3 nights in a luxury room, two 2-hour trail rides (per person), one 3-hour trail ride w/ lunch (per person), 1 lesson per person or 1 extra trail ride, depending on the month.

Day 1
Arrive at the Mountain Top Inn & Resort in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Check-in begins at 3 pm. Take the afternoon to explore the resort. You might want to take a hike, go kayaking or event visit a nearby town or horsey attraction (link) on your way to the Inn.

Dinner at your leisure in the dining room or tavern (cost not included).
 
Day 2
Breakfast is served starting at 7:30am in the dining room. Get matched up with a horse and head out for a morning trail ride through the varied mountain terrain with magnificent views of the natural landscape of the resort’s 350 acres. Keep a watch out for wildlife. Sightings of bear, fox, white-tail deer and moose are frequent on the trails. Walk, trot or canter through serene mountain pastures, over miles of wooded trails and into the fields, which come alive with wildflowers in the spring. Lunch is served from noon to 2pm in the Highlands Tavern overlooking the lake and mountains (cost not included). In the afternoon, improve your riding skills in the ring with a one hour lesson in flatwork, show jumping or cross country (only in July and August) or ride a different trail (June and September). Enjoy dinner in the Highlands Dining Room or Tavern (cost not included).
 
Day 3- Trail Ride with Lunch
Breakfast is served starting at 7:30 am in the dining room.
Enjoy a three hour guided trail ride with lunch on the trail prepared by the staff of The Mountain Top Inn & Resort.  Here you will experience some of the most spectacular scenery in New England as you look out over the Chittenden Reservoir, framed by the Green Mountain National Forest including Mt. Carmel and Bloodroot Mountain to the north, which rises up over 3,400 feet.  The views combined with the beauty of the natural surroundings including various indigenous wild grasses and vegetation combine to create the perfect background for a relaxing ride. After riding, return to the Lodge to relax or try another activity. Guests might enjoy some kayaking on the lake or a glass of wine while sitting outside. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the Highlands Tavern (cost not included) or head into town and explore the local attractions.
 
Day 4- Final Ride
Breakfast is served starting at 7:30 am in the dining room.
Enjoy a trail ride on your last morning at the Mountain Top.
Check out time is 12noon.

* Please note that this itinerary is flexible and subject to changes and revisions based on the weather, the trip guide's discretion and other unforeseen circumstances.

Related Blog Posts

Vermont Summer Festival

The Vermont Summer Festival is back with six week of horse events in East Dorset, only about an hour from the Mountain Top Inn and two hours and twenty minutes from the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm. On my visit to Vermont to film for Equitrekking Vermont, part of Equitrekking's first… Read more »

Vermont Mountain Top Inn Driving

Well, the rain has put a damper on my plans to ride today. Since it rained all morning, the trails were too wet. So, we spent the morning filming inside stuff. I sat by the fire for a bit. Yes, it is summer, but we are in Vermont in the… Read more »

Vermont Mountain Top Inn Trail Riding

We were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day at the Mountain Top Inn today. Located in Chittenden in Central Vermont, the Inn is small, but has all of the amenities of a resort. It's open year round with cross country skiing in the winter and lessons in dressage, cross… Read more »

Vermont UVM Morgan Horse Farm

Steve Davis, the Director of the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm, is a bundle of energy, whose passion for Morgans is evident from his handshake. We were joining Steve for a tour, and I was interested in meeting a foal or two. Steve took us over to UVM Opie,… Read more »

Traveler Reviews

Standing atop a Vermont peak, gazing down at a pristine lake ringed by unspoiled mountains, I savored a moment of tranquility in the magnificence of nature's backyard.

-- Uri Heilman, Manhattan Jewish Sentinel

Many styles of riding vacations are possible, for beginners to advanced riders, from casual trail rides to English or Western lessons, or instruction in Jumping, Dressage and Cross Country. 

-- Teresa Plowright, About.com

Mountain Top is a deftly orchestrated example of how a country inn experience can also include a great deal of entertainment and enjoyment for outdoor-minded guests of all ages.

-- Norman T. Simpson, Country Inns and Back Roads

The Mountain Top Inn & Resort offers privacy, luxury and King of the Hill views in spades.

-- Ben Hewitt, American Way

This a world all its own and an unforgettable experience that is reminiscent of a classic Currier & Ives drawing.

-- Vermont Living

This is one of the most beautiful Inns in New England. The views are breathtaking….overlooking the lake…surrounded by fantastic mountains.

-- Elizabeth Squire, Country Inns of New England

Reading List

Guidebooks & Natural History

Moon Vermont (Moon Handbooks) (Paperback) by Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall
Travel writers Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall provide a unique look at the Green Mountain State, from sampling artisan cheddar at the Grafton Village Cheese Company to skiing at Killington Mountain Resort. Blanding and Hall include unique trip strategies for a variety of travelers, including Vermont Villages and Skiing Vermont. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and sights like Lake Champlain and the eccentric boutiques of Woodstock, Moon Vermont gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Vermont: An Explorer's Guide (Explorer's Guides) (Paperback) by Diane E. Foulds and Christina Tree
This completely revised, expanded, and updated twelfth edition covers all corners of the Green Mountain State from its vibrant arts scene to its quiet country roads, the austerity of the Northeast Kingdom, and all points in between.

The Nature of Vermont: Introduction and Guide to a New England Environment (Green Mountain Power Books) (Paperback) by Charles W. Johnson
An up-to-date overview of Vermont's geological, natural, and land use histories, in the context of past, present, and future human interactions with the landscape.

For Kids

Justin Morgan Had a Horse (Paperback) by Marguerite Henry. Illustrated by Wesley Dennis Ages 9-12
Joel Goss knows that Little Bub is a special colt, even though he's a runt. And when schoolteacher Justin Morgan asks Joel to break the colt in, Joel is thrilled! Soon word about Little Bub has spread throughout the entire Northeast -- this spirited colt can pull heavier loads than a pair of oxen. And run faster than thoroughbreds! This is the story of the little runt who became the father of the world-famous breed of American horses -- the Morgan.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at ShopDarley.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe, including Vermont and the Mountain Top Inn. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.   

Equitrekking: Season 1-4 DVD sets featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, including including Vermont and the Mountain Top Inn. Available at ShopDarley.com

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

  

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.