VERMONT WINTER: Snowmobile Tours and Sleigh Rides

If you lead a good life, eat all your vegetables and say all your prayers, when you die you'll go to Vermont.

Get unique Vermont gifts, t-shirts, mugs and more delivered to your door. Available only on-line, many for a limited time. Once the leaves are gone, so are many of these limited edition gifts! Wonderful holiday ideas for you and all those you know who LOVERMONT!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP NOW

CELEBRATE THE SEASON:
Solemn Stillness
by Wayne Kelley

Winter Outings
By Snowmobile or Sleigh

A Christmas Tree Shoppers Glossary of Terms
by Walt Rockwood

Vermont's Top 10 Winter Events

IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN:
Holiday Cookie Collection

EVERYTHING WOOD HEAT:
More Woodstove Magic
by Daryle Thomas

GARDENING:
Forcing Bulbs for Winter Bloom
by Leonard Perry

Winter Gardening Tips
by Vern Grubinger

INTO THE OUTDOORS:
Unfinished Stories in the Snow
by Jenna Guarino

Tracking Winter Wildlife
by Heather Behrens

Did You Ever Eat a Pine Tree?
by Euell Gibbons

The River in Winter
by W.D. Wetherell

VERMONT WEATHERVANE BOOK NEWS:
My Dog's Brain
plus the story behind the creation of the book

Will Moses' Silent Night

GET OUT AND ABOUT:
Vermont Country Calendar
Statewide Calendar of Events

Blue Ribbon Events
Detailed information on selected Vermont events

EXPLORE OUR OTHER SEASONS:
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
SUMMER

If you didn't pass through Rural, Vermont to get to this site you may want to make a small detour.

It's worth the trip!

Write Us:
weathervane
@ruralvermont.com
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions.

or call: 802-645-9631
RD 1, Box 680
West Pawlet, VT 05775

Visitors o vermont enjoy a peaceful sleigh ride

Winter Outings
By Snowmobile or Sleigh

Even those who don't ski can travel off the beaten track and enjoy the beauty of unspoiled, pastural, wintertime Vermont. All it takes is access to a proper mode of travel.

For those who like things fast-paced, a snowmobile excursion will provide just the right blend of excitement and scenery.

On the other hand, for the ultimate in stress-reduction, there's nothing to beat the serenity of a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Here are some sources for these winter outings in Vermont.

SNOWMOBILING

For those who do not own a snowmobile, but would like to give the sport a try, several outfitters provide guided tours and snow machine rentals. Virtually all rental programs are operated on private trails, usually on the outfitter's property; tours typically have an experienced guide who accompanies riders on treks that often include trails through the Green Mountain National Forest. Here are some Vermont outfitters to contact (all area codes are 802 unless noted otherwise):

SNOWMOBILE TOURS
Killington - Killington Snowmobile Tours, Killington Rd. Tel. 422-2121. Tours for every skill from beginner to expert. Boots and helmets included. Reservations required.

Pittsfield - Outerlimits Snowmobile Tours, Clear River Inn and Tavern. Tel. 746-8611.

Wilmington - Outpost Snowmobile Rentals and Tours, c/o Best Western, PO Box 755, West Dover 05356. Tel. 464-5112 or 800451-4289. National Forest Trails. Snowmobile packages include lodging and meals. Day or night trips available with 1997 equipment.

Wilmington - Wheeler Farm, HCR 63, Box 9, Wilmington 05363. Tel. 464-5225. 200 acre guided tour on working dairy farm. 1/2 and 1 hour tours. Snowmobiles furnished. Reservations preferred. Mon.-Sat. 9-3:30 p.m. Maple syrup avail.

SNOWMOBILE RENTALS
East Dorset - William Hance, Emerald Lake Rd., East Dorset 05253. Tel. 362-3946. Daily 9-5 p.m. Rent by the hour, day, week or month. Delivery and pickup of rental snow machines can be arranged; guide service available 60 miles of trails.

Killington - Cortina Inn, HCR-34, Killington 05751. Tel. 773-3333. Daily 9-5 p.m. (longer on request). Trails; lodging on premises. Stowe - Nichols Snowmobile Rentals, PO Box 214, Stowe 05672. Tel. 253-7239. Daily 9-4 p.m., weather permitting. Fields.

Townshend - Stanley Bill's Sales, Service & Rentals, Rte. 30, Townshend 05353. Tel. 365-7375. Unlimited local trails including VAST & National Forest and fields. Open daily. Tours, moonlight rides & trailside cookouts avail.

SLEIGH RIDES

Albany - Winter Wonderland Sleigh Rides. 2-horse box sleigh; 15 passengers. 30 min. ride; reserv. Fri, Sat. and Sun., up to 3 trips daily. Mulled cider and cookies served after ride. Judy Bevans, Lake Hosmer Farm, Albany 05820. Tel. 755-6280.

Castleton - Pond Hill Ranch. Maximum 5-20 passengers. 1-3 hr. ride; reserv. Harry O'Rourke, Pond Hill Rd., Castleton 05735. Tel. 468-2449, 5259.

Chittenden - Mountain Top Inn & Resort. 2 12-passenger Austrian sleighs. 45 min. ride; reserv. requested. Mountain Top Rd., Chittenden 05737. Tel. 483-2311, 800-445-2100.

Hinesburg - Harry Russell. Heavy 12-foot sled with benches, pulled by team of Percheron draft horses; 12 passengers; 40 min. ride; reserv. Wknds. and by appt. Trail through hilly sugarbush and open pastures. Harry Russell, PO Box 248, Hinesburg 05461. Tel. 482-2498.

Jeffersonville - Vermont Horse Park. 1 small, 1 medium & 2 large sleighs; 4-16 passengers; bench seats or hay; group rates avail. 45 min. ride; reserv. Day & eve. rides. Vermont Horse Park, c/o Suzanne Learned, RR 2, Box 5278, Jeffersonville 05464. Tel. 644-5347.

Killington - Cortina Inn. Sleighs pulled by Belgian team. 20 min. ride; 6-9 p.m. Cortina Inn, HCR-34, Killington 05751. Tel. 773-3333.

Landgrove - Karl Pfister Sleigh Rides. Travis sleigh with bench seats; 12 passengers. Day and eve.; 45 min. ride; reserv. Karl Pfister, RR 1, Box 217B, Landgrove 05148. Tel. 824-6320.

Lyndonville - The Wildflower Inn. Large wagon on sleds drawn by Belgian draft horses; 15 passengers. 30-40 min. ride; reserv. Dinner and lodging avail. on premises. Mary and Jim O'Reilly, The Wildflower Inn, Darling Hill Rd., Lyndonville 05851. Tel. 626-8310, 800-627-8310.

North Troy - Rose Apple Acres Farm Bed & Breakfast. Antique 2-passenger 1-horse sleigh & 10-passenger 2-horse sleigh. 30 min. ride; horse-drawn wagon rides in lieu of snow; 20 people max; hot cider or chocolate served after ride; reserv. Courtney Mead, RR 2, Box 300, East Hill Rd., No. Troy 05859. Tel. 988-2503.

Perkinsville - The Inn At Weathersfield. Double-runner, Town Express sleigh for 4-5 passengers. 25-30 min. ride; daytime only; reserv. The Inn at Weathersfield, Rte. 106, Perkinsville 05151. Tel. 263-9217, 800-477-4828.

Pittsfield - The Pittsfield Inn, large antique sleigh drawn by two Belgian horses. 30-45 minute rides through scenic meadows. Rides available daily, reservations needed. Pittsfield Inn, PO Box 685, Pittsfield, VT 05672. Tel. 7468943.

Pownal - Valley View Horses & Tack Shop, Inc. 2 old Vermont bob sleds (10-15 passengers) and a 2-passenger Currier and Ives sleigh. 45 min. ride; wagon ride if no snow; reserv. Shelley & Kati Forter or Cynthia A. Legge, Box 48A, Northwest Hill Rd., Pownal 05261. Tel. 823-4649. Lessons and trail rides, weather permitting.

Quechee - Hay/Sleigh Rides. Farm type sleigh (wagon if not enough snow); 14 passengers. 10-30 min. ride; reserv. appreciated; through field & woods; weather permitting; wool blankets provided. Janice Nadeau, 78 Quechee-Hartland Rd., RR 1, Box 224, White River Jct. 05001. Tel. 295-2910.

Rupert - Merck Forest & Farmland Center. Belgian draft horses; sleigh or wagon; 30-min. ride; reserv. Daily through Jan. 5. Merck Forest & Farmland Center, Rte. 315, Rupert 05768. 394-7836.

Shelburne - Shelburne Farms. 12-passenger sleigh; first come, first served; 20 min. ride. Daily (except Christmas) Dec. 21-Jan. 1, Wknds. thereafter through snow season; 11-2 p.m.; weather permitting. Shelburne Farms Visitors Center, Shelburne 05482. Tel. 985-8442.

South Woodstock - Kedron Valley Stables. 3-seat hotel sleigh, 2 work sleds with benches; 5, 10 and 12-14 passenger sleighs. 45 min.-l hr. ride; reserv. Daily, weather permitting, 10-4 p.m. on the hour. Paul Kendall, Jr., PO Box 368, So. Woodstock 05071. Tel. 457-1480.

Stowe - Stowehof Inn. 2 elegant antique Victorian sleighs; 2 adults, 1 child. 25-30 min. ride (inc. hot beverage after ride). Daily 4-9 p.m.; reserv. Dinner package avail. Stowehof Inn, Edson Hill Rd., PO Box 1108, Stowe 05672. Tel. 253-9722.

Waitsfield - Lareau Farm Country Inn. 100 year old express sleigh, 3-seated open sleigh; 2-12 passengers. 30 min. ride with hot cider afterward; group rates avail.; go through the woods to the Mad River; reserv. required Fri., Sat. & Sun. afternoons and eves.; or by appt. Dan or Susan Easley, Rte. 100, Waitsfield 05673. Tel. 496-4949.

Wilmington - Adams Farm. 3 double traverse sleighs drawn by Belgian draft horses; 15-20 passengers each. Romantic sleigh ride for 2-45 min. 1 1/2 hr. ride; reserv. Ride includes narrated tour and 45 min. stop at log cabin in woods with old fashioned woodstoves, hot chocolate, old player piano. Adams Farm, Higley Road, Wilmington 05363. Tel. 464-3762.

Woodstock - Billings Farm & Museum. 18-passenger bob sleighs pulled by the farm's draft horses (wagons avail. if not enough snow) through the scenic farm fields and along the Ottauquechee River. 45 min. ride; complimentary blankets and hot cider; by reserv. David Yeatts, PO Box 489, Woodstock 05091. Tel. 457-2221.