Best places to stay

imported
#1

What are the nicest shelters/camp sites to stay at.
I hate finding out the next day that if I had only hiked a little futher I would have come across the perfect place to camp :slight_smile:

Max

#2

never hiked it, but it is in the plan. however, do you have the guidebook, if so is it no help?

jerm

#3

BEST PLACE IN WESTERN MA… BASCOM LODGE ON TOP OF MT.GREYLOCK;) 10$ HOSTEL WITH A HOT SHOWER… GREAT HOMEMADE FOOD TOO.

nemountaingirl

#4

Here’s my .02 worth:
Camp on Harmon Hill, overlooking Bennington. Get your water before going up there.
Glastonbury Mt. - Sometimes very popular but has a nice spring and great views with a tower.
Stratton Pond - New shelter and camp sites around the pond. Fee charged.
Spruce Peak shelter - Used to be called “the palace”.
Peru Peak shelter - Although a fee is charged, it is a nice spot. The shelter was recently rebuilt, haven’t seen the new shelter yet.
Little Rock Pond - Although a fee is charged, it is a nice spot to camp/stay (2 shelters and some camp sites).

** Recommend you avoid staying at Gov. Clement shelter - unless you like evening visitors in the form of ATV’s and 4WD pickups and beer drinking rowdies.

Cooper Lodge on top of Killington. Peak is a steep .2 miles UP. Good views and most likely, a cool spot in the evenings. Fee charged.
David Logan Shelter - 12+ miles north of Rt. 4. Good place.
Skyline Lodge - Just north of Middlebury Gap (5 miles)- fee charged here too. Overlooks a nice little pond in a secluded area, sometimes moose visit the pond.
Glen Ellen Lodge - No fee. Steep downhill from the ridge but a nice secluded spot. Water can be an issue in dry seasons but there is a very reliable spring up at the trail junction.
Birch Glen Camp - Large camp near a small brook. Refurbished a few years ago (first time I stayed there, the roof leaked badly but that has been fixed).
Montclair Glen Lodge - An old classic (fee charged) right at the base of Camel’s Hump.
Bamforth Ridge Shelter - New shelter, no fee, small brook nearby and some tent platforms.
Buchanan Lodge - Just south of Bolton Mt. and a LONG .4 mi. off the trail but a nice spot.
Taylor Lodge - In Nebraska Notch, popular with weekenders but large enough to accomodate quite a few.
Butler Lodge and Taft Lodge - On Mt. Mansfield, fee charged, very popular spots but both high up and with great views. Of the two, Taft is the best (IMO). Get there earlier in the afternoon to secure a spot (unless the weather is foul or it is not a weekend).
Sterling Pond Shelter and Watson Camp - Both overlooking Sterling Pond, fee charged, great spots. If you want seclusion, go the extra miles to the next shelter - Whiteface shelter.
Bear Hollow shelter is nice, as is the next one - Roundtop (it even has a skylight).
Spruce Ledge Camp - Overlooks Devil’s Gulch on a cliff. Cool spot and a nice shelter - with sliding barn style doors.
I heard that Journey’s End camp was rebuilt recently but if you are ending your hike there, you probably won’t spend the night there.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your hike!

WoodBadge

#5

Updates/Additions to WoodBadge’s post:
Churchill Scott just past Cooper NOBO (fairly new shelter on Pico), Rolston Rest (newly rebuilt) - good water source and space for tenting behind shelter, on the west side, one-tenth south of junction to Skyline Lodge is a nice level tenting area, Cowles Cove - small shelter but nice tenting area immediately to west, also very reliable water source, down Dean Trail from Montclair Glen is Hump Brook Tenting area, fee charged, many tent platforms, excellent water source, Watson Camp has been taken down, Sterling Pond shelter has been replaced, Shooting Star shelter was rebuilt and is nice, water is an unreliable pump so fill up at stream one mile south of shelter, Journey’s End II camp is new and a beauty (enclosed) with a good water source nearby, Jay Camp is old but is enclosed and has a good water source right in front plus there are tent platforms on southern Jay Loop trail. Have a ball!

Rough

#6

I stayed in a warming hut just past Mt Abraham (going NOBO)on whatever ski area that is (Glen Ellen?) and had a magnificant view from the window in front and the hut is a spacious well built structure with tables and chairs. Woke up to a spectacular sunrise on a very frosty morning.

Big B