Why You Will Love Mountain Top Resort in Vermont
- Updated: 09/10/2024
- Janice
We visited off-the-beaten-path Mountain Top Resort as part of our Vermont inn-to-inn hiking trip and were struck by how peaceful, pretty, and accommodating it is for all types of travelers.
A stay here allows you to experience the best of Vermont’s nature. Amidst the rolling Green Mountains of Vermont, this resort overlooks a sprawling lawn that leads down to the forest-encircled Chittenden Reservoir. It is a four-season property, making it an ideal retreat for couples, families, and groups.
The resort is an easy place to not know about, especially if you are not from the region. So, follow along as I share what you want to know most before you book—including its excellent lodging options, varied activities, amenities, and convenient on-site dining.
Table Of Contents
Resort Overview: Location & Scenic Beauty
The location of Mountain Top Resort is beautiful and remote. Surrounded by mountains and forests and perched high above the 750-acre pristine Chittenden Reservoir, find it in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, offering panoramic views of the surrounding natural beauty.
Originally began as a small country inn on the grounds of a former turnip farm in the 1870s, over the years, this mountain lodge grew throughout the mid-twentieth century. Arrive at the resort via an easy 1.5-hour drive south of the Burlington International Airport or a 30-minute drive northwest of Killington, Vermont.
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With its attractive rustic three-story main lodge and collection of stand-alone homes and cabins with fireplaces and picture-perfect views, Mountain Top Resort offers visitors a tranquil and serene Vermont experience. Whether for a romantic getaway or an easy-to-plan family escape—this resort delivers. Especially considering its ample amenities and activities in all seasons. Enjoy onsite dining on locally sourced cuisine at its restaurant and tavern.
3 Ways to Stay: Accommodation Options
Mountain Top Resort offers three main types of accommodation. Book them directly on the resort website.
1. Lodge Rooms
Choose from one of three lodge room types in the main resort building. Your options include the classic, luxury, or suite with fireplaces, seating areas, and a fancy bathroom. We stayed in a luxury lodge room with a picture-perfect view of the reservoir and surrounding mountains. See the quick clip of it below.
And for families Mountain Top Resort offers—as it is available—my favorite one-room bed configuration for a family of four. A queen bed for the parents and a bunk for the kids. This separate bed layout allows for no sharing and better sleep for all.
2. Cabins
Choose from one of four two-person luxe king-sized cabins with a kitchenette. These cabins offer the perfect option for couples looking for more privacy and natural surroundings who also want to benefit from the convenience of the resort amenities.
3. Spacious Guest Houses
Book one of 24 private and unique mountain-top homes that can accommodate groups of four to 14 people. All homes are within three-quarters of a mile from the main resort and are fully equipped and furnished, including the kitchen. Guests staying in private homes have access to all resort amenities.
Why it is Great for Groups
With its range of lodging choices, amenities including on-site dining, and activities catering to large groups’ needs, Mountain Top Resort makes for a perfect place for multi-generational family trips, reunions, weddings, and corporate retreats. Additionally, along with various indoor and outdoor event spaces that accommodate small and large gatherings (up to 300 people), Mountain Top Resort provides dedicated planners to help ensure a seamless event.
Group guests will also love the resort’s wide range of on-site recreational activities. From hiking and boating in the summer to cross-country skiing and sleigh rides in the winter, the resort will help develop a customized event agenda and group package, including accommodation, dining, and activities tailored to a group’s specific needs.
Activities & Amenities
In the warmer months, when not lake-gazing from your Adirondack chair on the spacious Mountain Top Resort lawn, enjoy several outdoor activities, many of which are complimentary and included in your stay. Or keep the relaxation going with a visit to the sanctuary of the resort spa.
During winter, find activities like these and see the wide range of activities and amenities below.
- For nature lovers & outdoor enthusiasts: hiking & horseback riding
- For water lovers: boating, fishing & swimming
- For sports enthusiasts & game players: golf, tennis, pickleball & more
- For zen seekers: spa & wellness facilities
- For winter visitors: cross-country & downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating & more
Hiking & Horseback Riding
Prefer to hit the trails? Explore Mountain Top Resort’s extensive network of hiking and horseback riding trails of varying difficulty levels. Allowing you to meander the beauty of the Green Mountains at your own pace.
Options include:
- Horseback Riding. Visit the onsite Equestrian Center from Memorial Day through October to join a trail ride on 40 miles of designated trails (for ages eight and up). Available for an additional fee.
- Hiking. Hike along the resort’s nearly 40-mile network of well-marked trails, which link with Vermont’s iconic Long Trail. Event and overnight guests receive complimentary trail access.
Boating, Fishing & Swimming
Enjoy the warm weather in the summer by exploring the adjacent Chittenden Reservoir or taking a dip in the Mountain Top Resort pool and hot tub.
Options include:
- Pontoon Boat Rides. Throughout the summer, join an hour-long boat ride around the lake for an additional fee. Reservations required.
- Canoes, Paddleboards, & Kayaks. Grab a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak from the resort’s private lake beach and explore the lake at your own pace. All equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis and complimentary for all overnight guests.
- Lake and Beach Access. Soak up the sun in one of the lounge chairs or swim from Mountain Top Resort’s private beach; complimentary for all overnight and event guests.
- Fishing. Rent a fishing boat by the hour and try your luck catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, and sunfish. Fishing rods and equipment are rentable from the resort Activities Center. Depending on the age of participants, a boating safety certificate card and fishing license may be required. Additional fees and a reservation are required.
- Pool & Hot Tub. Next to the barn, the pool is open in the summer months, and the hot tub is open year-round. Both are complimentary for all overnight guests.
Golf, Tennis, Pickleball & More Sports
Want to mix in some play with your stay? Mountain Top Resort delivers options that make it easy for outdoor fun.
Options include:
- Nearby Golf. Choose from one of five highly rated golf courses within 15 to 25 miles of the resort, like Rutland Country Club (get preferred rates) or Killington Mountain Golf Course.
- Tennis & Pickleball. Forgot your racket? No worries. Borrow one from the front desk and play on the resort court on a first-come, first-serve basis. Court access and racket lending are complimentary for overnight guests.
- Disc Golf. Borrow a disc from the front desk and play the resort’s 9-hole disc golf course. Course and equipment lending are complimentary for overnight guests.
- Volleyball. Serve and set some balls during your stay by playing on the resort’s sand volleyball court, complimentary for overnight guests.
- Clay Bird Lessons. Sign up for a daily clay bird shooting lesson taught by experienced staff for ages 15 years and older. Reservations and an additional fee are required. Available to the public.
Spa & Wellness Facilities
Unwind and rejuvenate at the resort’s full-service spa and salon, in its picturesque barn. Skilled therapists provide a range of treatments, from massages to facials and more, all inspired by the natural surroundings. Reservations are required. Learn more, get spa hours and services, and see the spa menu and pricing here.
Winter Activities: Cross-Country & Downhill Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice Skating & More
During the winter, Mountain Top Resort transforms into a snowy wonderland, offering a wealth of cold-weather activities. The resort’s well-maintained cross-country ski trails cater to all skill levels. Plus, it offers a shuttle to nearby downhill skiing at Killington.
Options include:
- Cross-country skiing. Overnight guests get complimentary trail access to the resort’s nearly 40 miles of groomed cross-country trails. Book a group or private lesson. Free trail passes are available for overnight guests. Ski equipment is available on-site at the Activity Center for a fee.
- Snowshoeing. Explore the cross-country trails or the surrounding resort woods and meadows. Several routes are dog-friendly. Trail passes are complimentary for overnight guests, and equipment rentals are available for a fee through the resort Activity Center.
- Ice Skating. Mountain Top Resort offers an outdoor rink, generally open from mid-December through March, depending on the weather. The rink is open to the public. Overnight guests receive a complimentary rink pass. Skate rental is available from the resort Activity Center for a fee.
- Sleigh Rides. Take a memory-making 30-minute sleigh ride around the resort grounds. Reservations and an additional fee are required. Open to the public.
- Sledding. Overnight guests get to take fun runs down the sledding hill just outside the Tavern. Sleds are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are complimentary for overnight guests.
On-site Dining Options
Choose from eating at the resort’s award-winning restaurant or next-door ground-level tavern that opens to an extensive outdoor terrace overlooking the reservoir and surrounding mountains. Both eateries share the same kitchen, serving locally sourced ingredients highlighting Vermont’s flavors. During our summer visit, we enjoyed a Prosecco paired with a summer salad of local greens, berries with goat cheese, and almond slivers, topped with a berry dressing, followed by a generous filet and roast vegetables.
The resort also offers generous buffet-style breakfasts. In good weather, you can enjoy the breakfast bounty basking in the sunshine on the adjacent terrace overlooking the lake like we did.
For lunches, know you can order a picnic lunch to be packed for you the night before. I highly recommend doing this. Your ingredients will be fresh, your portions will be ample, and best of all, with your lunch in hand, you will have the freedom to explore all day long without the pull of picking up food to call you in from your adventures.
Things to Do Nearby
Need more reasons to stay at Mountain Top Resort? Check out this list of 20+ small towns, breweries, shops, markets, farms, and more you can easily visit using the resort as your Vermont base.
Related Reading
For Vermont visitors and US New England travelers, check out these related articles for trip ideas and resources.
- Discover the Best Way to See Vermont: Inn-to-Inn Walking
- The Best Books to Read Before a Vermont Trip
- How to Make the Most of a Week in Acadia National Park
- 9 Inn-to-Inn Hiking Tour Companies You Will Love
- Pack Faster & Better With This Universal Printable Packing List
- Pre-Trip: A Practical Checklist to Close the House & Pack
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter for travel recs and how-to’s. Or follow her on social media (@gatherandgotravel).
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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