Experience the Green Mountains’ best-kept secret: the Mad River Valley. The home to our modern Vermont lodge, discover a place with a unique combination of natural beauty, recreation and community. “The Valley” exudes an ethos and sense of place that is truly palpable and gets its name from the Mad River running through the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains. There are tons of great experiences and things to do in Mad River Valley, which includes the towns of Waitsfield, Warren, Fayston and Moretown.
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Top Mad River Valley Activities
Enjoy the Outdoor Activities, Shops & Restaurants Near Waitsfield, Vermont
Skiing & Snowboarding
Vermont is New England’s number one destination for winter sports. With several ski mountains just minutes from the White Horse Lodge, you are sure to find the perfect place for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more!
- Sugarbush Resort – Mt Ellen, 4 min. drive
- Mad River Glen Ski Resort, 7 min. drive
- Sugarbush Resort – Lincoln Peak, 8 min. drive
- Ole’s Cross Country Center, 14 min. drive
- Blueberry Lake Cross Country Center, 14 min. drive
- Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area, 32 min. drive
- Cochran’s Ski Area, 41 min. drive
- Bolton Valley, 42 min. drive
- Stowe Mountain Resort, 53 min. drive
- Killington Ski Area, 1 hour & 8 min. drive
Hiking & Biking
Hiking
Find an amazing hike to take in the natural beauty of our state. From short and simple to the world famous Long Trail, you will find a perfect hike to suit your level.
- Mad River Path, 4 min. drive
- Millbrook Trail, 4 min. drive
- Long Trail Loop, 9 min. drive
- The Warren Path, 12 min. drive
Road & Mountain Biking
With renowned off-road mountain biking trails throughout the area, the Mad River Valley in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains is the ideal spot for biking. Or if you prefer to take in the natural beauty from the open road, there are plenty of scenic routes to cruise.
- Chase Brook Town Forest, 3 min. drive
- Eurich Pond, 6 min. drive
- Sugarbush Resort, 8 min. drive
- Moretown, 15 min. drive
- Blueberry Lake, 18 min. drive
- Camel’s Hump State Forest, 29 min. drive
Local Dining
Our small community of the Mad River Valley offers locally grown and produced meats, vegetables, cheese and so much more. Enjoy quality dining options unlike anywhere else with our pairing of authentic farm-to-table foods with our eclectic community.
- Hyde Away, 2 min. drive
- Tucker Hill, 3 min. drive
- Mad River Barn, 4 min. drive
- China Fun, 5 min. drive
- The Blue Stone, 5 min. drive
- Fit to be Thai’d, 5 min. drive
- Paradise Provisions, 5 min. drive
- The Mad Taco, 6 min. drive
- Canteen Creemee Company, 7 min. drive
- The Sweet Spot, 7 min. drive
- The Big Picture, 7 min. drive
- American Flatbread, 7 min. drive
- Peasant, 7 min. drive
- Chez Henri, 7 min. drive
- Hostel Tevere, 8 min. drive
- The Reks, 8 min. drive
- Mutha Stuffers, 8 min. drive
- Hogan’s Pub, 8 min. drive
- Castlerock Pub, 9 min. drive
- Rumble’s Bistro & Bar, 9 min. drive
- Warren Store, 11 min. drive
- The Pitcher Inn, 11 min. drive
Breweries & Distilleries
Explore a number of tremendous beverage offerings across the Mad River Valley, from cutting edge craft distilleries to a number of breweries down the famous “IPA highway”. You won’t have to look hard to find your new favorite spot for a post hike or apres-ski libation.
- Lawson’s Finest Liquids, 7 min. drive
- Prohibition Pig, 26 min. drive
- Frost Beer Works, 39 min. drive
- The Alchemist, 45 min. drive
- Bent Hill Brewery, 42 min. drive
- von Trapp, 45 min. drive
- Fiddlehead Brewing Company, 52 min. drive
- Rock Art Brewery, 53 min. drive
- Lost Nation Brewing, 56 min. drive
- Foley Brothers Brewing, 57 min. drive
- Hill Farmstead Brewery, 1 hour & 29 min. drive
Farms & Markets
With a high concentration of local farms, specialty shops and farmers markets to discove the Mad River Valley is the perfect place to enjoy the freshest local foods during your trip and head home with artisanal crafts and food products to share with your friends and family.
- Alpine Options, 5 min. drive
- Waitsfield Farmers Market, 7 min. drive
- The Collection, 7 min. drive
- Knoll Farm, 8 min. drive
- 4orty Bridge Boutique, 8 min. drive
- Product Think Tank, 8 min. drive
- Artisan’s Gallery, 8 min. drive
- Reign Vermont, 8 min. drive
- Clearwater Sports, 9 min. drive
- The Green Closet, 9 min. drive
- Warren Store, 11 min. drive
Swimming & Boating
Home to the famous Warren Falls and some of the best natural swimming holes in the world, the Mad River Valley offers amazing swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding experiences.
- Lareau Swimming Hole, 6 min. drive
- Great Eddy Swimming Hole, 7 min. drive
- Warren Riverside Park, 8 min. drive
- Warren Falls, 12 min. drive
- Blueberry Lake, 18 min. drive
- Ward’s Swimming Hole, 20 min. drive
The Arts & Local Events
Come get away for a “Very Vermont” experience with the art, activities and attractions and seasonal events of The Mad River Valley. From quirky museums and live music, to spring and summer festivals, and the fall harvest and winter ski races beyond, The Mad River Valley is never short on fun things to do and experience
- Blockhouse Studio, 7 min. drive
- Mad River Fiber Arts & Mill, 7 min. drive
- Valley Players Theater, 9 min. drive
- The Bundy Modern Gallery, 10 min. drive
- Art in the Village, 11 min. drive
- Salt & Sand Studios, 12 min. drive
- Moosewalk Studios & Gallery, 15 min. drive
Unique Adventures
Within a short drive of White Horse Lodge you will find several excellent golf courses, hidden fishing holes, glider flights and enough adventure to satisfy any level of thrill seeker. Make our lodge in the Mad River Valley your home base to fish, play, soar, glide, ride and paddle the days away.
- Mountain Rose Yoga, 6 min. drive
- Sugarbush Golf Club, 8 min. drive
- Sugarbush Disc Golf, 8 min. drive
- Sugarbush Soaring, 15 min. drive
- Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm, 18 min. drive
Day Trips
Our lodge is ideally located in North Central Vermont within an hour of Burlington, Stowe, Waterbury, Montpelier and countless charming towns along the way. If you are interested in staying in one place but exploring the rest of our beautiful state, then the White Horse Lodge in the Mad River Valley is the perfect place to stay.
- Waterbury, VT – Home to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, 26 min. drive
- Montpelier, VT – The smallest state capital in the US, 35 min. drive
- Stowe, VT – At the base of Mount Mansfield, 42 min. drive
- Burlington, VT – On the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, 56 min. drive
