We managed to check off part of one of Carl’s bucket‑list items—visiting Killington, Vermont. The other part, snow skiing at Killington, will have to wait for a future winter when we’re willing to trade hiking boots for ski boots.
Killington surprised us. It was lively and full of summer energy… yet somehow still underwhelming.
Summer Adventure Play in Killington
The resort makes a real effort to turn ski season into adventure season. Summer attractions include a mountain coaster, zip line, gondola rides, hiking trails, weekly concerts at the lodge, and ski lifts repurposed to haul mountain bikes up the slopes. Mountain bikers flock here for the challenging trails.
For Independence Day weekend, we boondocked in one of the parking lots near the base of the tallest ski slope. We were surrounded by other campers, nearly all of them mountain bikers. Groups formed little wagon‑wheel circles with their rigs, generators running (annoyingly!) through the night while they tackled trails all day. It’s clearly a summer hotspot for anyone who loves two wheels, gnarly paths, and gravity.
Our Killington Highlights
We rode the gondola to the summit, hiked the Peak Trail, found a stretch of the Appalachian Trail that led to a waterfall, attended a July 4th concert in the K‑1 Lodge, drove into town for fireworks, and wandered the back roads on the motorbike. A full weekend, to say the least.
One interesting thing about Killington’s hiking trails: they’re labeled Difficult, Moderate, and Easier. Not easy—just easier. And that distinction matters. The Peak Trail is short (less than half a mile), but rocky and rugged. Thankfully, we wore our hiking boots. We passed a guy in flip‑flops who clearly misunderstood “Easier.” He took negotiating the trail to a new level.
We also met a nice couple from Massachusetts who spend summers here mountain biking. They’re the adventurous type—skydiving, rock climbing, Ironman triathlons. Killington seems to attract thrill-seekers.
Fourth of July in Town
The fireworks were lovely, and the crowd at the Killington recreation area (Herbert I. Johnson Recreation Center) was huge—families, locals, visitors, all spread across the soccer fields and around the pool. We saw a few fireworks we hadn’t seen before, which is always fun.
The Underwhelming Part
The town itself felt surprisingly small. Yes, there are a few hotels near the resort, but we didn’t see many houses or condos clustered around the slopes, and there weren’t long rows of hotel chains leading up the mountain. A handful of small lodges and motels as well as some local eateries—but not much else.
It made us wonder: where does everyone stay during the World Cup ski competition at Thanksgiving? The crowds must be enormous, yet the lodging options seem limited. Maybe everything is tucked out of sight, or maybe Killington simply expands in winter in ways that aren’t obvious in July.
In the end, Killington proved to be an interesting mix of high‑energy summer adventure and quiet mountain town simplicity. It wasn’t the full picture—we still owe Carl a winter trip—but it gave us a taste of what makes this place special to so many outdoor enthusiasts. As we continue our travels, Killington will stand out as a spot that surprised us, challenged us, and left us curious to return in a different season.
[We’ve been traveling up the East Coast. Check out our post on Maine – Maine: Before, After, and Still Calling Us Back.]