Skyline Lodge & Tent Area

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. A $5 per person, per night fee is collected by the Green Mountain Club caretaker when present. Forest Road 59 closes for winter, requiring hikers to walk an additional mile from the road closure to reach the trailhead.

About

Skyline Lodge is a distinctive multi-level backcountry shelter maintained by the Green Mountain Club, situated at an elevation overlooking Skylight Pond in the heart of the Breadloaf Wilderness. The shelter is reached via the Skylight Pond Trail, a 2.6-mile approach that begins on an old woods road, crosses two small streams, and climbs by long switchbacks through beautiful hardwood and softwood forests before intersecting the Long Trail. As a wilderness area site, trail blazing, maintenance, and signage are minimal, emphasizing a primitive backcountry experience. The shelter itself is a peeled log structure that provides a scenic resting point for Long Trail thru-hikers and day hikers alike. Skylight Pond, located at the headwaters of the White River, offers a serene alpine setting surrounded by conifers. The area is popular with backpackers, and during peak seasons, a Green Mountain Club caretaker may be in residence. Visitors must practice Leave No Trace ethics, including proper food storage in compliance with Green Mountain National Forest bear regulations, treating or filtering water from natural sources, and minimizing campfire impacts.

Directions

From Middlebury, travel south on Route 7 to its intersection with Route 125. Travel east on Route 125 for 6.6 miles and turn left onto Forest Road 59. Skylight Pond parking is located 6.6 miles up Forest Road 59 on the right. Hike 2.6 miles on the Skylight Pond Trail to reach the shelter. Note: Forest Road 59 closes in winter; park at the closure and walk approximately 1 mile to the trailhead.

Nearby Campgrounds