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Silver Lake Campground
Silver Lake Campground is a small, primitive campground located on Silver Lake. Silver Lake is only accessible by hiking 0.6 miles down the Goshen Trail or on the Service Road.
Please note: drinking water access is currently closed to protect public health. There is no garbage service available, please carry out what you carry in.
Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, a snowmobiling opportunities are all available in the Silver Lake Area Trails.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Designated campgrounds are no longer maintained after the summer recreation season. Users may continue to recreate in the area however, some sites may not be accessible and amenities, such as restrooms and water, may not be available. Please contact the local Ranger Station for current conditions. |
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| Operational Hours: | Campground is open year-round. Hosts typically on-site Memorial Day through Columbus Day. |
| Reservations: | Sites are reservable on recreation.gov. Unreserved sites are available on a first come, first served basis. |
| Fees: | Camping fee:
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| Restrictions: |
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| Closest Towns: | Goshen Brandon Food and Services: Brandon restaurants and fuel stations. For all Emergencies: 911; 911 Information: The trailhead is in the Town of Goshen on Silver Lake Road. |
| Water: | Not for Drinking |
| Restroom: | Vault |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
| Information Center: | Green Mountain National Forest - Middlebury Ranger District |
General Information
Directions:From Middlebury, travel south on Route 7 to the Junction of Route 125.Travel east on Route 125 for 6.8 miles, and turn right onto Forest Road 32. Follow FR 32 for 6.8 miles, and turn right onto Silver Lake Road. Follow Silver Lake Road 2.2 miles to the parking lot at the end.
From Rochester, travel south on Route 100 to the junction of Route 73. Travel west on Route 73 for 10.3 miles. Turn right on Hathaway Road, and follow it for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Flora White Road, and follow it for 1.4 miles to a stop sign. Go straight through onto Silver Lake Road. Follow Silver Lake Road 2.2 miles to the parking lot at the end.
General Notes:
There are 15 campsites irregularly spaced along a wooded road. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with a grill. Please note: drinking water access is currently closed to protect public health. There is no garbage service available, please carry out what you carry in.
Additional Resources
History of Silver Lake
Silver Lake has attracted people for many generations. Long before the Green Mountain National Forest owned the surrounding land, or the Hortonia Power Company started making electricity; even before the famous Silver Lake Hotel and religious retreat grew out of a small upland farm on the site of today's picnic area, ancestors of today's Abenaki people were here enjoying the peace and beauty. To learn more about the history of Silver Lake, we recommend a recent book by William J. Powers, Jr. -- "Leicester Vermont's SILVER LAKE -- Beyond the Myths", available in local bookstores and libraries throughout central VT.
Activities
Mountain Biking
The Silver Lake Trail follows an old carriage road from the Falls of Lana parking area past the Falls of Lana and Silver Lake to the Goshen parking area. The trail goes uphill all the way and is fairly steep from Route 53 to Silver Lake.
The maximum elevation change is 850 feet and average ride time is 1 – 1 ½ hours.
Campground Camping
There are 15 campsites irregularly spaced along a wooded road. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with a grill.
There are two vault toilets in the campground and one barrier free vault toilet in the picnic area. There is no drinking water available. There are no showers or hook-ups. There is no garbage service available; please carry out what you carry in.
Day Hiking
Trails in the Silver Lake Area provide day hikes 0.6 miles long to 5.5 miles long. Trails can be chained together to make hikes of many different distances and difficulties.
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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Horse Riding
The Silver Lake Trail is open to horses. Please view our horseback riding page for best practices for horseback riding on the Green Mountan National Forest.
Picnicking
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Trails in the Silver Lake Area provide day hikes 0.6 miles long to 5.5 miles long. Trails can be chained together to make hikes of many different distances and difficulties.
Location
