Cabin accommodations in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest offer year-round lodging options for visitors to Chittenden. Located at 1,200 feet elevation in Rutland County, the area experiences distinct seasonal changes with winter temperatures often dropping below freezing and summer highs typically in the 70s. Most wilderness cabin rentals in this region operate from Memorial Day through mid-October, though availability varies by location.
What to do
Hiking access from campsites: Chittenden Brook Campground provides convenient trail connections. "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp... Great hiking trails close to long trail, really tucked away a few miles off 73," notes a visitor to Chittenden Brook Campground.
Water recreation options: Lake access varies widely between cabin locations. A camper at Half Moon Pond State Park Campground appreciated that "We were easily able to go straight from the tent to our kayak, which was so awesome." Though the pond is described as "very weedy," the park offers "a deeper swimming area."
Backcountry shelter camping: For more primitive cabin experiences, options exist on the Appalachian Trail. "The shelter was a fairly basic 8ish person shelter, but this stop stood out because of a brand new privvy, large tenting areas, and a swimming hole and consistent water just a bit further down the trail," reports a hiker at Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The layout of sites affects the cabin camping experience significantly. "Though Half Moon Pond is very small it offered a calm relaxing time on the water... Each site is separated with trees, offering some privacy and a greater sense of nature," according to one reviewer at Half Moon Pond State Park.
Clean, updated facilities: Many campers highlight bathroom conditions as a key satisfaction factor. At Branbury State Park Campground, "Bathrooms were always clean and well maintained. Park staff very friendly!" The park offers "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds."
Nearby attractions: Cabin locations provide access to Vermont landmarks. One camper at Quechee State Park Campground noted the "campers only access trail to Quechee Gorge" and proximity advantages: "The town of Woodstock is a short drive west, and Killington Resort is a bit west of that. Killington offers summer mountain biking, zip lines, adventure climbs and roller coasters."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Not all cabin sites provide drinking water. At Chittenden Brook, there's "No running water or electricity. No cell service a few miles leading up the site, so download your maps in advance."
Seasonal operations: Most cabins close before winter. At Bomoseen State Park Campground, cabin rentals run "Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend." During summer, a reviewer noted the waterfront lean-tos were "kind of close together" but still provided good kayak access.
Reservation requirements: Booking patterns differ between state and private campgrounds. At Silver Lake Campground, one visitor reported, "Was able to snag a spot without a reservation. I'd probably recommend reserving a spot if it's the main season but I went in September and had an easy time grabbing a site."
Fire regulations: Rules about fires vary by location. A camper at Stony Brook Backcountry Shelter reported "no fires allowed" while Chittenden Brook provides fire pits at each site, noting that "Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table."
Tips for camping with families
Look for activity options: Family-friendly cabin locations offer multiple recreation choices. At Branbury State Park Campground, "There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits."
Consider noise levels: Some cabin areas maintain stricter quiet policies than others. A camper at Gifford Woods State Park Campground noted it's "a smaller campground which is really great" and offers access to nearby attractions: "It's just a short hike back to the pond, which is very pretty and is along the Appalachian Trail."
Check for ranger programs: Some parks offer structured activities. At Quechee State Park Campground, "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)."
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Narrow roads can limit RV access at some cabin locations. At Chittenden Brook Campground, "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair... Great tent camping area with good privacy at sites. Would be tough for any but the tiniest RV."
Hookup limitations: Most state park cabins lack utility connections. At Lake Bomoseen KOA, however, RV campers note that sites are "a good size and relatively level. We visited mid-week so it was quiet, but there are a lot of seasonal rigs there so weekends could be busy." The reviewer also warned about "NO cell coverage and the Wi-Fi is poor and very slow if you can connect."
