Summary
A fall visit to the Middlebury Snowbowl trades ski season for hiking boots. Following Voter Trail to the Long Trail, we found Lake Pleiad, a glacial tarn we'd been skiing past for years. Add the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in Ripton for an easy, rewarding outdoor day with little hikers.
By Jen and Caledonia Williams
As the nights get crisper and bedtime sneaks in earlier, the kids and I have made a pact to spend more time outside and enjoy the changing season. Recently, we headed to one of our favorite winter destinations, Middlebury Snowbowl, and experienced the mountain in a whole new way.
Off Season at the Snowbowl
We’re used to seeing the Snowbowl under a blanket of snow, playing on it all day with skis strapped to our feet. On this visit, we got to see the behind the scenes infrastructure and lush landscape beneath the winter version: trails and service roads, repairs and renovations at hand, and a lovely swatch of the Long Trail that crosses the mountain. The biggest surprise was Lake Pleiad, an alpine pond we’ve apparently been skiing around for years!
With our path edged with the first hints of autumn color, we walked beneath the lifts and followed Voter Trail, a familiar winter ski run, toward the Long Trail and Lake Pleiad. Along the way, I was reminded of some of the lessons a seven-year-old can teach you when you actually let them lead.
Slow down. Marvel at heart-shaped rocks. Notice the clouds. And take all the time you need to build a perfectly appointed fairy house, even if you haven’t reached the summit yet.
In fact, the summit wasn’t our goal that day. That’s hard for me, or at least it was for the old me. This time, the destination was simply being together. And we absolutely nailed it.
While putting the finishing touches on her fairy house, Caledonia looked up and said, “We make a really good team.”
Later, as we approached Lake Pleiad, she walked ahead of me. I could hear her taking it all in before she turned and said, “Now THIS is beautiful.”
She was right.
Lake Pleiad
Lake Pleiad is a glacially carved high-elevation pond, or mountain tarn, tucked into the Green Mountains at about 2,120 feet. It’s tea-colored and surrounded by spruce, balsam, and peatland supporting a rich aquatic ecosystem. There’s an abundant wild brook trout population; no wonder we saw countless animals’ paw prints around the water’s edge!
One word to the wise: admire the lake with your eyes. We discovered a couple of leeches and quickly learned that this is a spectator pond, not a swimming pond. Lessons were learned, with plenty of laughter.
Robert Frost Interpretive Trail
After saying “see you soon” to the Snowbowl, we continued our day along Route 125 with a stop at the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in Ripton. Part of the Green Mountain National Forest, it’s an easy 1.2-mile walk with Robert Frost’s poetry mounted along the route. The first 0.3 mile loop follows a raised boardwalk through the wetlands, making it an especially approachable option with little hikers.
It was the perfect tag-on to our mountain adventure: short, quiet and just interesting enough to keep little kids moving forward.
Savor the Moments
This one-on-one Mama and kiddo hiking date reminded me to savor this moment together and also appreciate the season rather than rush through it. It also gave me a new appreciation for a mountain I already love. We cherish the Snowbowl as a winter playground, and there is something pretty magical about seeing it without snow, too.
While we will be carving turns soon, for now, I’m happy to let the leaves turn. I will take the slow way up, and keep following my favorite hiking buddy, one heart rock, fairy house, and beautiful view at a time.
When You Go
The Middlebury Snowbowl sits at 6886 Route 125 in Hancock, with trail information and mountain maps available through the resort. The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail is on Route 125 in Ripton, with parking at the trailhead. The trail is part of the Green Mountain National Forest and is well marked.
Make a day of it with snacks and GORP from the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and one of Middlebury’s many post-hike dining options. With the Snowbowl, Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, and Robert Frost Interpretive Trail all nearby, this stretch of Route 125 makes an easy and rewarding outdoor day with little hikers.
Plan your visit: Middlebury Snowbowl | Moosalamoo Association trail information | Robert Frost Interpretive Trail information
Originally from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and raised skiing Burke Mountain, Jen now lives on the Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain—thrilled to be raising her kids as Snow Bowl locals at Middlebury. Mountains have always shaped her sense of home, community, and balance, and they continue to ground her work and family life.
Jen is a marketing and communications consultant with 20 years’ experience helping mission-driven organizations grow, particularly in health and wellness, equity, education, travel, sports, and the arts. She has supported clients remotely since 2014, guiding brand strategy, storytelling, and integrated campaigns from big-picture concept to thoughtful execution. Curious by nature and motivated by impact, she’s also pursuing a master’s in Health Communication for Social Change from CUNY’s School of Public Health, alongside parenting, volunteering, and teaching yoga. Find her at jenwilliams.online.