Location: Washington, Vermont, in Orange County
Website: The Bunkhouse
Facebook page: The Bunkhouse
Google map: Map
Description: The Bunkhouse is one of the Horse Trail Chicks’ favorite places to take our horses for the weekend. It is a privately owned facility offering day use with access to trails, overnight lodging for riders and horses, as well as training and lessons. The bunkhouse itself sleeps up to 10 people and is gorgeously appointed with wood floors, antique furniture, western decor, a full kitchen, and porch.
There is a pavilion with 6 small paddocks with partial cover (smartly separated to avoid nose-to-nose contact between horses), a large paddock with run-in shed that accommodates 2-3 horses, and 2 tack sheds. See The Bunkhouse website for more information. Please email or call them to book ahead of time, even for day use.
Trails: The Bunkhouse is nestled in a vast area of wilderness that includes private land and State Forest crisscrossed by logging roads, snowmobile trails, hiking trails, and class 4 dirt roads. One of the wonderful things about Vermont is that many people who own large tracts of forest don’t mind if people recreate on their land, as long as they do so respectfully. When you ride out from The Bunkhouse you will not be on trails that are maintained for horseback riding; you will be on trails that were created for other purposes but are well-suited for horseback riding on a trail-savvy horse.
Terrain: Forested and hilly. Most rides start with a bit on a gravel road (almost no traffic) then enter the woods and go through beautiful mature forests. The footing includes soft forest floor, rocky areas, some muddy spots, and the occasional meadow. Some places are walk-only but there are plenty of spots to trot or canter. In the spring and in wet years some parts of the trail will be muddy. Your horse should be fit enough to climb hills and willing enough to go through streams and over fallen logs.
Access: Easily accessed from Barre, Vermont
Parking: There is plenty of parking for several trailers on the grass near the stalls. Depending on the turning radius of your rig, you should be able to turn your trailer with minimal backing up. If you park your rig at the upper paddock by the Bunkhouse, you will definitely have to back up your rig to turn it around. The driveway gradually goes uphill to the house and outdoor arena. You can also turn around near the arena. The best thing to do if you have not been there before is to stop in the driveway, get out of your truck and look at your options. If Kelly is there she will come out and help you decide where to park.
The walk from the pavilion to the bunkhouse is up a grassy incline. Options for getting your overnight gear up there include (1) unhooking your trailer and driving your vehicle up to the bunkhouse, (2) schlepping it up on foot, and (3) if Kelly is around she is happy to take your gear up in her Ranger (an awesome little mini-utility vehicle).
Trail maps: You will be provided with laminated trail maps as well as an iPhone that you can use while you ride to navigate (however it sometimes acts up and doesn’t work). Land ownership and permissions can change so please check in with The Bunkhouse owner, Kelly, before heading out.
We also have GPS routes that you can download to your phone and use to navigate while on the trail. You will need a paid AllTrails account ($36/year, which is well worth it; there is a free version but it only works where there is cell service and there is no cell service around The Bunkhouse). We find that it can freeze up in the woods around The Bunkhouse; if this happens, just close the map and reopen it and it will update your current location.
If you have another GPS app you may be able to download these routes and import them into your app.
Downloadable GPS route Trail #1
Downloadable GPS route Trail #2
Downloadable GPS route Trail #3
Downloadable GPS route – all Bunkhouse Trails (as of 2023)
Kelly can also ride out with you for a fee if she is available. We recommend this because she knows the trails really well and can guide you on a great ride. Plus she is a lovely person to spend time with.
Restrictions and safety warnings:
- Reservations are required, even for day use.
- Hunting is allowed in the area. (Click here for more information).
- Note: Trail and road conditions can change at any time. The actual conditions you encounter may differ from the information presented here. Horseback riding is inherently dangerous and you must employ independent judgement and use the information herein at your own risk. By accessing this site, you acknowledge and accept these limitations and agree to hold harmless Horse Trail Chicks, Monica Raymond, and Kerrie Garvey from any liability, damages, injury, or death that result from using this information.
The Horse Trail Chicks – Kerrie and Monica, and their trusty steeds – Prophet and Tupelo – at The Bunkhouse
