Start at the north (Silver Lake Trailhead) for the Rattlesnake Cliffs and Silver Lake Trails, or the south (Minnie Baker Trailhead) for the Chandler Ridge and Leicester Hollow Trails. Mountain biking allowed on Silver Lake Road, and on Chandler Ridge and Leicester Hollow Trails.
Falls of Lana and Silver Lake: 5.1 miles. Trailhead: East side of Lake Dunmore near Goshen, Route 53. The trail shares the same approach as Rattlesnake Cliffs/Oak Ridge Trails for the first mile, but after that it is an entirely different hiking experience taking you to a pristine lake with an interesting past. From the Lower Silver Lake/Falls of Lana parking lot on VT 53 walk up a short rise to a Forest Service access road. Turn right, heading up the trail that follows an old carriage road uphill. The unpaved lane soon passes under a huge pipe called a penstock. The penstock feeds water from Silver Lake (elevation 1250) down to a local hydroelectric power station nearly 700 feet below on Route 53. Built in 1922, the station first provided power to the iron mines in Mineville, New York. Today it produces electricity for over 800 homes in the Moosalamoo area. But this industrial intrusion is completely hidden from you, except for the penstock. Continue past the Falls of Lana at 0.5 miles, which are viewable a short distance from the trail (be careful of your footing as the roots are slick). From the top of the falls, the trail parallels Sucker Brook, as it climbs gently to an intersection with the trail to Rattlesnake Cliffs and the summit of Mount Moosalamoo. Follow the carriage road to the right uphill continuing along the service road. As you climb, ignore the various side trails and roads that enter from the right. At 1.6 miles the road reaches a grassy area at the northern tip of the lake where there is a 2.5 mile trail around Silver Lake, called Rocky Point Interpretive Trail. At Silver Lake where there is a nice picnic area to the left of the dam. This section is well used and has tent sites. Completing this loop gives you 5+ miles of roundtrip hiking. The maximum elevation change is 850 feet. The junction with the Leicester Hollow Trail is just beyond the picnic area and over the bridge above the feeder channel from the diversion dam to the lake.
Goshen Trail: The trail begins at the Goshen Parking lot on FR 27 (Silver Lake Road) at a gate. The trail crests a low ridge and passes under a power line. Continuing through the woods, the trail turns right at a junction with the Ridge Trail and connects with the Leicester Hollow Trail just south of Silver Lake Campground at 0.6 miles. Maximum elevation change is 270 feet.
Silver Lake Loop Trail: The trail junctions at both Leicester Hollow Trail, south of Silver Lake Campground, and Silver Lake north of the picnic site. The trail follows around Silver Lake, leaving the lake to meet up with Chandler Ridge Trail, and then continuing again along the lake at 1.6 miles.
Minnie Baker Trail: The Minnie Baker trail head is in the Town of Leicester off Route 53. The trail climbs steeply in several pitches from route 53 and then descends to the Leicester Hollow Trail on a long downgrade with a hairpin turn at 1.2 miles and the maximum elevation change is 800 feet.
Leicester Hollow/Chandler Ridge Loop: Length: 10.8 miles. Note: The Leicester Hollow Parking Area is currently closed because of a condemned bridge. Please use the Minnie Baker Trail to reach the Leicester Hollow Trail at 1.2 miles.
Leicester Hollow Trail: Multiple Use Trail, no motorized vehicles in summer. The trail follows Leicester Hollow Brook and crosses it many times as it ascends easily to Silver Lake. The trail ends at the Silver Lake Trail, near the dam at 4.8 miles. The maximum elevation change is 250 feet and average mountain bike ride time is 2.5 hours. Return the way you came, or for good views, via Chandler Ridge Trail, which begins off the Silver Lake Loop Trail on the west side of Silver Lake, which follows a ridge with gentle grades and has views to the east and west. It meets the Leicester Hollow Trail again 0.3 miles before the parking lot, which is at 8.8 miles. Elevation change over Chandler Ridge is 720 feet. Average hiking time for the loop is 4-5 hours.
Chandler Ridge Trail: No horses or motorized vehicles. Elevation change is 720 feet. Chandler Ridge is a rare ridgeline bike trail, with great views of Silver Lake at the beginning and end of the ride. Expect nice flowy trail and incredible stone work on moderate pitches, 6-7% average, with a total elevation gain of 2100 vertical feet. The trail is best ridden north to south, beginning off the Rocky Point of Silver Lake Loop Trail on the west side of Silver Lake. It follows a ridge with gentle grades with switchbacks and has views to the east and west of Silver Lake and Lake Dunmore, and then eventually meets the Minnie Baker Trail, then the Leicester Hollow Trail at 4.8 miles. Return via the Leicester Hollow Trail.
Please check current trail and road closures in the Green Mountain National Forest.
Visit Addison County Bike Club or Green Mountain National Forest online for more information and to view an interactive map or contact:
Silver Lake Trailhead: On the east side of Lake Dunmore, follow Route 53 for 0.2 miles south of Branbury State Park. The best parking is at the main trailhead, the second one (farther south), on the east side of the road.
Minnie Baker Trailhead: From Brandon, follow Route 73 east for 3.3 miles and turn left onto Route 53. Park on the right at 1.6 miles. From Rochester, follow Route 100 south to the junction of Route 73. Take Route 73 west for 14.4 miles to Route 53. Park on the right at 1.6 miles. From Route 73, take Hathaway Road to Flora White Road to Silver Lake Road. Trailhead is at the end of Silver Lake Road.
Fay Road Trailhead: From Goshen on Route 73, turn north onto Town Hill Road and proceed 0.6 miles before turning left onto Fay Road. Travel Fay Road until it ends at the trailhead. Park to the side of the road.
Goshen/Silver Lake East Trailhead: From Ripton on VT-125, turn south onto the Goshen Road (FR-32) and travel for 6.7 miles. Turn east (right) onto Silver Lake Road and follow it for 2.1 miles to the end of the auto road and the Goshen Trailhead.
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The short trail around the lake, is poorly marked. The other trail goes around the lake, too, but its over twice as far. Be prepared.
Awesome place though.
I caught it in Sept. A local told me to avoid the summer. Makes sense. The parking lot is right across the street from lake Dunmore.
Theres another adventure going out Rattlesnake point, & up mt. moosalmoo.
Might want to leave breadcrumbs for that one.