If I gave my dog Kimmy Kibbler free reign to design the ideal vacation destination, I’d be rich because she could do things like that.
Jokes aside though, she’d likely come up with something like Dog Mountain Vermont, a haven for dogs, their humans, and anyone who needs a mood lift by watching dogs frolic without limits.
Let’s get into why this place is so special, its history, and how to make a trip there happen with your pooch.
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The History of Dog Mountain & Stephen Huneck
It’s impossible to talk about Vermont’s Dog Mountain without talking about Stephen Huneck. Huneck was a children’s book author and folk artist known for the wood carvings of dogs that came later in his life.
The carvings weren’t just something he enjoyed doing. He had an intense connection with dogs and credited the loyal beasts with helping to bring him out of a coma after an accident in his studio.
On top of those carvings, that near-death experience led to Huneck’s creation of the Dog Chapel, a project that took him 3 years to complete. Built in the style of an 1820s-style Vermont village church, it fits the landscape seamlessly, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit in the fall.
The chapel became an unexpected destination for dog lovers looking for a place that represented how they felt about their own pets, both in the present day and for pups they’d lost over the years.
This led to Huneck’s final project, an endeavor he took on with his wife, Gwen. The pair turned their mountain art retreat into a place for dogs and their human companions. They hosted an annual Dog Party that spread the word about the magic of this place even further. Along the way, visitors marveled at Huneck’s art and supported the growing doggie playland with sales from that artwork.
The fun continued until 2010.
What happened to Stephen Huneck? Stephen Huneck died by suicide in 2010 following a long battle with depression. He was just 61 years old. His wife struggled to maintain the property and died by suicide as well just 3 years later.
That tragedy shouldn’t be the legacy of this special place, though. For a while, it continued to operate with the help of Gwen’s brother, Jonathan Ide. In 2015, it was awarded nonprofit status under the Friends of Dog Mountain (FODM), a group that has worked diligently over the years to continue raising funds to not only keep the property open but to maintain its 150 acres.
The group hopes to create more art opportunities on the site, as art was always Huneck’s second passion. But the focus remains the same.
Dog Mountain will always be a place for dogs to roam freely and for visitors to celebrate the special bond between (wo)man and dog.
Dog Mountain Vermont: Logistics
To get to Dog Mountain, you’ll need to get to St. Johnsbury first. That’s a small town in the part of the state known as the Northeast Kingdom.
What is St. Johnsbury, Vermont, known for? St. Johnsbury, Vermont, is known for a rich tradition in art, nature, and a combination of both. It’s also known for Dog Mountain.
It’s scenic as heck out in these parts, so just be warned of how aggressively you’ll fall in love with Vermont if you go…especially if you’re there in the fall.
We visited Dog Mountain, VT, on a day trip from our base in Lyndon, another small town about 20 minutes north of St. Johnsbury. It all sounds quite off-the-beaten-path because it is. We were at the start of our nomadic journey just after the pandemic, so we were trying to visit places that were new to us. Bonus points if they didn’t boast a huge population.
You may not be so lucky. Here are a few more drive times from other popular Vermont destinations nearby so that you can better plan your trip:
- Burlington: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Woodstock: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Stowe: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Waterbury: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Montpelier: 1 hour
If you’re planning on visiting Stowe, I have a guide for all of my favorite things to do while you’re there. Check it out below:
A Complete Guide to Stowe, Vermont
When should you visit Dog Mountain?
Dog Mountain is open all year, but I do have a strong recommendation for you as far as the best time to visit. Vermont is legendary when it comes to its fall colors, so if you’re able, I’d highly suggest a trip out to St. Johnsbury and Dog Mountain in the autumn months.
Late September into early October would be ideal for the peep show. We visited the first week in October and the colors were poppin’.
Is Dog Mountain open in the winter? Dog Mountain is open in the winter. Just be prepared for snow with all of your winter gear.
Things to Do at Dog Mountain
Everything at Dog Mountain is dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup along for anything I mention here. If they’re good off-leash, you can also let them roam around freely everywhere except the gift shop. They’re still allowed in there, but they should be on a leash.
Obviously, if your dog doesn’t do well with a bunch of dogs around, this isn’t the place for you.
Hit the trails.
You have 150 acres to explore on Dog Mountain. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk daily for you to do just that. We just roamed around the trails without much of a plan and found all kinds of little nooks to investigate, including large totems and rest spots. Dog Mountain also has maps that offer color-coded trails for you to plan better than that.
Fun fact: If you visit in the winter, bring your snowshoes. Vermont is known for its epic snowfalls!
If you’re on a New England road trip, by the way, Acadia National Park is one of the most dog-friendly parks in the country! Check out my guide if you’re traveling that way:
Dog-Friendly Things to Do at Acadia
Take your pup for a swim.
Our pup only swims in dire emergencies, but if yours is a water-lover, they can take a dip in the swimming hole on the grounds with other like-minded pups. We didn’t see any dogs swimming on our visit, but it was also a brisk autumn day. I imagine it’s a popular way for dogs to cool off in the hot summer months.
Test your dog’s agility.
If your dog is a smart cookie who needs more to do rather than run without abandon, a small agility course on the grounds can allow them to show off a bit. To get there, you’ll just head west from the main gallery building to an open field. The obstacles are just south of the Angel Dog Overlook if you’re looking at the map of Dog Mountain.
Celebrate the spirit of dogs at the Dog Chapel.
When was the Dog Chapel built? The Dog Chapel was built in 2000, opening its doors on Memorial Day of that year.
I already mentioned a little bit about this special place, but let’s get into the details of this celebration of dogs. Remember that it took Huneck 3 years to build this place. Pay attention to everything around you as you walk through, like the doggie door, the wooden dogs standing at attention, and the stained glass windows featuring dogs.
This is also a place where dog owners come to grieve and feel some sense of belonging from others who have been through the loss of a pet. You’ll see photos and notes from previous visitors mourning their pets. I’m not crying, you’re crying. OK, fine. I’m probably crying.
Visit the Stephen Huneck Gallery.
The chapel gallery is dedicated to visitors and their memories, but the Stephen Huneck Gallery is dedicated to Huneck’s love for dogs combined with his passion for art. Whether you’re here to add to your collection at home or not, the dog art studio is worth a visit to check out some very unique, at times hilarious items.
You’ll notice quite a few children’s books, too. Huneck was the author behind the best-selling Sally series. Sally does all kinds of things, like get a job, go to the mountains, and eventually, go to heaven. Bring out those tissues again.
Fun fact: Sally was Huneck’s beloved black lab on top of her starring roles in his book series.
Attend a Dog Party.
Dog Mountain has continued the Hunecks’ tradition of hosting Dog Parties several times a year to allow local and visiting dog lovers to gather and play. They typically plan a big event in the summer and then again in the fall, but check out their events calendar for more details in case your visit is during a Dog Party.
Events are usually free, but this entire place is only available to us thanks to the generosity of strangers. If you attend, bring some cash for raffle tickets, sweat treats, food truck eats, and other fun things available so that you can send a little goodness their way.
Listen to some live music.
Summer at Dog Mountain is a non-stop party. In addition to a summertime Dog Party, Dog Mountain is also home to the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series, a months-long live music event with a diverse array of entertainers. The event comes to Dog Mountain courtesy of Catamount Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts in both Vermont and New Hampshire.
Note: Events are obviously dog-friendly. Just make sure our pup enjoys loud live music before you arrive. Ours most certainly does not!
Take in some leaf-peeping.
If you’re planning a visit to Dog Mountain, you’re already in Vermont, one of the best states to watch the leaves change in the fall. We planned our visit perfectly, visiting on a warm, sunny October day.
Watching your pup frolic with those vivid colors in the background is a pretty thing, but it’s still special even if you don’t have a dog to bring with you. Dog Mountain and the surrounding region is a great place to take in all of those fall vibes!
Support Dog Mountain.
One of the best ways to make sure that other dog lovers just like yourself are able to visit Dog Mountain for years to come is if you support Dog Mountain. It can be as simple as spreading the word about this magical place, picking up some Stephen Huneck art, large dog prints, or dog illustrations in the gift shop, or offering a bit more than the suggested donation.
Note: Visiting Dog Mountain is free, but they do suggest a donation of $5 per person on each visit. It’s a tiny price to pay to see your pup at its happiest.
Hotels Near Dog Mountain, VT
You have a variety of hotels and other accommodations at your disposal for an overnight in and around St. Johnsbury. Check out these picks from my preferred booking site, Booking.com for your next Dog Mountain lodge or hotel:
- McIndoe Falls Inn (Barnet, VT)
- Presidential Mountain Resort (Bethlehem, VT)
- EastGate Inn (Littleton, NH)
- Hampton Inn (Littleton, NH)
- Comfort Inn & Suites Near Burke Mountain (St. Johnsbury, VT)
Interested in something a little different? Below are some options from Vrbo, my preferred Airbnb alternative. We stayed at the Lyndon property below, just 20 minutes away from Dog Mountain:
- Country Cottage Near Kingdom Trails (Lyndon, VT)
- Cozy 2-Bedroom Retreat (St. Johnsbury, VT)
- Peaceful 1860s Farmhouse (St. Johnsbury, VT)
- Private Elegant Waterfront Home (Waterford, VT)
- Romantic Hideaway Treehouse Cabin (Waterford, VT)
Have you visited Dog Mountain? What’d you think of this magical place? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!
Ready to Visit Dog Mountain in Vermont?
Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but if you’re looking to book during a particular period of time, especially during busy times (e.g. autumn in New England), you should use Skyscanner. It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc. Scroll up for more tips on getting to Dog Mountain.
Your Accommodations: I usually use Booking.com and Hotels.com for our hotel needs. Both offer loyalty programs, and now offer listings that are more of the home or condo rental variety, which is great. If you’re seeking an overnight near Dog Mountain, scroll up for my top picks for accommodations.
Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try Hostelworld. Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience on a budget.
Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Favorite Things page. For more information on planning your travel, visit my Travel Tools page.
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