Rutland VT local knowledge

[Bags4266]

Hello All,
I have a section hike from Rutland Vt to NY border end of Sept. and need some info on the Rutland area. My train arrives at 9pm, questions:
1) Are there any cheap motels within walking distance by the train station?
2) How far is the trail head from the train station?
3) Is it easy to get a cab at that hour to the trail head?
3a) If so is there a easy place to hammock around the trail head once I get there?

Thanks, Bags

[Jeff]

There is a hostel within easy walking distance from the train station. They are listed in all the trail guides. Call them to make sure you can arrive late in the evening. Trains frequently run behind schedule.

The next morning you can catch a bus that goes to the the Inn at the Long Trail. I am sure they can drop you off right at the trailhead on Rt 4. The bus station is right behind the hostel.

[Dogwood]

Hello All,
I have a section hike from Rutland Vt to NY border end of Sept. and need some info on the Rutland area. My train arrives at 9pm, questions:
1) Are there any cheap motels within walking distance by the train station?
2) How far is the trail head from the train station?
3) Is it easy to get a cab at that hour to the trail head?
3a) If so is there a easy place to hammock around the trail head once I get there?

Thanks, Bags

1) 12 Tribes Hostel is cheapest place to stay. Good homemade food made in the restaurant down stairs too. Check with the Hostel on check in times!
2) Hostel is very near the train station(within short walking distance)
3) Bus is cheaper than a cab and will get you VERY Close to the TH to go south. Bus station is right behind Hostel.
3a) Hammocking is possible near the TH but it's not a long hike to the first shelter, Cooper Lodge, I think.

[Bags4266]

Thanks all, thats my problem is my arrival time. I might not be able to check in at a late hour. So my option was to taxi to the trail head at night.

[Dogwood]

Call 12 Tribes and check if you can check-in after 9 P.M. and hit the bus the next morn to the TH. Explain your late train arrival. No worries. Less rush rush rush .

[Bags4266]

True, will do. Thanks

[Dogwood]

Got another possible scenario that might interest you. If you stay in Rutland the night you arrive, and, yes there are inexpensive places(hotels/motels/rooming houses) not far from the Amtrak and bus stations. I think they lock the door to the 12 Tribes hostel at 9 or 10 P.M.but I think you could make arrangements with them to arrive after 9 P.M., if you so chose to go that most inexpensive route. Anyhow, take the same bus you would take to the Long Trail Inn the following morning after your arrival and continue on to Killington Ski Resort. The bus drops you off at the main lodge very near the tram. Although I would call the resort first to make sure it's operating, they often run it in summmer and early Fall for mountain biking events where the tram riders haul their bikes to the top on the tram and race back down or for Fall sightseeing. You would miss a few miles of AT uphill near Pico Ski Resort but you would eleminate the climb. When you get to the top observation deck make sure to walk around and check out the FABULOUS Vermont view! Take the short spur trail over to Cooper Lodge(AT hut on the AT). Ask where the spur trail is if you can't find it. Another GREAT view exists from the summit of the spur!

Even if you decide not to take the tram and do the miles on the AT instead I would recommend you do the spur over Killington summit to the Killington Ski Resort Observation Deck from Cooper Lodge. I'm telling you - GREAT VIEW! There is signage at Cooper Lodge.

Happy Hiking!

[BigFoot2002]

I found motels in the town of Rutland to be very reasonable. The bus will drop you off at the Inn, at the trailhead, or at Kilington

[double d]

Just got back from Rutland, I would say take the BUS to the INN at Long Trail, very cool place and its not far from the LT-AT.

[Bags4266]

I would love to stay at the Brewery (LTI) But the train arrivies at 9pm I'm not sure how long the buses run for but I doubt that late. And that is if the train is on time!

[double d]

Bags, call the Inn at the Long Trail and see what time the bus comes bye, you will not be disappointed at all. Also, there are numereous motels in the Rutland area that are not far from the train station, as the station is down at the bottom of a hilly downtown area of Rutland. Good luck.

[singing wind]

If it's any help at all, I did the train trip to Rutland in June and it's a beautiful ride. The train was about 1/2 or so late arriving in Rutland. For late night shuttles there were 2 cab companies - the fare to the TH is $25, maybe less for cash.

It's about a 30 or so minute ride up to the trail - there's water available at the Inn at the Long Trail if you get dropped off there and ample stealth camping and hammocking on the south side of the road.

The road walk from the AT/LT to the Inn doesn't have a decent shoulder to walk on.

Buses run regularly 7 days from downtown Rutland along Route 4 to Killington and will drop you most anywhere along the route after you leave the Rutland town limits. The fare is $2 each way - runs once an hour I think. Here's the link & phone #:

http://www.thebus.com/routes.htm
(802) 773-3244 Ext #117 Monday thru Friday

It may also be possible to stay at or near the Inn and slackpack the Killington section from Rt. 4 or Rt. 103 by using their routes.

Good luck and enjoy your hike! The Vermont weather is beautiful just now and bugs are minimal.

[singing wind]

Here's the link for the Killington Connector bus route out of Rutland:

http://wwwthebus.com/routes/rkc.htm
&
http://wwwthebus.com/pdf/RKC2010summer.pdf

[Bare Bear]

The INN at The Long Trail used to let hikers camp free across the road. Kinda loud from traffic but the INN doesn't have AC either so you get noise there too.

[GoldenBear]

Not wanting to start a new thread when this one -- even if three years old -- introduces the topic so well, I'll just give details about my visit to Rutland last week.

A typical way to arrive at Rutland is at the Amtrak station.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=56832
on the Ethan Allen Express. As this pdf notes
http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/836/520/Ethan-Allen-Express-Schedule-040713.pdf
this train from NYC-Penn Station operates seven days a week, with a later train on Fridays. Its usual schedule is a 3:15p departure and a 8:48p arrival at Rutland. According to Amtrak, this train has been on-time 83% of the time over the last year. The station itself
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=56831
has bathrooms, water fountains, a couple of vending machines, and recycle bins. One thing it does NOT have is a ticket office -- you'll have to buy your ticket either online (note there is no wifi here) or by phoning Amtrak. Station hours are also quite limited: weekdays are 6:45a to 8:30a and 8pm to 10pm.

Rutland has an unusual dual character: its downtown area is a Norman-Rockwell-like medium-size New England city, a designated historic place with local, mom/pop shops; just outside this area are numerous chain stores, and even two big-box malls. As you exit the train station you see this duality by viewing America's sacred buildings:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=56830
No, not the church spires -- the Walmart immediately on your right as you exit. Also in this mall is a 24-hour supermarket, a dollar store, and a Subway restaurant open 7a - 11p. If you continue towards the spires, you'll soon come to Center Street
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=56829
where there are small restaurants, several ATMs, and a well-discussed hostel
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?16090-Rutland-Hostel&p=1503144&highlight=#post1503144
Within a short walk from the city center are convenience stores, fast-food chains, and a few motels.

At the intersection of West Street and Cottage Street (another entrance on Center Street) is the Marble Valley Regional Transit Center. From here you can ride shuttle buses to several cities in the area, each costing $2.
http://www.thebus.com/routes.htm
The Diamond Express, for example, goes direct to the Inn at Long Trail, that is almost right on the Trail. There are also buses to Ludlow, to Manchester, and (from the latter) to Williamtown MA
http://www.greenmtncn.org/regional.html

There are taxi services in Rutland, but not like taxis in large cities. You don't phone a central dispatcher and have that person arrange for a taxi to where you are. Instead, you call the cell phone of an individual, who owns his/her taxi car, and who may or may not be available to pick you up. Do NOT count on a quick pickup while in this town if you just phone for a taxi. You may get one, you may not.

Rutland is easy to get to, has a lot of businesses useful & friendly to hikers, and permits quick & cheap access to several parts of the Trail. I highly recommend the city as a start and end-point for section hikes, or a place for a day or so of down time.

[TrailTrekr]

I'm from Rutland and both my boys live their if you need any other info that has not been provided here you can reach me at [email protected].

[Marmaduke]

I spend a week in Wallingford every year, I love Rutland for some reason. It's a town that puts me in a great mood. All sorts of amenities and really nice folks. This isn't a helpful comment at all, but yeah...... Rutland +1