Salisbury: Lake, Trails and Local History

In Salisbury, Branbury State Park is on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore and at the foot of Mount Moosalamoo. The beach, water activities, hiking trails, and expansive landscape views give the area a variety of facets. The town’s history also extends beyond the natural surroundings: it includes the site’s former uses and the craft of blacksmithing. When choosing a vacation rental, you can consider whether time at the lake, hiking destinations, or traces of local history should be the focus of your stay.

Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park

Branbury State Park has a 1,000-foot-long natural sand beach on Lake Dunmore. The clear water is suitable for swimming and boating in the park. This makes time on shore and activities on the water two different ideas for a day out. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats can be rented in the park; availability may vary. If renting a boat is important to your plans, check availability before your visit.

The 69-acre park site was formerly a farm, guest house, boys’ summer camp, and private beach. Branbury State Park was established in 1945 and is also called Branbury (Brandon-Salisbury) State Park. Its former uses thus included both accommodations and recreation by the water; today, the beach, swimming, and boating shape activities on Lake Dunmore. In this way, the park combines a specific history of the site with a clear focus on the lake.

Viewpoints and Trails in Salisbury

The Rattlesnake Cliffs Trail leads to two viewpoints overlooking Silver Lake, Lake Dunmore, the Champlain Valley, and the Adirondacks. The views mentioned thus range from lakes and a valley to the Adirondacks. Seasonal restrictions may apply; check the trail’s current conditions before setting out.

More publicly accessible hiking trails can be found in the Town of Salisbury’s Town Forest and Farwell Forest. Alongside the trail with its two viewpoints, there are also other trails in the forests to choose from. If you want to make a specific landscape view the focus of your day’s plans, consider the Rattlesnake Cliffs Trail; the trails in Town Forest and Farwell Forest add further hiking destinations to the mix.

In the wider region, the Silver Lake/Leicester Hollow/Chandler Ridge trail network extends across Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury in Vermont. It includes Silver Lake, Lake Dunmore, mountain views, waterfalls, and a multi-use area. Mountain biking is permitted on Silver Lake Road and on the Chandler Ridge and Leicester Hollow trails in this area. Check the current trail restrictions before a mountain biking trip.

A Glimpse into Salisbury’s History

The Salisbury Village Blacksmith Shop is the oldest surviving manufacturing site in town and the only remaining evidence of an extensive industrial complex. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the complex was clustered around the falls of the Leicester River. This historical connection thus leads from water as a place for recreation on Lake Dunmore to the area’s former industrial use around the falls of the Leicester River. The shop represents another side of Salisbury, alongside its landscapes and trails.

If you’re planning a family trip, you can weigh water, views, and local history as different interests for your days out. Base your search for a vacation rental in Salisbury on the destinations you want to shape your stay; for hiking and mountain biking plans, the regional extent of the trails is also relevant.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Vergennes, Middlebury.

Go to the main travel overview: Addison County.