12 Best Things to Do Near Okemo Mountain, Vermont

By New England Host Co · Updated September 22, 2026

How We Picked

We stayed within an easy drive of Ludlow and looked for a mix of seasons: winter skiing, summer and fall outdoor trips, food stops and a couple of rainy-day options. Each entry had to be operating, or have current dates listed, on its own site or a Vermont state page when we checked on 22 September 2026. We have not printed prices, and hours appear only where we read them that day. Seasonal places change their schedules often, so check before you go.

Hosts can use this list as the backbone of a house guidebook; our local area guide template shows how.

1. Okemo Mountain Resort (Winter)

Okemo is Ludlow's big winter draw. Ski Vermont describes it as one of three Vermont ski areas on the Epic Pass, alongside Mount Snow and Stowe, with a reputation for grooming, terrain parks and family programs. The Jackson Gore base area is the hub for year-round activity, and its Spring House has a fitness center, sauna, hot tub and pools.

Good to know: Okemo's own website is the place to check lift status and conditions before you drive up.

2. Okemo's Adventure Zone and Golf (Summer)

In the warmer months, Okemo's Adventure Zone at Jackson Gore packages activities such as the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster, a challenge course, bungee trampoline, mini golf, disc golf, scenic chairlift rides and gem mining, according to Ski Vermont. The resort also has two 18-hole golf courses, and it runs a summer music series at Jackson Gore.

Good to know: Summer activities are seasonal and some have age or height rules, so check the resort's site for current operating days.

3. Okemo Mountain Road and the Summit Fire Tower

Okemo sits inside Okemo State Forest, which the state describes as one of southeast Vermont's largest state forest parcels. The paved Okemo Mountain Road gives drivers, hikers and bikers access toward the summit, and the 3-mile Healdville Trail climbs from the base to the top. A refurbished fire tower at the summit offers 360-degree views.

Good to know: In winter the road becomes part of the ski resort, so treat this as a warm-weather or fall outing.

4. Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is a series of waterfalls and pools on Branch Brook in Ludlow. The Vermont River Conservancy, which holds an easement on the land now owned by Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, says a short 0.5-mile trail leads to the falls, and that the upper and lower falls each have pools deep enough to swim.

Good to know: The conservancy flags no cell service at the site and a risk of drowning. Dogs are allowed on a leash.

5. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site

In Plymouth Notch, the state preserves the birthplace and childhood home of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, who took the oath of office in the family parlor in 1923. The village includes the family homes, a church, the 1890 school house and cheese factory, a general store, the 1924 Summer White House office and a museum.

Good to know: The state says the site is open during 2026 restoration work, with only the Homestead (the boyhood home) closed. It also warns of road and bridge closures along VT Route 100, so plan your route.

6. Coolidge State Park

Coolidge State Park in Plymouth offers camping (26 tent and RV sites and 36 lean-to sites, per Vermont State Parks), hiking trails and picnic areas, with access to gravel roads and trails in the surrounding Coolidge State Forest for mountain biking.

Good to know: The state lists the season as running from Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October, and notes that the park entrance road is steep and narrow.

7. Crowley Cheese

Crowley Cheese says it has made cheddar from the same recipe since 1824, and that its factory, built in 1882 on the back side of Okemo Mountain between Ludlow and Rutland, is the oldest continuously operating cheese factory in America. You can visit the factory and shop for cheese and other Vermont foods.

Good to know: If you want to see cheese being made, Crowley asks visitors to call ahead to confirm the schedule.

8. Green Mountain Sugar House

On Route 100 north of Ludlow village, the Green Mountain Sugar House is a family maple business that dates its sugaring to 1955. The shop sells syrup, maple candy and cream, Vermont gifts, and maple creemees, which it says it serves year round.

Good to know: Its website listed the shop as open seven days a week in September 2026.

9. The Vermont Country Store in Weston

The Vermont Country Store, founded in 1946, runs its original general store in Weston (plus a second store in Rockingham), selling practical clothing and household goods, classic toys and Vermont maple syrup. Mildred's Dairy Bar and Mildred's Table are on site in Weston.

Good to know: Weston is a short drive south of Okemo and pairs well with a theater night.

10. Weston Theater Company

The Weston Theater Company produces a summer season in Weston and, when we checked, had fall and winter events listed, including a Stick Season Gala on 9 October 2026 and the Weston Winter Cabaret on 4 and 5 December 2026.

Good to know: Its website has a "Stay and Play" section for visitors planning a show around an overnight trip.

11. Killington Resort

A drive north on Route 100 brings you to Killington Resort, which has year-round lift-served activities. In September 2026, Killington's website said its K-1 Gondola was running daily through 12 October, with bike park access and hiking trails open.

Good to know: Okemo and Killington are on different pass products, so check which pass your group holds.

12. Ludlow Village and the Okemo Valley

Ludlow itself is the base for all of the above. The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce covers Ludlow and nearby towns, including Andover, Cavendish, Chester, Plymouth, Mount Holly and Weston, and publishes a seasonal guide and event listings.

Good to know: For fall visits, the chamber's seasonal guide is a useful place to check what is happening the week you arrive.

Planning a Stay Near Okemo

Winter is peak season. Book lodging early for holiday weeks, and plan for snowy mountain roads.
Fall is busy too. Late September and October bring leaf-peepers to Route 100, and several seasonal attractions, such as Coolidge State Park, close after the second Monday in October.
Check road notices. The Coolidge site's 2026 warning about Route 100 closures is a reminder to check Vermont road conditions before a day trip.
Expect patchy signal in the forest and at swimming holes like Buttermilk Falls.

For Okemo Rental Owners

Guests who choose Ludlow want to know about far more than the lifts, so a guidebook built around these places helps them plan. New England Host Co manages short-term rentals in the Okemo Valley, including a modern 3BR/2BA three minutes from Okemo Mountain, with housekeeping and an inspection after every stay. Learn more on our Okemo vacation rental management page, or compare options in our list of the best short-term rental managers near Okemo.

FAQ

What Is There to Do Near Okemo in Summer?

Okemo's Adventure Zone and golf courses, the Healdville Trail and summit fire tower, Buttermilk Falls, Coolidge State Park and the Coolidge historic site are all close to Ludlow in the warmer months.

Is Okemo on the Epic Pass?

Yes. Ski Vermont lists Okemo as one of three Vermont ski areas on the Epic Pass, with Mount Snow and Stowe.

Can You Swim at Buttermilk Falls?

The Vermont River Conservancy says the upper and lower falls have pools deep enough to swim, but it also warns of a risk of drowning and notes there is no cell service. Swim with care.

Is the Calvin Coolidge Site Open in 2026?

Yes. The state says it is open during 2026 restoration work, with only the Homestead closed.

Best Things to Do Near Okemo Mountain