The Town of Benson has it all ~ dining, watersports, hiking, fishing and hunting, snowmobiling and more!
If you are looking for adventure, relaxation or perhaps even considering a residence here, you will find we are centrally located in the northwestern corner of Rutland County. We are 30 minutes from either Rutland or Middlebury, VT, 45 minutes from Glens Falls, NY, 60 minutes from Burlington, VT, and less than an hour from either Killington or Okemo ski areas.
The town is anchored on the west by Lake Champlain. Benson Landing has a boat ramp and large parking area, and is a favorite place for bass fishermen to launch from.
On the eastern side of town you will find the pristine Sunset Lake, with its companions, Perch Pond and Sunrise Lake (which borders the Town of Orwell). Sunset Lake is a hidden gem and a favorite place for locals to launch a kayak or take a cool swim on a hot summer day.
If hiking is your thing, then you need to visit the Shaw Mountain Natural Area, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy. It’s 450 acres in size and has a 2.4 mile hiking loop that circles the summit of the mountain. We recommend a visit in early spring when the wild trilliums are blooming on the hillside by the hundreds! The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation oversees the Pond Woods Wildlife Management Area, which preserves over 2,000 acres of diverse forest and wetlands. There is a parking and picnic area located on Route 22A just north of the G&L General Store.
The VAST snowmobile club maintains trails that run through Benson, and towards Lake Champlain.