Salisbury: Branbury State Park and Lake Dunmore

If you’re planning a trip to Salisbury, Branbury State Park offers a focus on the water and surrounding landscape. The park is on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore, at the foot of Mount Moosalamoo. Other points of interest include historical topics and hiking trails in Salisbury, as well as a larger network of trails in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. These destinations differ in whether you’re looking for time at the lake, insights into local history, or trails through the region.

Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park

Branbury State Park has a 1,000-foot natural sandy beach on Lake Dunmore. The lake’s clear water is suitable for swimming and boating in the park. This makes a beach visit and time on the water two distinct options. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats can be rented in the park; availability may vary. If a particular type of boat is important to your plans, check whether it’s available before your visit.

The state park was established in 1945 and is also called Branbury (Brandon-Salisbury) State Park. Its history goes back beyond its establishment: the 69-acre site was formerly a farm, a guesthouse, a summer camp for boys, and a private beach. The site’s former uses give it a distinctive historical background alongside its present-day role as a place for recreation.

Historical topics in Salisbury

Local history also includes the Salisbury Village Blacksmith Shop. It is the town’s oldest surviving manufacturing site and the only remaining evidence of an extensive industrial complex from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The complex was clustered around the falls of the Leicester River. The shop is therefore not just a single historic building, but represents a broader chapter in the industrial history of the time. Its significance can be understood as part of Salisbury’s history, whether or not you visit.

Views and hiking trails

The Rattlesnake Cliffs Trail leads to two viewpoints overlooking Silver Lake, Lake Dunmore, the Champlain Valley, and the Adirondacks. Unlike the beach, the focus here is on views across several named landscapes. Seasonal restrictions may apply to the trail; check for them before your hike.

Other publicly accessible hiking trails are in the Town of Salisbury’s Town Forest and Farwell Forest. Together with the Rattlesnake Cliffs Trail, they offer different local starting points for hikes, though they don’t all feature the same viewpoints or scenery.

The wider Moosalamoo area

Beyond Salisbury itself, the Silver Lake/Leicester Hollow/Chandler Ridge trail network in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area extends across Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury in Vermont. It includes Silver Lake, Lake Dunmore, mountain views, waterfalls, and a multi-use area. This geographic context is useful when considering individual areas for your trip: the trail network belongs to a region that spans several towns, not just Salisbury.

Mountain biking is permitted on Silver Lake Road and the Chandler Ridge and Leicester Hollow trails in the Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury area. If you plan to ride these routes, check for any current trail restrictions on the specific routes you have in mind. This helps you account for the difference between Salisbury’s local hiking trails and those in the larger regional network when planning.

Discover more destinations: Middlebury, Vergennes.

For the broader travel overview: Addison County.