West Dover: Winter Sports, Trails, and Village History

West Dover combines winter sports with a well-preserved village history: Mount Snow is located in town, and the West Dover Historic District showcases a 19th-century village. Add winter activities on Horace Hill, a scenic walking and biking trail, as well as art and golf. These varied themes make West Dover appealing to travelers who don’t want to limit their stay to a single experience.

Winter between Mount Snow and Horace Hill

Mount Snow is a ski area with 86 trails across 601 acres and 18 lifts. These figures may change. Horace Hill is just off Vermont Route 100 in the center of West Dover and covers 53 acres. In winter, visitors can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing there. This puts the trails and lifts at Mount Snow alongside other winter activities: the options on Horace Hill. If you’re looking for a vacation rental for a winter getaway, this distinction can help you decide what you’d like to focus on.

Village history in the West Dover Historic District

The West Dover Historic District is a well-preserved 19th-century village. Its buildings date from approximately 1805 to 1885. The district includes 20 contributing primary buildings, mostly in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. The period of roughly eight decades and the predominant architectural styles give the historic village a distinct character. If you’re interested in architecture as well as winter sports, the district offers a separate point of interest for planning your trip.

Explore the Valley Trail

The Valley Trail is a scenic walking and biking trail connecting Dover and Wilmington. Its five-mile route passes through varied terrain. There is also a paved section in the Historic District of West Dover. When choosing a route, it’s worth considering the full trail and this section separately: the distance describes the trail, while the paved part is in the historic district. This lets you combine time outdoors with an interest in the village’s character, without reducing the character of the whole trail to a single section.

Art and views of the Green Mountains

I Love Art Space has a gallery area and a workshop space in West Dover. Visiting hours and programs may change, so check both before planning a visit. Mount Snow Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course. It offers views of the Green Mountains, including the peaks of Mount Snow and Haystack. This adds the mountain landscape as a travel interest alongside sports. If you’d like to include golf in your plans, check the course’s availability before your trip.

Choose the right vacation rental base

When looking for a vacation rental in West Dover, it helps to decide what kind of trip you want first. Would you like winter to be the main focus, are you interested in exploring the Valley Trail, or are you especially drawn to the historic village? For travelers with different interests, comparing these options can help clarify whether one theme or a mix of experiences should shape the stay. This way, you can tailor your search to the experiences that really matter for your trip.

Getting around on the MOOver

The free MOOver shuttle has more than 30 stops along the Route 9/Route 100 corridor between Wilmington and West Dover. Routes and schedules may change. If you’d like to use the shuttle to plan your day, check the current schedule before your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dummerston, Rockingham, Wardsboro, Halifax, Putney, Brattleboro, Whitingham, Stratton.

Go to the main travel overview: Windham County.