Ladyslipper Lodge

Unplug and connect with nature at Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, a 600 acre preserve hosting thousands of guests since 1987. The facilities at this wilderness oasis are rustic but comfortable with miles of hiking trails, acres of gardens & a nearby pond. Ladyslipper Lodge is our largest cabin with beautiful forest views, a queen bed, a loft with full bed, electricity, propane heat, & living area. Shower room, bathroom, & community kitchen are shared with other guests in separate buildings.

The Ladyslipper Lodge is our most comfortable and luxurious cabin featuring a loft layout offering beautiful views into the forest. It has a writing desk, queen bed on the main level and full size bed in the loft, plus a futon bed that can be modified as a couch downstairs and optional air mattresses upstairs. Dividing curtains can separate living and sleeping spaces to create a variety of uses for families and groups. This cabin has electricity and is heated by propane.

The Ladyslipper Lodge is one of four cabins at Sage Mountain. Check out the Pixie Cabin, the Birch Bungalow, and the Maple Forest Yurt for our other cabins. Please read our descriptions carefully to understand the layout of our retreat center and shared spaces with other guests.

Our common shower room is located at the end of this cabin with two showers and two sinks; restrooms are in a separate building. The fully stocked community kitchen includes all amenities to prepare your meals for the weekend; optionally our onsite chef can cater meals for an additional charge. We also offer private garden, forest, and wildlife tours as well as massage therapy sessions for additional fee.

The Lodge is situated near four acres of diverse gardens with medicinal herbs and flowers, and a short walk to our trail network with over ten miles of hiking trails through the mountain. A swimming pond offers a refreshing spot for swimming at the south end of the property.

Sage Mountain has been a retreat center for over three decades hosting guests since 1987, and is a pillar for conservation in the community. We are located on unceded Abenaki territory in Central Vermont, providing a remote wilderness retreat in convenient proximity to Groton State Forest and Montpelier.

Renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar's home and teaching center of thirty years is indelibly marked by the grace, wisdom and love of plants that she has shared with the thousands of students who have been touched by this wild mountain. The moment you step foot onto the sanctuary, you can feel the depth of the prayers that have been planted on this land over the last three decades. When you stay in retreat at Sage Mountain, you will be transformed by the wild magic that lives in these forests.

Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary is located in Unceded Abenaki territory, commonly called Central Vermont, in a rural town adjacent to a main state road providing access to the capitol of Montpelier 25 minutes to the west, and the expansive Groton State Forest 25 minutes to the east. Our center is situated at 2000 feet elevation on the south-facing slope of a mountain range. This biodiverse landscape is home to hundreds of plant species and an abundance of wildlife that graciously allow us to take respite within their home. Sage Mountain seeks to provide a safe, welcoming sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans from all walks of life as an LGBTQIA and POC friendly retreat. All are invited and welcomed to connect with the magic and power of this land and its inhabitants. Learn more about the Sanctuary at sagemountain.com.

Guests will be greeted by hosts for a brief introduction tour upon arrival. Host or staff aim to treat guests with privacy, but are available when needed. To reach your host, find us in the office. If we are not there, ring the doorbell to the main house located at the door at the Stone Walkway across from the Community Kitchen. If we do not answer, we may be out on the property – ring the outside bell to reach us.

We are located on six hundred acres in the midst of an eighty-thousand acre contiguous forest. We have three neighbors along our small country road, who are peaceful and respectful. Our land is shared by an abundance of wildlife, making it a treasure for anyone seeking a unique tranquil getaway.

A parking landing is nearby the cabins and common buildings. We are conveniently located off of a state highway, just 20 minutes from the state capitol Montpelier and 20 minutes from Groton State Forest.

We have limited cell phone signal depending on carrier. There is no wifi. There is a landline available for urgent phone calls.

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Overnight Lodging in all of our spacesincludes:
• Pillows, Bedding, Linens and Towels
• Access to Swimming Pond
• Use of Common Shower Room andRestroom facilities
• Access to Research library
• Use of our Community Kitchen, includingguest refrigerator, guest dry storage,propane stove and oven, toaster oven,cutting boards, cups, mugs, cutlery,plates, bowls, pots, pans, andcomplimentary teas
• Full access to all of our gardens and ourten-mile trail network
• Brochures with maps to guide youthrough our trails and gardens
• Opportunities for a privatetour of our gardens or guided walk alongour trails, meal plan catering customizedto your dietary needs, and otherconcierge services upon request whichmust be reserved in advance.

Optional Add-Onsinclude:
• Bundle of wood (for indoor or outdoor fires) / $5 each
• Private guided walk along our Medicine Trail / $100 for 90 minutes
• Private guided tour of our Gardens / $75 for 60 minutes
• Private guided tour of Forest with focus on Wildlife / $100 for 90 minutes
• Session with a Massage Therapist / $165 for one hour
• Local & Organic Meal Catering / $20 Breakfast, $25 Lunch, $30 DinnerCosts may vary for specific dietary needs.

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Honoring the Land
Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary is home to hundreds of plant species and an abundance ofwildlife, who graciously allow us to take respite here. We are guests in their home, andaccordingly, we seek to walk lightly on the land. Harvesting is not permitted in the gardens orforests unless arranged in advance through our conservation or research programs. All guests areexpected to clean up after themselves and “leave no trace” of their presence. Visitors mustremain on the trails at all times, as sensitive plants just beside the paths can be irreparablydamaged by our footprints. Wildlife encounters are not uncommon, and guests are expected to
arrive prepared with a basic understanding of wildlife safety and a respect for the creatures whocall this mountain their home. Your hosts can answer questions and provide additional resourcesto ensure a comfortable cohabitation with our wildlife neighbors during your stay.

Light and Sound
A visit to Sage Mountain is a journey into the wilderness, and the gifts of rural living – includingthe quiet of nature and dark starry skies. We use limited outside lighting to reduce ourcontribution to light pollution, and encourage all guests to bring a flashlight or headlamp, aslighting outside our buildings is minimal to protect the darkness for stargazing and privacy. Weencourage quiet hours after 8 pm so that all guests can enjoy the serenity of the stillness that fallson the forest in the evenings.

Connectivity
A benefit of your visit to Sage Mountain is the opportunity to truly unplug, in order to reconnectwith yourself and with nature. Our internet service is very limited on the mountain, and we arenot in most coverage areas for cell service (though occasionally, depending on the provider,guests will find “one bar” when they stand on one leg on a particular rock or spot in the
meadow). There is no internet available on the property.We can arrange use of our landline periodically for guests to make outbound calls within the USand Canada. Guests can also give our phone number to family members in order to receivemessages. We monitor this line frequently to ensure prompt delivery in urgent situations.

Themagic of Sage Mountain is that we are located in one of the few remaining places where thesetechnologies don't overrun our lives. Please prepare accordingly to have limited access to phoneand internet while you are here, and allow yourself to enjoy the music of the birds and insects orengage in robust conversations with the trees during your stay.

What to Bring
Pack the following items to make your stay as comfortable as possible:
• A towel, a pillow, linens and bedding are provided for each guest. You may wish tobring your own favorite billow, blanket, or extra towels
• Flashlight or headlamp (and extra batteries)
• Personal toiletries
• Rain gear (we often live “in the clouds”)
• Warm jacket and sweaters (the weather can change in a moment)
• Slippers or socks for indoors; we ask guests to remove shoes inside buildings
• Comfortable well broken in shoes for enjoying our hiking trails
• Comfortable casual clothing, layers are recommended