By DAN MATHERS
I woke up in my bunk, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, stood up and walked over to open the cabin door … and then froze.
My 60-second transition from unconsciousness to stepping outside had not nearly prepared my senses for what I saw.
In front of me, below the edge of the mountain, was a vast ocean of low gray clouds with dark, green mountain peaks popping up out of the mist like islands in a ghostly silver sea. Beyond, the sky was painted with ribbons of darks reds, purples and pinks as dawn took hold.
The scene looked like an alien world from a sci-fi movie, or a fantasy world in a fairy tale. Which would be appropriate, given the name of the place I was staying: Shrek’s Cabin.
Tiny Cabin, Expansive Views
Located on a mountaintop in Pittsfield, Vermont—a tiny town in the center of the state not far from Killington—Shrek’s Cabin is the kind of place you describe when you’re sitting around the fire late at night with friends talking about the getaway of your imagination: a tiny cabin on a mountaintop, incredible views, no electricity or running water, and nothing else around but trees, trails, and sky.
Despite its name, it has no affiliation with ogres (officially, anyway). At some point, someone likened the tiny cabin away from it all to Shrek’s abode in the famous animated movie, and it stuck.
The mountain the cabin is on is known in the area as Joe’s Mountain, named for Spartan Race founder Joe DeSena, who owns the surrounding property. It’s the birthplace of Spartan Race, and is the site of such ultra endurance events as the Death Race and Bloodroot Ultra.
The mountain is roughly 1,000 feet, with a clear cut summit that offers views of surrounding mountain peaks. The tiny one-room stone cabin looks like it’s been on the mountain for generations, but it’s just a little more than a decade old. It features a pot belly stove and sleeps two comfortably in built-in bunks, but it can sleep four if you’re comfortable getting cozy.
To reach the cabin, visitors take on a steady uphill hike of just under a mile-and-a-half. (There is a more direct short cut, but if you’re unfamiliar with the area and spiderweb of trails, it’s best to just stay on the main trail.)
There is no electricity, running water, flush toilet, or Wi-Fi. But there is an outhouse, and visitors will find chairs, games, cooking equipment, and an outdoor fire pit. And, of course, incredible views.
The property is also the home of Green Mountain Trails, a popular mountain biking destination with a spiderweb of roughly 25 miles of flowy trails that are fun for hiking as well as riding.
Other Places In The Area
While you’re in the area, if you decide to eat in civilization instead of cook over the campfire at Shrek’s, check out the Clear River Tavern, which has a diverse menu of excellent food, plus craft beer and cocktails.
Also be sure to stop by the Pittsfield General Store, which not only sells provisions, T-shirts, stickers and other souvenirs, but offers excellent food for breakfast and lunch, including the legendary Black Bear Sandwich.
