Dog Mountain

Huneck was a self-taught artist known for bold, joyful woodcut prints and carved furniture celebrating dogs. After a near-fatal illness and a long recovery, in which he credited his dogs with pulling him through, he set out to build a chapel that honored the bond between people and their animals.

The Dog Chapel opened in 2000, styled like a classic white Vermont church but with winged-dog weathervanes and stained-glass windows of dogs. Huneck died in 2010 and his wife Gwen soon after, and the nonprofit Friends of Dog Mountain has kept the place open and free ever since.

Inside the chapel, grief and gratitude have taken over every surface. Visitors began leaving notes to dogs they had lost, and others followed, until the walls, the pews, and the entry became a dense collage of remembrances, some funny, many heartbreaking, all handwritten.

There is no organizing hand to it; the memorial simply grew and keeps growing, note pinned over note. It gives the small building an emotional weight out of all proportion to its size, and it is why so many visitors describe the chapel as sacred, whatever their beliefs.

Beyond the chapel, the property is a genuine outdoor space: mowed hilltop trails, ponds, and forest paths where dogs bound freely and their people take in long Northeast Kingdom views. Seasonal Dog Parties bring hundreds of dogs and owners together on the hill.

A gallery on the grounds shows Huneck's prints, carvings, and books, whose warm, graphic style captures the humor and devotion of life with dogs. Sales help keep the mountain free and open.

Summer and fall are ideal for the trails and the views, with foliage season turning the surrounding Kingdom hills to color. The seasonal Dog Parties are highlights of the warm months.

The grounds stay open in winter for snowy walks, though the gallery keeps reduced hours. Any season, the chapel and its walls remain the heart of a visit.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Dog Mountain, in St. Johnsbury in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, is a beloved and heartwarming hilltop destination dedicated to dogs and the bond between people and their canine companions, created by the late artist Stephen Huneck. Set on a scenic mountaintop, the property features a charming dog chapel welcoming all people and dogs, its walls covered with countless touching notes and photos remembering beloved pets, along with trails where dogs can roam off-leash, ponds, an art gallery of Huneck's dog-themed work, and events. A joyful and moving place for dog lovers, it is a one-of-a-kind sanctuary. With its dog chapel and trails, Dog Mountain offers a delightful destination in Vermont.

You can visit the touching dog chapel, whose walls are covered with heartfelt notes and photos honoring beloved pets, let your dog roam the off-leash trails, ponds, and grounds, browse the art gallery of Stephen Huneck's whimsical dog-themed work, and take in the scenic mountaintop setting. The moving dog chapel, the off-leash trails, the dog-friendly grounds, and the art are the draws, making it a joyful and emotional destination for dog lovers and their companions. It is a celebration of the human-canine bond. With its dog chapel and trails, Dog Mountain offers a heartwarming experience in Vermont.

Yes, Dog Mountain is wonderfully dog-friendly, welcoming dogs to roam the off-leash trails, ponds, and grounds and even into the dog chapel, making it a special destination to enjoy with your canine companion. Dogs are the heart of the place, and well-behaved, friendly dogs are celebrated here, though owners are responsible for their dogs and for cleaning up after them. The joyful, dog-centered atmosphere is what makes it unique. With its off-leash trails and dog-welcoming spirit, Dog Mountain is a wonderful destination to share with your dog in Vermont.

The warm months of late spring through fall offer the most pleasant weather for enjoying the outdoor trails, ponds, and grounds with your dog, with fall bringing beautiful Northeast Kingdom foliage, while the property hosts special dog-themed events and gatherings at times. Because access and events can be seasonal, checking current hours and any event details before you go is wise. For the most pleasant weather to explore the trails with your dog, aim for late spring through fall at Dog Mountain in Vermont.

Dog Mountain is in St. Johnsbury in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, within reach of the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the Bread and Puppet Museum in Glover, Lake Willoughby, and the Northeast Kingdom countryside. That makes Dog Mountain a delightful stop to combine with the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium and the other attractions of the Northeast Kingdom on a visit to Vermont.