The Birch & Balsam is stocked and warm — firewood is split and stacked on the back porch, the kitchen is ready, and there's a welcome basket with Vermont maple syrup, local cheddar, and a six-pack of Hill Farmstead on the counter.
Your host, Thomas, is reachable day and night. If anything isn't exactly right, text before you do anything else.
Three private spots in the gravel driveway. No street parking on Snowshed Road during winter — the road is narrow and plows need full clearance. Overflow: the Killington Base Lodge day lot is 0.8 miles away and free overnight after 5 PM.
One link has everything — door code, wood stove instructions, WiFi, ski shuttle info, house rules, local picks. No app, no login, works on any phone.
Send it to everyone before you even leave home so no one arrives in the dark asking questions.
Tap Share in your browser then "Add to Home Screen." Instant access like an app — no download, works offline once loaded.
This place has been cared for and loved since 2017. We ask for the same. Follow these rules and your deposit comes back in full — and you're welcome back any season.
⚠️ Occupancy violations, unauthorized events, or indoor smoking may result in immediate removal without refund and additional charges up to $1,200.
The Vermont Castings wood stove in the main room is the best seat in the house on a cold Vermont night. There's also an open stone fireplace in the lower level den. Both are yours to enjoy — use them right and they'll keep you warm all weekend.
Firewood is split, stacked, and covered on the back porch. There's enough for a full long weekend — no need to touch the reserve pile by the tree line (that's for emergency use).
The stone fire pit behind the cabin is available year-round weather permitting. Use only the wood from the back porch stack — no trash, no treated lumber. Keep a bucket of snow or water nearby. Fully extinguish before going inside: douse with water, stir, douse again. If you can feel heat from 12 inches away, it's not out.
⚠️ Fire extinguisher is mounted in the kitchen above the sink. Carbon monoxide detector is in the main hallway — if it sounds, exit immediately and call 911. Do not re-enter.
The mudroom entry has a 6-pair boot rack with a built-in boot dryer — plug in your boots overnight and they'll be warm and dry by morning. Ski and snowboard racks are mounted on the left wall of the mudroom. Helmets and goggles go on the shelf above.
Ski wax and a basic tuning kit are in the drawer under the boot rack — help yourself.
Washer and dryer are in the utility room off the kitchen. Tide Free & Gentle pods are on the shelf (one per load — this is a septic system, don't overdo it). Ski base layers and merino wool should be hung to dry, not machine dried. Drying rack is in the mudroom.
The dryer runs about 45 minutes on Normal. Do not run it overnight — the utility room gets warm and the cabin is small.
A travel iron and small folding board are in the master bedroom closet. Handheld garment steamer is on the shelf above — fill with tap water, 90 seconds to heat, hold 2 inches from fabric. For wool and flannel — steamer only, no iron contact.
Fully stocked for group cooking. Gas range, cast iron skillets, Dutch oven, and a full set of knives. Coffee: a Chemex pour-over setup and a French press — whole bean coffee in the freezer, burr grinder on the counter. Drip option available if you prefer. Dishwasher pods under the sink. Vermont maple syrup in the pantry is for everyone — do not leave it behind.
Septic note: This is a septic system. No grease down the drain. Paper towels go in the trash, not the toilet. The system is serviced regularly but it is not a city sewer — treat it accordingly.
Propane baseboard heat throughout the cabin — Honeywell thermostat in the main hallway, pre-set to 68°F. Electric radiant floor heat in both bathrooms, switch on the wall inside each bathroom door. Do not set main heat above 74°F. If a baseboard is cold and others are warm, there's a bleed valve on the end — text Thomas before touching it.
Every time you book through Airbnb or VRBO, they take a service fee of 12–16% on top of the nightly rate. That fee exists to pay for their platform — not for anything you actually experience at the cabin.
Book direct and that fee goes back in your pocket. Same cabin, same host, same outstanding stay.
If you have friends, family, or coworkers planning a Killington trip, send them here. You get credited every time someone you refer completes a stay — and they get an introduction to the best cabin on the mountain.
No answering service, no delay, no ticket system. Text Thomas directly — he's a Vermont local and knows this mountain, this cabin, and every shortcut in between. If he's on a run, his property manager Diane picks up.
Under 10 minutes typical. Late night — up to 30, unless marked urgent.
Platforms were built for scale, not for service. A filtered message system works fine when you're booking a flight. It doesn't work when you're standing in a cold cabin at 9 PM trying to get a fire going. You deserve a real person on the other end.
Enter your total stay cost and number of guests — we'll do the math.
Get the whole crew in one thread before the trip. Nothing worse than half the group at the gondola and the other half still looking for gloves in the cabin.
The hero shot is the back porch fire pit at night with fresh snow on the pines — shoot it from the lower deck looking up, string lights on, fire going. Best time: 7–8 PM on a clear night after a snow day.
Other great shots: the wood stove glowing through the glass door from the couch, the mudroom boot lineup after a ski day, and the kitchen island during a group breakfast with the mountain light coming through the windows.
Tag @birchandbalsam on Instagram or send your best shots to Thomas. We feature guest photos in the guide and on the listing — always with your permission first.
Route 4 and US-7 can be icy in winter mornings — give yourself extra time. Check VTrans 511 for road conditions before you leave. A review means everything to a small property like ours. If anything wasn't right, text Thomas first — he'll make it right.
🚨 If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not wait.
119 Snowshed Road
Killington, VT 05751