Hikers Hostel

The Yellow Deli café and hiker hostel opened its doors on Center Street in downtown Rutland in 2012, The hostel houses hikers on the Appalachian Trail and Vermont’s Long Trail, as well as other weary travelers. Many people are able to stay at the hostel by working in the café or paying a small fee, with no charge required, though a $20 per night donation is suggested.

The Yellow Deli is part of an international Bible-based community known as the Twelve Tribes, whose members live in a communal setting. At the hostel, hikers can take a shower, sleep in a bed, and pick up mail or packages of supplies, and can easily access the amenities of downtown Rutland to recharge and resupply. Hostel staff will pick hikers up from or drive them back to the trail, just up the road near Gifford Woods State Park.

Many hikers work-for-stay and help at the Yellow Deli or take a day to the Basin Farm in Bellows Falls. The hostel remains operational and continues to serve long-distance hikers, though as of June 2025 the Deli is currently closed for renovations.

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