Fall Hikes @ Vermont State Parks, Part II: Central & Southern VT

By -
Fall scenery in Quechee, VT

Love trees? As the name suggests, this park is known for its’ woods and old- growth forest, which has been an attraction since the 1930s. Take a leisurely hike around Kent Pond, or a more strenuous one up nearby Deer Leap Trail.

Gifford Woods is open for camping and hiking through October 16th. There are 22 tent/ trailer sites, 21 lean-tos, and 4 rental cabins at the park.

Mt. Ascutney State Park,Windsor VT

Camp at the base of 3,144 Mt. Ascutney, and hike one of the 4 trails to the summit. There are twelve miles of trails in all, and many spots to take in the views, which include the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, the Connecticut River valley below, and the Windsor Cornish Covered Bridge that spans the river.  

Trail map for the Mt. Ascutney area. 

Mt. Ascutney State Park is open until October 16th. There are 38 tent/RV and 10 lean-to shelters available to reserve.


Day use area at Molly Stark in Wallingford
After you’ve watched the colors of northern VT fade, head south to repeat the experience. A 1.7 mile hike takes you up Mt. Olga and back again. As a bonus, you can climb the fire tower to get great views of the mountains in three states: Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. If you want to do more hiking, the park is also adjacent to more trails at Hogback Mountain.

Trail map to Mt. Olga & nearby trails.

You can camp at Molly Stark through Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend. There are 23 tent/ RV campsites and 11 lean-to shelters available.


Emerald Lake is a southern park with a sometimes-overlooked trail system, including an easy walk following the shore of Emerald Lake, and the scenic Vista Loop Trail which offers views of the lake and surrounding hills.

 Map of the trail system at Emerald Lake.

Emerald Lake State Park is open through Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend. There are 64 campsites and 37 lean-to shelters available to reserve. 

Quechee State Park,Quechee VT

The hike to Quechee Gorge from the park is good for families, not too difficult, and very pretty in the fall. After visiting the gorge, take a fall drive through nearby Woodstock to do some shopping, or just admire the stately old buildings in town.

Quechee State Park is open until October 16th, and there are 45 tent/ RV and 7 lean-tos at the park. 

 Trail map and geology of the Quechee area. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Feel free to let us know what you think.

Popular posts from this blog

Vermont State Parks Total Eclipse Updates

By -
Image
Although it falls outside our regular park season, several Vermont State Parks will provide good viewing locations for solar eclipse on April 8. These parks include:   Bomoseen, Boulder Beach, Branbury, Crystal Lake, DAR, Elmore, Mt. Philo, Grand Isle, Knight Point, Lake Shaftsbury, Lake St. Catherine, Niquette Bay, Silver Lake, and Waterbury Center. Address and other general park information is available at www.vtstateparks.com .   The following previously listed state parks are no longer recommended eclipse viewing areas: Emerald Lake, Little River. Please be aware that park facilities will still be closed for this event. Portable toilets and/or pit/composting toilets will be available. Park staff may be available on a limited basis.   Parking will be available at each of these locations, but it may be limited depending on the number of visitors. When lots are full, please do not park on the grass or in other areas of the park as resource damage is likely due to soft ground condit
Read more

Reservation FAQs: How can I add to/change an existing reservation online?

By -
Image
 As of March 18th, 2020, Vermont State Parks launched a new reservations system at www.vtstateparks-visit.com . We are launching a Reservation FAQs series to help you navigate this new system. To learn more about the exciting new features of our reservation system, click here.  How can I add to or change an existing reservation online including site changes or cancellations? Visit www.vtstateparks.com  and s elect 'RESERVE' Scroll down to and select 'Make Reservations' Select 'Sign In or Sign Up' Type in the email and password on file then select 'Sign In' Go to 'Current Reservations' Find your reservation you want to edit and select 'See Detail' The top right section above the 'Order Details' gives you options to: Change Reservation - Change dates and/or sites within current park Transfer to Another Park - Move dates and sites to a different VT State Park Cancel Reservation Make Another Reservation For this example, let's say
Read more

Join Vermont State Parks for Fun, Guided First-Day Hikes

By -
Image
  First Day Hikers stand in front of Butler Lodge in 2023. Start the new year on the right foot with a hike in the great outdoors. On January 1, 2024, everyone is once again invited to join a free, guided, family-friendly hike taking place at many state parks, state forests, and other public lands across Vermont. Hikes are led by professional guides and outdoor educators eager to share their knowledge and love of Vermont’s outdoors. Don’t need a guide? No matter where you live in Vermont, a state park or state forest is always close by, and you can still get outside to enjoy it. State Park entry is free on New Year’s Day (and all winter long). You’ll discover a whole new world in winter.  First Day Hikers warm up at the CCC shelter at Owl's Head. Please pre-register by contacting hike leaders ahead of time. On hike day dress for the weather and bring snowshoes if the snow is deep, and micro-spikes or traction aids in case of ice. Please also bring beverages and snacks. In the event
Read more