Vermont State Parks

Contact: Brian Crouse Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation | Agency of Natural Resources (802) 622-4023, brian.crouse@vermont.gov             Rutland, Vt. – Looking to get outside while doing something good for your community? We could use your help. It’s been a long winter, but Vermont State Parks will be opening soon. We’re seeking volunteers to help with park clean up on several May weekends. Tasks include raking leaves and litter removal. We’ll provide the tools; you’ll just need to wear your work clothes and sturdy shoes and bring some work gloves if you’d like, along with some water and snacks. Not only will you feel great about your contribution, but for those who are participating in the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge, you’ll earn 10 Bonus Points! The cleanup schedule is as follows: Saturday, May 4. 10:00 am Button Bay Branbury Half Moon Bomoseen Saturday, May 11, 10:00 am DAR Lake St. Catherine Lake Shaftsbury W

Natural Connections Program: Bringing New Life to the Groton Nature Center Over 75,000 people visit the state parks in Groton State Forest every summer. A restored Nature Center can play a critical role in teaching visitors about the outdoors and inspiring a love of nature in all those visitors.” —Craig Whipple, Director of Vermont State Parks The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has developed conceptual site and building plans for improvements to the Groton Nature Center and would like your input and comments. Through the link below, you can review the plans for the Groton Nature Center and provide comments via email. Public comment will be open from April 18 to May 10, 2019.  View the plan. Vermont State Parks is working together with Vermont Parks Forever and ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain to re-design and update the Groton Nature Center that will feature new interactive learning opportunities highlighting Groton’s geology and its natural and cultur

CONTACT Jessica Savage Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation 802-249-1230                                                                         Keegan Tierney Green Mountain Club 802-241-8320                                                                         MONTPELIER, Vt. – Today the Green Mountain Club (GMC), the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), and the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) call on Vermonters and recreational tourists to be wary of the return of mud season to the Green Mountains and to respect associated trail closures and advisories. The wet soils on and around hiking trails are very susceptible to erosion at this critical time of year. To protect fragile soil and surrounding vegetation, some trails may be closed by land managers.  We ask everyone to please respect the signage you see . Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibi

Yuck! It's time for our yearly PSA: Please, stay off muddy trails during mud season! Conditions are variable this time of year: dry in places, snow and mud in others. Respect trail closure signs, and turn around if you encounter muddy conditions.  Suggested Hikes: NW Vermont Burlington Bike Path Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail : 26 miles from St. Albans to Richford, just south of the Candian border. Lots of open land through rural northern VT, and some great views.  Mt. Philo Park Road Alburgh Recreational Trail : 3.5 miles in northern VT, good opportunities for wildlife watching.  Mallets Bay Casueway - The Burlington Bike Path and Colchester Causeway take you out over Lake Champlain. Great views in all directions!  Trail at Mt. Philo State Park Trail around Middlebury - 16 miles in several different sections, around the town of Middlebury.  NE Vermont Cross-Vermont Trail - At the name suggests,  a patchwork of trails traversing the state, from the