Take A Hike! Vermont State Parks Free This Weekend
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| Hikers resting on the Peacham Bog Trail. |
This weekend (June 8th & 9th) is Vermont Days, a celebration of summer. To help get you in the sunny summer mindset, day entry to any Vermont State Park is free! Whether you’re a local or just visiting for the weekend, we invite you to get outside and explore.
No
matter your ability, taking to the trails is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
To highlight trails in state parks and state
lands, we've compiled a list of trail adventures you might like to try this
summer. This list only scratched the surface, and we've decided to
leave out Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield in favor of lesser-known
options.
Find a trail that
suits your mood!
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| A man walks on the trail bridge at Lake Shaftsbury. |
An easy trail with
good views
The trail to Button
Point at Button Bay State Park is flat and
leads to lovely views of Lake Champlain. Or walk the shoreline trails
around Lowell Lake for lovely views of
the lake and surrounding forest. A Revolutionary War-era cemetery, stands of large white, pines, and scenic views of the lake and wetland are trail highlights.
To learn about my
surroundings & nerd out with nature
Learn about the
northern forest highlands around Brighton State Park on their
self-guided nature trail. Or, learn about the hardwood forests and
look for wildflowers at the Healing Springs Trail at Shaftsbury State Park in
southern Vermont.
Epic views from a fire
tower
Luckily, there are
fire towers still standing in both northern and southern Vermont. Elmore, Allis, and Molly Stark all have towers with awesome
views.
To go mountain
biking
Branbury State Park connects to the Green Mountain National Forest and the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, with miles of new mountain bike trails in the forest. Access to trails is via the Green Mountain National Forest and forest roads directly to the east of the park. The GMNF website has more detailed maps and information.
Waterfalls!
Hike the Thundering Brook Trail with waterfalls lining the trail near Gifford Woods, or pick up the trail to Hamilton Falls right from the
campground at Jamaica. Just be
careful- the rocks are slippery and can be hazardous.
To hike one of the
oldest trail systems in the country
There are four trails
of varying difficulty that lead to the summit of Mt. Ascutney State Park in southeastern
Vermont, which folks have been climbing for over 100 years. From
various viewpoints at the top, look for views of the Connecticut River,
Killington, and further away, the White Mountains of New
Hampshire.
Some history in
addition to outdoor time
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| Remains of an old slate mining building at Bomoseen. |
To visit a bog
Bogs are unique
ecosystems unto themselves that many people find fascinating. Explore a
box without getting your feet wet at Lake Carmi State Park, and the Peacham Bog Trail in the Groton State
Forest.
Hiking resources
Visit the hiking page of our website for a comprehensive listing of all trails in our parks,
guidelines for hiking with pets, and suggestions for kid-friendly
trails.
Find More New Trails
With The Trailfinder Website
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| Check out Trailfinder for more trails! |
Another great resource
for hiking, biking and multi-use trails all over Vermont including parks and
state lands is the website Trailfinder.info. Search by
location or town, or by a specific trail. You can also search by specific trail
adventures, including nature trails, summit hikes, and trails in state parks.
New trails are added periodically, so check back often!
Have any images or videos of your hiking adventures in Vermont State Parks? Make sure to share them to our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts with #vtstateparks. Where are your favorite spots to go hiking? Share in the comments below!
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