Vermont State Parks

Tyler Machado, a senior at St. Michael's College in Colchester, spent his last semester interning with Vermont State Parks redesigning the website into a more user friendly and attractive version (as seen below). As a student majoring in journalism and mass communications with an art minor, Tyler enjoys being able to combine his skills in arranging information with his creative side to create visually attractive, educational web pages. Despite his passion for web design, Tyler values time away from the computer, hiking, skiing, and generally enjoying the great outdoors Vermont has to offer. When the opportunity for joining his web development skills with his love of the outdoors came along, Tyler jumped at the chance saying, "I'm really glad I could help out an organization which I know and strongly support". In a humble fasion, Tyler mentions how much he still has to learn in the field. He hopes to continuing learning by gaining employment in web design/development o...

Help get our beautiful state parks ready to open! We've added more Volunteer Park Cleanup Days in addition to Saturday, April 24th at Emerald Lake State Park (which could still use volunteers too!). Now, five other dates and parks are looking for help, and for your help you'll also get rewarded! Saturday, May 1st at Lake St. Catherine State Park (10am - 4pm) *Green-Up Day! Sunday, May 2nd at Bomoseen State Park (12pm - 4pm) Saturday, May 8th at Half Moon State Park (10am - 4pm) Sunday, May 9th - Mother's Day - Bring Mom! at Branbury State Park (12pm - 4pm) Saturday, May 15th at Woodford State Park (10am - 4pm) **We REALLY need some folks for this day! For giving your time and energy to the parks, all volunteers will receive a punch card or a FREE night of camping! Bring friends and family to help rake leaves, pick up brush and trash, and other outdoor tasks that help get the parks ready for the busy season. Bring water, lunch, and sturdy shoes. All other supplies needed, s...

Please help protect state lands and trails by avoiding muddy trails! You may not know it, but trails and vegetation are super vulnerable during mud season and hiking on them during this time can cause irreversible damage by compacting soils and surrounding vegetation which accelerates erosion and the need for maintenance. High elevation trails are especially vulnerable during this time and take considerably longer to dry than lower elevation trails, so the state closes high elevation trails from April 15 – Memorial Day Weekend. So, if you’re looking to get out and go hiking in the early spring, these trails make for some great options: Southeast Vermont Mt. Ascutney State Park Parkway after mid April (after the ice melts off) Southwest Vermont D & H Rail Trail Emerald Lake State Parks roads Button Bay State Parks roads Northwest Vermont Niquette Bay State Park (check at trail head for closures) North Hero State Park roads Grand Isle State Park roads and trails Alburg Dunes Beach r...

Get ready for the park season by exploring some great state parks on Vermont Public Television's Outdoor Journal program Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM starting April 6th. The first show takes you to Alburg Dunes State Park , a little gem on Lake Champlain. Also fish for brook trout in some Northeast Kingdom Beaver Ponds and learn about Vermont's Fish & Wildlife Department's northern pike management program. On April 13th visit Emerald Lake State Park to do some bass fishing. Also explore some lesser-traveled waters by canoe and meet a couple of "trout bums" who fish for a living and live to fish. April 20th will take you to Elmore State Park . Also enjoy a trip to Camp Kehoe on Lake Bomoseen where the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program introduces wildlife management students to the culture and concepts of hunting. April 27th explore Brighton State Park and Northeast Kingdom lakes in search of burbot, a fresh water codfish also known as cusk. These strange l...

Give Some of Your Time to Vermont State Parks and Get Rewarded! Come volunteer at a beautiful State Park on - • Saturday, April 24th in Emerald Lake State Park (Dorset) -or - • Sunday, April 25th in Shaftsbury State Park (Shaftsbury) and Vermont State Parks will sweeten the deal for you by giving all volunteers a punch card or a FREE night of camping! Bring friends and family to help rake leaves, pick up brush and trash, and other outdoor tasks that help get the parks ready for the busy season. Bring water, lunch, and sturdy shoes. All other supplies needed, such as work gloves, rakes, trash bags, etc., will be provided. Contact Lesley Porter via email or phone (802) 417-7630 to sign up. We hope to see you and thank you for your support! Want to give a bit more? Would you like to spend your summer living in one of seven beautiful Vermont State Parks ? Get to know one of these parks intimately and enjoy living there for FREE! Meet adventuresome people and make lasting friendships whi...

New at Button Bay State Park this summer will be two new log cabins constructed in the second camping loop overlooking the bay and a beautiful southerly view of Lake Champlain. These cabins will be available to rent by the week beginning at park opening. These cabins are cozy one-room units that sleep four people comfortably. Amenities include bunk beds and a futon or sleeper couch (linens and towels not included) a table and two chairs, an electric outlet, a covered front porch and a fire ring with cooking grate. Cooking is done outside (bring your own cookware.) Bathrooms and showers are located within easy walking distance. Get a glimpse of these cabins being built.

By:Judith Ensor I’m at the top of Jay Peak. It took just about an hour and 15 minutes to climb up this time. I’ve already been rewarded for my effort as the weather has cleared and I am enjoying a beautiful view. This morning, I really struggled with whether to make the trip over from St. Albans Bay. The paper called for “partly cloudy” skies and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms but tomorrow didn’t look any more promising. So, I decided to take a chance. For a good part of the trek up, I had to remind myself that the hike itself is part of the fun. Every once in a while, as I made my way along the trail, the sun would peek out and I’d feel rushed to get to the top before the storms came. Then, I’d make myself slow down and just enjoy the walk. “Put one foot in front of the other. Let your mind wander,” I told myself. “Get into a steady rhythm. Breathe. Relax. This is vacation, not a race.” I wondered how many times have I made this climb? I’ve probably been coming here for over 30 y...