Vermont State Parks

Vermont State Parks is proposing some modest fee increases to generate funds to offset increasing operation and maintenance costs. Revenue generated from state park services helps sustain the system and all its values, including preservation of open space and interpretation of our environment and the natural world. We would like your input on these changes. Let us know what you think. Please contact Craig Whipple, Director of State Parks, via email at craig.whipple@state.vt.us or mail at Craig Whipple, Vermont State Parks, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT  05620. Comments will be accepted until May 12, 2014. You are also invited to attend a public meeting about these proposed changes, Monday, May 5, 5:30 PM at the DEC Act 250 Conference Room, Agency of Natural Resources, 111 West Street, Essex Junction, Vermont 05453. The proposed changes are as follows: Increase camping fees by $2/per night Increase fee for Mt. Philo picnic pavilion to $200 Monda...

This past weekend, visitors arrived at Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester to celebrate Saturday's  almost full moon with an evening snowshoe hike. The 1.5 mile hike through the park had a turnout of about 40 people, including several visiting the park for the first time and Milton Boy Scout Pack #43. The hike was led by Niquette Bay State Park Ranger, Lisa Liotta. According to Lisa, “an hour or so before the hike, a heavy snow began to fall and continued all through the event, adding a couple inches of snow to the trails and turning the park into a winter wonderland.” Though the moon wasn't entirely visible through the snow, hikers enjoyed a beautiful winter evening in the park. Following the hike, e veryone warmed up with some hot cocoa and a bonfire, expertly maintained by the boy scouts.  Stay tuned for Wildflower Walks at Niquette Bay this spring!

When we “spring forward” early in the morning this Sunday, we set our clocks ahead one hour, and as a result, gain an hour of daylight in the evening. This event is practiced across the United States, with the exception of most of Arizona, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Marianas Islands, and Puerto Rico. Daylight saving time is practiced in not only North America, but also much of Europe, and parts of Brazil. It is not observed in most African and Asian countries; Russia did away with the practice in 2011. The tradition is a based on the idea that an extra hour of daylight in the evening will increase productivity and decrease energy use. However, incidences of energy savings and increased activity seem to be dependent on region, habits, and outside temperature. Some people argue that it is too difficult for the body’s inner clock to adjust to the time shift, while others seem to enjoy the longer days. According to Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Dayli...

Photo courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Owls are everywhere in Vermont this winter! Snowy owls have migrated south from the arctic in search of prey, making this winter an irruption year. Snowy owls sightings have been reported statewide and across the northeast. But snowy owls aren’t the only raptors taking residence in Vermont this winter. The barred owl, Vermont’s most common, doesn’t migrate and populates the state’s forests all year long. Barred owls are grayish-brown with white stripes on their wings, back, and vertically across their belly. Unlike other owls in Vermont, they have brown eyes. If you haven't seen a barred owl, there is a good chance that you’ve heard one. They have many vocalizations including hoots, grunts, squeaks, and gurgles. Their most recognizable call sounds like, “Who-cooks-for-you? Who-cooks-for-you-all?” Female and male owls communicate during mating season in late winter by calling and responding to each other or vocalizing in u...

By Ashley Brisson, Grand Isle State Park Ranger On Sunday morning February 9 th , over 70 people made the journey across frozen Lake Champlain to visit Knight Island State Park . They came by foot, skates, skis, & sleds.  As they crested the snow covered shoreline near the ranger’s residence they were welcomed by a crackling campfire and Vermont State Park volunteers serving hot cocoa. The hot beverages were graciously provided by the local business Hero’s Welcome. The nearly four mile round-trip trek was part of the town of North Hero, Vermont’s annual Great Ice celebration. Adventurers took advantage of the thickness of the ice this year (2-3 feet), the recent snow, lack of wind, and beautiful cloudless blue skies. They walked around the trails of the islands interior, while others cross-country skied on the lake around island’s perimeter.  Nature abounded—fresh deer, turkey, mouse and fox tracks in the snow, while woodpeckers tapped and red squir...

The Eastern coyote is an important and relatively new member of Vermont’s ecosystem. They are highly adaptable mammals with a divisive history in the state. Coyotes began to appear in Vermont in the 1940s. Development in the western United States led to the loss of their habitat and they began to move eastward through southern Quebec and Ontario. It is believed that along the way they bred with the small eastern wolf. Photo courtesy of Seven Days Coyotes have reddish fur on their heads, with a grey face and dark muzzle. They have long, bushy tails and light fur under their chins. Their large body helps them to survive winters with heavy snowfall. Perhaps the coyote’s best known feature is their howl, which is often heard during winter nights. Their vocalizations are a form of communication that can carry over long distances. These sounds are used to let members of their family know their location after separating for a hunt. Sometimes coyotes howl to indicate to neighboring ...

The Molly Stark State Park fire tower Every summer, people come from all over to visit Vermont State Parks. Return visitors are loyal to their favorite campsites and swimming spots and choose to come back year after year because of their connection to the park. Every park is different and offers an abundance of fun outdoor activities. Last winter, after receiving Vermont State Park passes as gifts, Vermont couple Anne and Steve set a goal to visit every Vermont State Park within the year. There are 52 state parks in Vermont, spanning the length of the state, and visiting all of the parks would mean seeing many during the summer months as well as during the off season, which begins in October. The couple began the challenge in mid-January 2013 with some cross-country skiing at Little River State Park in Waterbury. We asked Steve and Anne to give us some insight as to why they decided to embark on the state park challenge, how they did it, and to describe some of their favor...