Vermont State Parks

The indoor shelter at Mt. Philo By John Frigault (Mt. Philo park manager)  In honor of Halloween, we asked Mt. Philo Ranger John Frigault to share any park ghost stories. He sent us the following story:  Mount Philo is Vermont’s first State Park generously donated back in 1924. The Civilian Conservation Corp constructed the Lodge and Rangers quarters back in 1935-1936 atop of the summit where we currently reside as park rangers for the summer. I have been fortunate enough to be able to utilize the old lodge in the mornings for my budding Tai Chi practice. It has always been a very powerful spot on top of the mountain overlooking the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. The Lodge itself has been a coveted spot for weddings, life ceremonies and special events throughout the decades. It has a sense of antiquity with its massive stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and rustic interior that people are drawn to. It is this energy that attracted me to its welcoming interior. Tai ...

Fall scenery in Quechee, VT Gifford Woods State Park, Killington 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 16 th . There are 38 tent/RV and 10 lean-to shelters available to reserve. Mo...

Coolidge State Park in fall from the Bradley Hill Shelter  Top 10 reasons we love fall camping: Warm days and cool nights (perfect for sleeping) Less crowds than at midsummer Opportunity to try a new park. Maybe your favorite closes after Labor Day- about half of our parks are open later, so this is a good chance to try someplace new Prime leaf-peeping opportunities. Take a drive, go for a walk in the woods or get out on the water for a fall paddle Ideal hiking weather (but do bring a jacket for the higher elevations!) Good excuse to stay in a cabin or cottage No fewer bugs! Fun way to go through all your clothes in one weekend- start off the morning in a sweatshirt, track pants, socks & hat, by mid-day down to t-shirt Fall is one of the best times of year to spot migrating birds   A chance to see a different side of a park you may think you know well. Many of us are familiar with camping in July and August, and it’s inter...

View of Elmore in fall Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte Summit Trail Campground Trail This park is one of the most popular hikes in the Champlain Valley, with easy access to Burlington, and stellar views of Lake Champlain from the top in any season. A good spot to take your friends from out of town! Camel’s Hump State Park, Duxbury VT Burrows Trail Probably the most iconic mountain in Vermont. Several trails lead to the top from moderate to strenuous. If you want a less difficult hike, the Camel’s Hump View Trail is .08 miles along a wide, flat path, universally accessible, and with pretty views of the summit.  Camel's Hump trail map:  https://vtstateparks.com/assets/pdf/camels_hump_trails.pdf Brighton State Park, Island Pond VT Northeast Kingdom Nature Trail For those looking for a short hike that is a good choice for families, try the nature trail at Brighton State Park. This is an easy hike and also a good way to learn about the surr...

The fall bird migration has begun, giving us a great opportunity to see some cool birds that we might not see every day. My favorites are the raptors, or hawks. The big bad boys of the bird world.   Mount Philo  State Park is home to hawk watching enthusiasts that perch on the summit with binoculars and spotting scopes and keep tally of the number and species of raptors passing by. Early fall, mid September through the first part of October, is the perfect time to watch for migrating hawks. For example, here is what was seen at  Mt. Philo State Park  yesterday, September 16th:  9  Osprey 12 Bald Eagle 3 Northern Harrier 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2  Cooper's Hawk 706 Broad-winged Hawk 5  Red-tailed Hawk 8 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 4 Unidentified raptor 2 Common Nighthawk Jane Stein, on the VTBIRDlist provides these hawk watching tips: The best chance to catch sight of the raptor migration ...

Fall kayak at Kettle Pond State Park  Days are getting shorter, nights are chilly and some stray trees have started to turn red, orange and gold. Summer may be over, but about half of our parks are open through Columbus Day, and a select few are open even later. So stop by for a visit- fall is a great time for camping, hiking, paddling, or getting in one final picnic before the earmuffs come on. Below is our late season operating list: Parks Open Through Columbus Day Weekend (October 9) Brighton Branbury Button Bay Coolidge Emerald Lake Green River Reservoir Half Moon Pond Jamaica Kettle Pond Kingsland Bay Lake Carmi Molly Stark Mt. Philo New Discovery Niquette Bay Ricker Pond Waterbury Center Wilgus Woodford   Parks Open Until October 15 Smugglers' Notch Elmore  (no camping, beach house is open to reserve only) Parks Open Until October 16  Gifford Woods Grand Isle Mt. Ascutney Quechee Underhill P...

The stone pavilion at D.A.R. overlooks Lake Champlain  Plan your weekend at D.A.R. State Park in Addison, VT- here's a sample itinerary to help get ready for your trip. FRIDAY EVENING: Arrive at the park & set up camp. Dinner and of course s’mores for dessert. Play on the playground or take a walk down by the water to watch the sun set over Lake Champlain. SATURDAY  MORNING: Breakfast. Relax at your site, or walk down to the “beach” to spend time by the water. It’s a rocky and rugged stretch of waterfront, not sandy by any means, but still a great spot to walk along the water, fish, skip rocks, or just watch the boats go by. If you have water shoes, it’s also a good place for wading. SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Trip to Button Bay State Park. This is free to get in for the day since you are camping at D.A.R., just show the car tag you received when you checked in.  Button Bay is a lovely park overlooking a different stretch of Lake Champlain. Ha...