Vermont State Parks

Earlier this week, we received an email from a park visitor who happened upon some strange black boxes in the woods at Lake Shaftsbury State Park. There were at least a dozen of them and he was curious about their purpose, so he sent us photos and asked if we knew what they were.We shared them around with park staff, managers, friends at Fish & Wildlife and a host of others, to no avail. Finally, today, we have an answer!  They are mosquito traps. Our friends at Vermont Agency of Agriculture explains, "Yes! Those are resting box traps. We come by weekly during our collection season (beginning of June through Mid-October) and use an aspirator (a big vacuum) to collect mosquitoes in the boxes. They are called resting boxes because after a female mosquito feeds, she settles to the forest floor looking for a dark place to digest the blood meal and create eggs. Resting boxes target  Culiseta melanura , the primary vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, although we do get ot...

Waterbury, Vt . – Eight months of work is underway to improve public access areas at the Waterbury Reservoir. The project will require temporary closures at some sites while work is underway, and will include improvements to parking lots, erosion prevention, and boat ramp upgrades. Installation of a new composting toilet Installation of a concrete boat launch Paving of the access road and parking area (may occur in Spring 2019 depending on weather conditions) Erosion control and site drainage improvements Traffic flow improvements Installation of a concrete boat launch Re-grading the parking area Guard rail installation Erosion control and site drainage improvements Installation of a concrete hand carry access ramp Re-grading the parking area Erosion control and site drainage improvements The locations include Waterbury Dam Boat Launch, Blush Hill Boat Launch and the Moscow Paddler A...

Park staff keeps an eye on the beach, cleaning and doing weekly swim water testing  On a hot day, nothing feels as good as a swim. But before you jump in that pretty, pristine-seeming lake, do you ever wonder how clean it is? We all know that appearances can be deceiving, and that even the cleanest looking lake can harbor bacteria, algae, and other lurking nasties. This is one reason people enjoy and appreciate visiting our swimming areas. Vermont State Parks tests swim water at managed areas weekly and have for over 25 years. “We do it to assure our visitors that we are keeping an eye on the water in which we recreate,” says Frank Spaulding, Parks Projects Coordinator who compiles the swim water testing results each week. Occasionally there are elevated readings and alerts are posted, but, as Spaulding points out, “consistently, over time, our water is great.” Every week, 38 different managed swim areas at state park beaches are tested for e-coli., an indicator bacte...

View from the trail at Fort Dummer  Coolidge State Park Plymouth, VT  Other mountain parks like Smugglers’ Notch get all the love, but Coolidge is an underrated gem, conveniently located off of Route 100, and not far from a string of beautiful lakes. It’s a rustic, retro location for those looking for a quite weekend in a lovely mountain setting. Sites are well-spaced out, giving privacy, and there are several very remote sites that can still be accessed by car. There are hiking trails in the park, and in the Coolidge State Forest, as well as the nearby Long Trail. When you want to go for a swim, hop in your car and drive 15 minutes to Camp Plymouth State Park on Echo Lake. Show your car tag, and get in for free. Fort Dummer State Park Brattleboro, VT If you’re in southern Vermont and looking for a base to explore the area, Fort Dummer is a good choice. It’s located just outside the town of Brattleboro, and close to other southern Vermont locations like Ben...

SPF dispenser at Waterbury Center State Park  Summer in Vermont is in full swing, and people will be able to stay and play longer, safe under the sun – thanks to free sunscreen stations being installed in Vermont State Parks and several other recreational areas. “We are always looking for ways to encourage people to spend time outdoors and enjoy everything Vermont has to offer,” said Craig Whipple, State Parks director for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. “We’ve had a great run of beautiful, sunny days, and using sunscreen is an important part of being able to safely enjoy outdoor activities,” Whipple said. “We want to make sure no one has to call it a day just because they ran out of sunscreen.”  The sunscreen stations are a joint effort by the Vermont Department of Health, State Parks and the skin cancer education and prevention organization IMPACT Melanoma . The stations are intended to provide convenient access to SPF 30 sunscreen, but they also...

This guest blog is by Matt Parsons, longtime photography intern, writer and avid parks explorer.  An Emerald is described in the Cambridge English Dictionary as a transparent, bright green, valuable stone that is often used in jewelry. Emerald Lake State Park is nestled in the setting of the Taconic mountain range and the Green Mountains of Vermont. The luscious green trees from the mountains high above are reflected in this 28-acre lake, hence the name Emerald Lake. Hidden on the heavily wooded ridge, are 37 lean-to and 66 campsites. Most of the sites are spacious and semi shaded. There is enough distance between the sites to be neighbors and far enough apart to be real good neighbors. Many families were enjoying the park when we visited. The paved loops through the sites made for excellent bike rides for young and old alike. There is plenty to do if you choose to stay within the park. There is a small beach for swimming, a snack bar and boat rental facilities (canoes,...

Try out camping for free, gear included Vermont State Parks is excited to launch the new First Time Happy Campers Program at five parks during the months of July and August. Created in partnership with the Outdoor Gear Exchange, this program provides free camping for new campers, whose names will be chosen at random when they register through https://www.vtstateparks.com/happy-camper.html . The program is designed to encourage families who haven’t camped before to give it a try. Participants will receive a free campsite, firewood, tents, camp stove, lantern and sleeping pads. If campers don’t have sleeping bags or don’t want to bring bedding from home, they can purchase sleeping bags online from the Outdoor Gear Exchange for a discounted rate of $34.95 for delivery to their home or pick up upon arrival at the park. On Friday night, campers will be met by friendly park interpreters who will show them around and help set up their camp, providing camping tips and support throu...