Vermont State Parks

By: The Lester Family Once upon a time there was a very, very rich man. He lived in a great old castle atop of the misty mountain. He was so rich that people would travel the winding road that led up to his house to ask for favors and donations of money. Children would venture to his door, trying to peddle their girl scout cookies, candy bars and magazine subscriptions for school. But even more often, parents would arrive with their daughters in tow...knowing this rich man was not married, they hoped that he would fall helplessly in love with their daughter. He turned the children away, despite all the wonderful goodies they had to offer. Likewise, he turned all of the fair women away...many of which were young and beautiful. He turned them all away because he believed that no-one was really interested in him...that they were only really interested in his money & his castle on the hill. One day, a woman arrived at his door. She was not looking for money or for love. She s...

Our hardworking staff keeps Vermont State Parks looking beautiful and running smoothly all year long. The parks are a fun place to work and we are lucky to count so many interesting people among our staff members. One of these individuals is Jordan Newth, Maintenance Assistant for the southwest region of the state and Professional Downhill Mountain Biker! Growing up in West Rutland, Vermont, Jordan has been racing mountain bikes professionally since he was eight years old. He has raced all over North America and internationally, and is currently ranked 1 st /2 nd on the New England professional circuit this year. According to Jordan, his favorite part of the sport is getting to travel and “go to races all over the world and do what I love.” Jordan began working for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation seasonally in 2006 and just finished his 9 th year. He says that he loves getting to do different things every day and having the opportunity to work in 11 diffe...

With this year’s gorgeous foliage colors and pleasant outdoor temperatures, fall in Vermont is off to a great start. There is no better time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our state. Play outside and get a bird eye’s view of the changing season by taking a scenic fall hike or walk. We have put together a list of a few shorter, family-friendly hikes that offer big rewards in the way of views and scenery. Owl’s Head Trail, Groton State Forest The Owl’s Head Trail , located in the Groton State Forest, is a short hike that leads to the summit of Owls Head Mountain. This 1.5 mile long moderate trail is accessible from the New Discovery State Park road. From there, you ascend to a parking area and climb stone steps constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s to the summit. Alternatively, hikers can take the seasonal road to the parking area and trek up just the last leg of the trail via the stone steps to reach the summit. At the top, take in stunning vi...