Top 10 Reasons We Love Fall Camping (And 7 Parks To Try)

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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 interesting to observe subtle changes in the environment, from the slow changes of colors on leaves, plants and ferns, to the absence of certain bird songs that you may be familiar with on summer mornings. 
Seven parks we recommend:

Autumn colors near Quechee State Park 
Brighton State Park
Open until October 9th
                     
Brighton in the Northeast Kingdom is a good spot to camp out and check out early fall colors in the
forest.

Mt. Ascutney State Park
Open until October 16th

Drive up the auto road of 3,144 ft. Mt. Ascutney or hike up one of the 4 trails for amazing views.

Quechee State Park
Open until October 16th

Hike the Quechee Gorge, or take a fall drive through nearby Woodstock for some shopping.

Coolidge State Park
Open until October 9th

This rustic, wooded park is a favorite for fall camping and hiking, with some sites having excellent views of the Green Mountains.

Gifford Woods State Park
Open until October 16th

Hike some of the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the park, and explore some of Vermont’s best-known old growth forest.

Molly Stark State Park
Open until October 9th

A good choice for those looking for a southern Vermont location, with a network of hiking trails nearby, including a

Little River State Park
Open until October 22

Love fall camping? Little River in Waterbury is open until October 22nd, our latest park to close for the season.  

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