Vermont State Parks

Past Venture Vermont participants jump for joy It’s time again! Venture Vermont has returned for 2018, with brand new activities and chance to win free park entry all season long. Every summer, individuals and families participate in Venture Vermont, which is rather like a state-wide outdoor scavenger hunt. Participants complete a variety of outdoor activities to earn points. Once a participant reaches 250 points, the prize is a coin that offers free admission to any day-use state park, for all of the current year and all of next. Last year over people participated from locations all across Vermont… and from a few other states too. One great thing about Venture Vermont is that participants are able to pick their own activities & go at their own pace. There is always something new to learn! Activities for 2018 include DIY bowling, going on a backpacking trip, looking for dragonflies. Some challenges are park-based, but most can be completed anywhere, on vacation or in yo...

Vermont – Today the Green Mountain Club (GMC), maintainer and protector of Vermont’s Long Trail and Vermont’s hiking trails advocate, along with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), manager of Vermont State Forests and Parks, and the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF), announce the return of mud season to the Green Mountains. The wet soils on and around hiking trails are very susceptible to erosion at this critical time of year.   To protect fragile soil and surrounding vegetation, some trails may be closed by the land manager during this time.   Please respect the signage you see .   Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibit natural drainage of our beloved hiking trails. “It can take hours for a volunteer or trail crew to fix what takes just moments to damage by hiking on muddy trails,” says Jessica Savage, FPR’s recreation program manager. “In between sprin...

Here in Vermont, snow is melting and spring is (intermittently!) in the air, which means that camping season is fast approaching. If you’re new to camping or haven’t been in awhile, here are some great resources for brushing up on your camping skills so you feel confident on your next adventure.  CAMPING 101 Need a refresher on all the basics of camping? Watch our full series of “how-to” videos (seven in all) covering all the basics of camping, from picking out a site, setting up a tarp & tent, and the basics of camp cooking. Watch all the videos on YouTube here . Below is the first video, "Choosing A Campsite". WHERE TO GO CAMPING?  There are almost 40 Vermont State Parks with campgrounds located throughout of the state, offering a variety of amenities, accommodations and all sorts of activities to suit almost everyone's taste. Use our " Park Finder " feature to search by popular activities and amenities, and lodging types to fi...