July Flood 2024 State Parks Status Updates

Post last updated at 08/26/24 at 9:00 AM

The only park affected by the flashing flooding on 7/30/24 was Brighton State Park. The park is fully reopened on Wednesday, August 7th. Roads were damaged in the park, locally in the town, as well as the nearby state highway. Park staff have contacted affected reservations. 

All parks affected by the July 11 flood have reopened, although 3 parks still have reduced operations. This page will be regularly updated as more information is made available and road repairs are made.

Swimwater results are current. Swim areas are posted when there is an increased risk of impaired water quality. For water monitoring results outside of Vermont State Park swimming areas, check out the Vermont Department of Health Cyanobacteria Tracker Map.

Parks in the NE part of Vermont bore the brunt of the storm. Park visitors with affected reservations have been contacted by the parks.  We apologize for this inconvenience. Our priority is to protect the health and safety of visitors to Vermont public lands. For all parks with affected reservations, the park will contact visitors directly.

The main issue in affected parks is due to accessibility in and around the parks from damaged roads. Several state and local roads remain closed as repairs are made. Vermonters and visitors are encouraged to respect all closed roads and detours, as travel on those roads is not safe due to washouts and undermining. You should never drive or walk through floodwaters. To review state road closures, check 511: https://newengland511.org/ 

Closed Until Further Notice:

• Ricker Pond's Perry Merrill cottage is closed indefinitely due to damages. The cottage is anticipated to reopen later this season.
• The road to Owls Head in Groton.
• The town of Duxbury has closed Camel’s Hump Road and there is no access to the Monroe Trailhead. Please seek alternate hiking routes.

Flood-Impacted Parks With Reduced Operations:

• Ricker Pond 
• Site T21 remain closed as repairs continue. Perry Merrill cottage is closed indefinitely due to damages. The cottage is anticipated to reopen later this season.
• Seyon Lodge State Park
• Day use boating, fishing, and hiking trails have reopened, however, the trail has a bridge out. Pedestrians will need to turn around or do a water crossing on the trail. 
• Stillwater State Park
• Boat launch is open, however, conditions have changed. Caution is advised when launching a boat. The footbridge remains closed until further notice. 

Fully Operational Flood Impacted Parks:

• Big Deer State Park
• Brighton State Park
• Boulder Beach State Park
• Groton Nature Center
• Maidstone State Park
• Smugglers' Notch State Park
• Waterbury Center State Park
• Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites

Note: The voicemail platform for the State Parks Call Center line (888-409-7579) is operational again.

Road Closures:

Visit https://newengland511.org/ for state road closures

Local road closures are not reported to the state; please respect all local detours

Vermonters and visitors are encouraged to watch the forecast and register for Vermont Alert (www.vtalert.gov) for up-to-date weather forecasts and alerts. 

Check Trail Finder to learn about trail access and conditions. We urge hikers to respect trail notices and closures and prioritize safety when accessing recreation sites. Our recreation team is working on updating the website as new information comes in. 

Flood safety and preparedness (multi-language)

To find more resources and other services, call Vermont 2-1-1 or visit vermont211.org.

Vermont Emergency Management Website