Vermont State Parks

Last Updated 6/14/21. The State of Vermont is now fully open with no COVID-19 restrictions. We are no longer updating this page. For further COVID-19 updates, please check:   COVID-19 | Vermont Department of Health (healthvermont.gov)

 As of March 18th, 2020, Vermont State Parks launched a new reservations system at www.vtstateparks-visit.com . We are launching a Reservation FAQs series to help you navigate this new system. To learn more about the exciting new features of our reservation system, click here.  How can I add to or change an existing reservation online including site changes or cancellations? Visit www.vtstateparks.com  and s elect 'RESERVE' Scroll down to and select 'Make Reservations' Select 'Sign In or Sign Up' Type in the email and password on file then select 'Sign In' Go to 'Current Reservations' Find your reservation you want to edit and select 'See Detail' The top right section above the 'Order Details' gives you options to: Change Reservation - Change dates and/or sites within current park Transfer to Another Park - Move dates and sites to a different VT State Park Cancel Reservation Make Another Reservation For this example, let's say...

Finished trail segment at Mt. Philo State Park Charlotte, VT – As a significant trail project at Mt. Philo State Park ends for the season, project managers and visitors alike are commending the improvements and the broader benefits to Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy. The project, managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR), was awarded by a competitive bid process. Designed and constructed by Timber and Stone, LLC, it updates major sections of the main trail to provide a more sustainable and safe ascent, and features a universally accessible trail that improves access at the summit.

Give the Gift of the Vermont Outdoors this Holiday Season Want to treat someone to a full season of outdoor fun? Whether they like taking a swim after work, enjoying a weekend camping getaway, sitting by a waterfall, discovering a new trail, trying out a paddleboard or kayak, or simply having an impromptu picnic, Vermont State Parks has something for everyone. You can give these experiences and more by purchasing a gift certificate or gift card from Vermont State Parks. 

The view from Owl's Head Overlook This guest blog is by Matt Parsons, longtime photography intern, writer and avid parks explorer. Check out more of his adventures at his blog The Adventurers . I was 5 or 6 years old when our family bought our first camper. My first State Park memory is from Ricker Pond in Groton, Vermont. It was a spontaneous trip without reservations. As I recall, we could have site 8, provided that we could get the camper into the rather awkward place. Site #8 is a prime site by the pond and pavilion. My dad cork screwed our 23’ camper on to the site by going around the small camping loop in the opposite direction, thus setting himself up for a somewhat straight, but perfect landing. My dad was a hero! Two kids and a dog in a paddleboat To me, the whole world was in our backyard to explore. Behind us was a marsh that I could catch salamanders by day   and fall asleep to frogs by night. The beach was just steps away and I played there until I was water logged...

Please don't travel until it's safe to do so! Our travel posts are great for making future plans or dreaming about your next escape. Learn more about  Vermont State Parks and COVID-19 . For many outdoor lovers, the beginning of fall means the end of the camping season, but don’t pack away your gear just yet! Fall camping in New England is one of life’s greatest experiences! Today we’re taking a virtual journey up to the town of Island Pond in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This little village was once a thriving railroad and logging hub. Today, Island Pond is home to vast tracts of forest, a huge moose population, and the little slice of paradise that is Brighton State Park .   Checking out the view from my campsite at Brighton State Park. While plenty of visitors flock to Brighton State Park for its quiet camping and spectacular swimming and paddling in the summer, fall is when the magic really happens at Brighton. The air becomes crisp and the smell of balsam surroun...

Three hikers enjoy the view from Owl's Head - Bill Steele Vermont State Parks is pleased to announce the 2020 Falling for VT State Parks Photo Contest . We are seeking your best shots of the legendary foliage in VT State Parks!

Please don't travel until it's safe to do so! Our travel posts are great for making future plans or dreaming about your next escape. Learn more about  Vermont State Parks and COVID-19 .  If you are looking for a hiking hub in Vermont with an abundance of trails, swimming, camping, waterfalls, and amazing views, you really can’t beat the Killington area in central Vermont. At 4,229 feet Killington Peak is the second-highest summit in Vermont and one of the 48 peaks above 4,000 feet in New England. If hiking to the top of Killington isn’t on your bucket list, it’s time to add it, along with the rest of these beautiful Killington hikes nearby.

To all our friends and loyal followers of Vermont State Parks, I bid you farewell as I retire from the best job on the planet, Director of your Vermont State Parks. Change is hard but it is also exciting and inspiring. Our team here has never been stronger having been through a tremendous effort designing a way to offer state park services so that you and our staff are safe and healthy during this pandemic. And never before have I sensed a greater appreciation for the value of being outdoors with our friends and families than right now. It is exactly what we all need to manage our way through these times. I am proud to have had a part in making your parks available for you this season. Looking forward to a strong recovery on the “other side” of the pandemic, this is an ideal time for a transition in the organization. Our future is bright given the increased interest in outdoor recreation in general and the tremendous support for parks in the state legislature and administration up to a...

  The view from the Mt. Philo Overlook. - Raven Schwan-Noble The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is seeking public feedback on the potential designs to enhance Mt. Philo State Park . The intent of the planning process is to update the park to meet current visitor needs, while protecting the environment, enhancing historic and cultural resources and making needed safety improvements.   Mt. Philo is Vermont’s first State Park, as well as its most popular. With over 40,000 visitors every year, several issues have become apparent in the park. A full design plan was deemed necessary to ensure the park is accessible and safe for all users, while serving as a sustainable, natural, and recreational resource for generations to come.  After nearly a decade of work and with substantial public input, the long-range management plan (LRMP) for Mt. Philo State Park identified the need of enhancement plans to address parking and trail improvements in response to...

  The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) today announced that long-time State Parks Director Craig Whipple is retiring. “Under Craig’s leadership, our world-class state park system has expanded, modernized, and become more accessible,” said Michael Snyder, Commissioner of Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the department that oversees Vermont State Parks. “And even as Craig leaves behind such enormous running shoes to fill, we’re looking ahead to the next generation of leadership to build on Craig’s successes, and we’ll soon be announcing an active recruitment process to fill the position. On behalf of our department, our employees and volunteers, and all Vermonters and visitors who value our state parks, I thank Craig for his many years of outstanding service and congratulate him on a retirement well earned.” During his 14 years as Director of State Parks, Whipple was instrumental in creating many programs that have increased access to the parks, includi...

Please don't travel until it's safe to do so! Our travel posts are great for making future plans or dreaming about your next escape. Learn more about  Vermont State Parks and COVID-19 . Is your favorite outdoor space too busy with people for your comfort right now? Then take a hike back in time by visiting Amity Pond State Park in Pomfret, Vermont. Amity Pond is a park you may not know, and neither have all those other people crowding your favorite trailhead.  Rolling hills in Pomfret, Vermont Part of the enjoyment of visiting this park is your journey of arrival. This out of the way place is nestled in the rolling pastural hills of picturesque Pomfret. Vermont’s most photographed homestead, Sleepy Hollow Farm , brings hundreds of photographers to Pomfret in every beautiful Vermont season.  Pomfret is the quintessential rolling agricultural hills and historic homes that make up what we call the very best in Vermont. I was lucky enough to live in Pomfret on Galaxy Hill Ro...

Please don't travel until it's safe to do so! Our travel posts are great for making future plans or dreaming about your next escape. Learn more about  Vermont State Parks and COVID-19 . Breathtaking mountain views, hidden swimming holes, a meandering rail trail, and one of the prettiest waterfalls in the whole state. Welcome to Jamaica State Park in Vermont! This gem of a park is tucked away next to a rustic mountain village of the same name. It’s not the Caribbean, but it’s as welcoming a place as you’ll ever find in the Green Mountains. 

We’re excited to share  www.vtstateparks-visit.com ,  our new reservation website with  features designed to make finding and reserving a site easier than ever before. We've included some important information to help you during this exciting transition.

Contact: Jessica Savage, Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation 802-249-1230, jessica.savage@vermont.gov Keegan Tierney, Green Mountain Club 802-241-8320, ktierney@greenmountainclub.org Ethan Ready, Green Mountain National Forest Ethan.ready@usda.gov Vermont – The holiday weekend is traditionally the start of the hiking season in Vermont. From its rocky summits to its gentle valleys, Vermont is home to hundreds of miles of hiking opportunities. This year, with COVID-19 as a dominant concern, we are asking hikers to take a few extra precautions to both protect public health and protect the public value of our beautiful trails. Hiking is the ideal outdoor recreational activity for these times since you can get outside for exercise and fresh air while still adhering to social distancing and hygiene guidelines, if we’re all smart and courteous about getting outside. New COVID-19 Trail Etiquette Out-of-state visitors are still being asked to self-quarantine for at least 14 days after...