Vermont State Parks

A chickadee eats from a snowy feeder at Knight Point. Is your New Year’s resolution to spend more time outside, but you need a little motivation to brave the cold?  Whether you’re at home or in  a state park , j oining an online wildlife watching community is a great way to learn more about the natural world, to connect with other nature enthusiasts, and to encourage yourself to get outside this winter. 

A porcupine scuttling through the Vermont woods. I’ve been seeing lots of porcupines lately while wandering in the woods, watching the movement of white- tailed deer and the changing of seasons here in Vermont. Evening visits to Gifford Woods State Park and Allis State Park are overlapping with porcupine activity more and more. Porcupines don’t vanish out of view quickly like coyotes or other nocturnal animals. I frequently see them because they are not in a hurry to get away from me; they waddle along very slowly. Their defense is not speed or agility, but the prickly quills garnishing their backsides. If you have experienced a curious dog and a close porcupine encounter, you already know why I sweep the trail ahead of me carefully with a bright headlamp during evening walks in porcupine territory. I don’t want to find out how it feels to take a shin full of barbed porcupine quills. There is one porcupine I have been seeing regularly on my favorite walking loop. The very first encou...

The results are in for the 2021 Falling for VT State Parks photo contest.  Congratulations to our winners! The photos (seen below) that received the most votes in each are as follows.

Looking for beautiful scenery, plenty of hiking, and a taste of Vermont’s history?  Coolidge State Park is the perfect spot for your next fall foliage escape. Coolidge State Park is located in Plymouth, Vermont and just a short drive away from Ludlow, Killington, Quechee, and Woodstock.

  MONTPELIER, Vt. – From hotter days to more frequent and intense storms, Vermont’s climate patterns are clearly shifting and impacting our state. This fall, state officials, local leaders and members of the Vermont Climate Council invite the public to attend one of several events to learn about the  climate patterns are clearly shifting and impacting our state. This fall, state officials, local leaders and members of the Vermont Climate Council invite the public to attend one of several events to learn about the development of the state’s Climate Action Plan and help prioritize approaches.

Paddlers at Brighton State Park enjoying fall colors. Days are getting shorter, nights are chilly and some stray trees have started to turn red, orange and gold. Summer may be over, but about half of our parks are open through Indigenous People’s Day, and a select few are open even later. Stop by for a visit and enjoy the cooler weather (and fewer bugs). Fall is a great time for camping, hiking, paddling, or getting in one final picnic before the earmuffs come on. Below is our late season operating list: Parks Open Until Sept 12 Stillwater Parks Open Until Sept 26 Camp Plymouth Parks Open Until October 11 Branbury Brighton Button Bay Coolidge Elmore Emerald Lake Fort Dummer Green River Reservoir Half Moon Pond Jamaica Kettle Pond Kingsland Bay Lake Carmi Lake St. Catherine Lake Shaftsbury Molly Stark New Discovery Niquette Bay Ricker Pond Waterbury Center Wilgus Woodford Parks Open Until October 16 Grand Isle Underhill  - last camping day Parks Open Until...

Labor Day camping not in the cards this year? We’ve got plenty of reasons to head out to a Vermont State Park near you.

Campers enjoy the Broad Brook swimming hole at Fort Dummer - Katie Mills If you’re looking for a budget friendly adventure hub in Southern Vermont with easy access to covered bridges, a bustling arts scene, and natural beauty, you’ll love staying at Fort Dummer State Park . It’s located just outside the town of Brattleboro, and close to other southern Vermont locations like Bennington, Wilmington, and Dover.

A hiker crosses a mountain stream using one of the newly built bridges on the Norcross Trail. Photos provided by ATA.   Windsor, VT - The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) in partnership with Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) announced the completion and opening of a new multi-use trail on Mt. Ascutney.  The 8-mile Norcross Trail provides a link for mountain bikers and hikers between the Ascutney Outdoors Center and Mount Ascutney State Park . Conceived in 2010, ATA members and FPR staff have spent the last 11 years working through a comprehensive environmental review to develop an ecologically sound trail, laying the trail out on the ground, and constructing this hand-built single-track recreational destination. Between 2016 and 2021, FPR-funded crews from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps spent nine weeks clearing and constructing trail.  Ascutney Trails Association funded and built three bridges and contributed both paid and volunteer tra...

A busy day at Waterbury Center State Park. Have you ever planned for a day of adventure and arrive at a park only to find no available parking? Vermont State Parks has launched Twitter accounts for four of our busiest parks with limited parking to help you plan ahead and maximize your free time. Park staff are posting to these accounts when parking areas are full. Follow these Twitter accounts for updates on parking availability: Green River Reservoir @VTGreenRiver Lowell Lake State Park @LowellLakeSP Waterbury Center State Park @WaterburyCtrSP Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites @VTWtbyRemotes

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)

  Montpelier, Vt. – The annual Vermont Days Weekend will be held this coming weekend, June 12-13, 2021, offering an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of summer and to explore Vermont’s fishing, state parks and historic culture.  As the state continues its push to 80% of eligible Vermonters receiving their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, walk-up clinics will be held at numerous State Parks across the state. All  Vermont State Park  day-use areas and all state-owned  Historic Sites  will be open at no charge. Saturday is  free fishing day , the one day of the summer when anyone can fish in Vermont without a license. It’s also a day for history: the  Vermont History Museum  in Montpelier will offer free admission on Saturday, June 12. “Vermont Days is a great opportunity to get out and explore the state, especially this year when we are all looking forward to spending time with friends and family again,” said Vermont Department of Tourism...

Vermont State Parks is excited to announce the return of the Words in the Woods  program. These programs allow Vermonters and visitors to enjoy our state’s natural beauty while listening to and reading literature in the outdoors. Words in the Woods events are made possible by Vermont Humanities , the Vermont Arts Council , and a sponsorship by a Northeast Kingdom donor in honor of poet Judy Chalmer.

A family paddles to their remote campsite at Waterbury Reservoir. Each year, more than 75,000 visitors enjoy the natural and recreational opportunities offered at Vermont’s 863-acre Waterbury Reservoir. Little River State Park, Waterbury Center State Park, and the surrounding Mt. Mansfield State Forest land offer access to boating, swimming, paddling, fishing, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. The recently improved boat launches at the Waterbury Dam, Blush Hill, and Moscow Paddlers’ access areas have allowed easier access for boaters and remote campers. The 27 popular remote campsites along the reservoir perimeter can be reserved in advance online at www.vtstateparks.com , or through the parks reservation call center at 1-888-409-7579. While there is no fee for the campsite itself this year, there will be an $8 reservation transaction fee to cover the costs of reservation processing.  Since 2012, Vermont State Parks has worked on managing use, developing remote campsites in a...

MONTPELIER – Vermont State Parks is happy to announce that the 2021 Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge is on! The Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge is a statewide outdoor scavenger hunt where participants earn points by completing fun outdoor activities and earn free state park entry. To get started, go to the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge web page and download the 2021 score sheet.  Choose the activities from each section that you’d like to do, and take a photo of yourself (or have someone else take a photo) of you doing that activity. Once you reach 250 points, send us your score sheet, photos, and any accompanying materials, and we’ll send you a gold VIP pass good for free park entry for 2021 and 2022! Most of the activities can be done anywhere and include things like hiking to a waterfall, skipping stones or creating a nature journal. You can also earn bonus points by completing weekly bonus activities posted on Vermont State Park’s Facebook page or on the Venture Verm...

  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 search for sites that will fit my trailer or RV? Visit www.vtstateparks.com and select 'RESERVE' Select ‘Make Reservation In the ‘Find an adventure’ box, you can select a park, location, or leave the ‘Where?’ field blank. Under ‘Interested in’, select ‘Camping & Lodging’. Under ‘Looking for’, select ‘Tent/RV sites’ or ‘Lean-To’. Type in the 'Length' in feet of your Trailer or RV. If you have a specific date in mind, enter for the ‘Arrival date’ and if you are flexible around the needed dates. If you don’t have a date in mind, you can leave this section blank. Select if you desire an accessible site, pets allowed, or a waterfront site. Select ‘Search’.   A list of parks ...

Trail signs at Mt. Philo - Krista Cheney Vermont – The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) and its partners  remind hikers of mud season at this time of year and ask for the public’s help protecting Vermont’s trails. And this year, COVID-19 is still a dominant concern, even with more people vaccinated. FPR and partners are asking for the public’s assistance with making smart choices to protect both public health and trails during this vulnerable time. Vermonters should be aware that mud season conditions have begun and will persist in many places until Memorial Day or later: trail closures may be in effect for several weeks. The Green Mountain Club and other trail organizations are working hard to get the trails ready and opened in time for the traditional kick-off of the season on Memorial Day weekend. Please exercise patience and help in stewarding the trails. While mud season conditions persist, here are some tips to keep you and our trails healthy. ...

Staff stand at the Crystal Lake State Park waterfront -  If you have ever been curious about what working in one of Vermont’s State Parks is like, now  you have your chance to find out, virtually. On Tuesday, April 6, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Vermont State Parks hiring managers will give an online presentation on job opportunities in Vermont State Parks this summer. Additionally, State Parks staff will provide insights, discuss specific job openings, and answer any questions you may have. Of course, you will also learn how to apply for positions and how the hiring process works.   “Vermont has a world class state park system and we’re searching for world class staff to facilitate meaningful and fun experiences in Vermont’s outdoors”, says Forests, Parks, and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder.   He adds, “Working in a Vermont state park gives staff valuable and diverse work experience and is perfect for those who love the outdoors and are interested in   pur...

The results are in for the 2021 Best In Snow photo contest.  Congratulations to our winners! The photos (seen below) that received the most votes in each category are as follows.