Vermont State Parks

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 . Having the right camping attitude before you leave the house is every bit as important as having the skills to do so.

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)

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 .

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...

  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 ...

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...

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.

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. 

Sit spots are great places to journal.  Doing your best to distantly socialize, but you’re tired of the same old thing? We’ve got your back. Our carefully curated list of activities can help you connect with nature and get ready for your next big adventure. These activities can be done within the comfort of your own home or backyard (just remember to follow current advice from the Vermont Department of Health ). Find a sit spot. Sit spots can be any area in your yard or a view from a window. This is a great way to take in the world around you and build mindfulness in an easy way. Step 1 - Pick a spot you like near a tree, in a field, or at a window with a good view. Step 2 - Sit, look, listen, and observe. What do you see, hear and smell? Step 3 - Repeat as often as necessary. Try different times of day. What changes? What stays the same? Birding.   Did you see a bird fly by or heard one sing, but you’re not sure what kind? The Cornell Lab of Ornitholo...

The Cascadnack cabin is universally accessible and pet friendly. Mt. Ascutney is one of Vermont’s oldest state parks and popular hiking destination. The park is expanding its offerings to include five cabins.  The cabins are newly finished in 2019 and are now available.  Reservations can be made up to eleven months in advance by either reserving online or by calling the Reservation Call Center at 1-888-409-7579 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm). Each cabin comes with a bunk bed, futon, and table with 4 chairs. The new cabins are located mid-way up the Mt. Ascutney Parkway with 3 of the 5 being universally accessible ( click here for a map ). Each cabin has one futon, a set of bunk beds, and a table with four chairs. Cabins sleep up to four people although 2 can set up a tent outside or sleep on the floor. There is no electricity in these cabins making it the perfect opportunity to unplug and keep some of the creature comforts of home. You can even bring your pet with you in ...

Camping at a Vermont State Park is a great way to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature away from the constant distraction of electronics but as you will find out, there are certain things that just don’t come as easily as they do at home, dishwashing is one of those things. Here are a few tips to make sure your dishes are clean and the environment is safe.   It may seem so much easier to buy paper products and not worry about washing all those dishes but even 100% compostable products aren’t as environmentally friendly as they seem. Unless the state park you are visiting has a composting pile, all your trash is going to be mixed in with regular trash and thrown into landfills. When thrown into landfills, biodegradable and compostable products aren’t exposed to the necessary air, moisture and sunlight to break them down. Depending on the type of camper you are, you may or may not want to bring dishes for every purpose. If you have a small vehicle and are looking to save space, ...

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and that doesn’t change when you are camping. No matter how awesome bacon is, it’s good to have variety in our diet and what a great time camping can be to try out all those recipes you’ve been saving up. Planning is an important first step to a successful meal around the campfire. Here are some tips to make your meals as simple and easy as possible. ·         -  Keep preparation to the minimum by chopping, shredding, or slicing ingredients at home. Measure the necessary amounts and pack them in disposable or reusable containers or zip-close bags. ·         -   Pack perishable items in a cooler loaded with ice-packs or ice blocks, and keep cold until ready to cook. ·        ·         -  Explore the area surrounding the campground. Look out for great local farmers markets where you can get some f...