Vermont 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.

Hikers resting on the Peacham Bog Trail. This weekend (June 8 th & 9 th ) is Vermont Days , a celebration of summer. To help get you in the sunny summer mindset, day entry to any Vermont State Park is free! Whether you’re a local or just visiting for the weekend, we invite you to get outside and explore. No matter your ability, taking to the trails is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. To highlight trails in state parks and state lands, we've compiled a list of trail adventures you might like to try this summer. This list only scratched the surface, and we've decided to leave out Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield in favor of lesser-known options.  Find a trail that suits your mood! A man walks on the trail bridge at Lake Shaftsbury.  I want...   An easy trail with good views The trail to Button Point at  Button Bay State Park  is flat and leads to lovely views of Lake Champlain. Or walk the shoreline ...

A bright day for a winter hike Vermont State Parks  is excited to be hosting nine guided hikes on New Year's Day. Start off your New Year's resolutions on the right foot by getting outdoors and being active on the first day of 2012! We hope you'll join our experienced guides for a free family hike in one of our state parks. Remember to dress for the weather, bring snowshoes (if there’s snow), and bring your own beverages/snacks. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and most importantly, have fun! No registration is required. For status of a hike or other updates, please call 802-241-3663 on 12/31 and 1/1. See details for each hike below. Little River State Park  (morning & afternoon hikes) Morning Hike Leader: Sherry Winnie, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation ( www.vtstateparks.com/ ) Meet: 10:00 am at Little River State Park's Contact Station Hike Details: 1 hr +/-, easy to moderate terrain on park roads and trails  A fresh...

As the landscape of Vermont is exploding with fall colors, five Vermont State Parks are also gearing up to go out with a bang. Most of the parks close after Columbus Day weekend, but these parks stay open a little longer. See why they are great parks to visit this time of year. Looking out over Lake Champlain Gifford Woods : Set in the southern Green Mountains, this park is the perfect base camp for some great hikes . Easily connect to the famous Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, or take a trail to Deer Leap Overlook (a popular favorite). The foliage here is peaking, so make sure to bring your camera when exploring. You won't want to miss these photo opportunities. Also, for those wanting to camp, you can reserve a lean-to site or cabin in addition to regular tent/RV sites. Call the park to reserve your spot, 802-775-5354. Smugglers' Notch : This park is another perfect base camp for hiking. Take some challenging trails to the summit of Mt. Mansfield, the highe...

Grand Isle : High and dry, this popular park on Lake Champlain is open for business! What’s to love about Grand Isle State Park ? • Located on the shores of Lake Champlain • 150 campsites including tent/RV sites and leantos • 4 cabins • Nature center, volleyball, horseshoes, a nature walk, lake access, boat rentals • Nature programs, events and entertainment • Boating, fishing, biking, hiking, and swimming • New this year: construction of another cabin and a renovated bath house • Nearby: Burlington, St. Albans, Champlain Islands, restaurants, theaters, and museums For more information: http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/grandisle.htm Little River : A park rich in history, water, and wildlife What’s to Love About Little River State Park ? • Located along the shores of the Waterbury Reservoir – great views on top of the dam • Historic remnants – old sawmills, cemeteries, town roads, bridges, and cellar holes • Self guided history and nature trails along with other hiking...

As the cooler weather stretches into the valleys and further south in Vermont, the beautiful fall foliage spreads with it. Below are six state parks where the foliage and things to do are in full swing. Underhill State Park , Underhill Center, VT: Pick up great locally grown food at the Old Fashioned Harvest Market ; Do a wine tasting at Boyden Valley Winery ; Listen to a lecture by artists Chris Brown or Pablo Helquera at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT; Hike Mt. Mansfield , VT's highest peak: take a gondola ride up the mountain or drive up Mt. Mansfield's Auto Road; Stroll through the Grist Mill Covered Bridge in Jeffersonville, VT; Celebrate Shelburne's 32nd annual Harvest Festival ; Pick up some historic facts from the Jericho's Snowflake Bentley Museum ("Snowflake" Bentley was the first person to photograph a single snow crystal!). Kettle Pond State Park , Marshfield, VT: Go hungry and leave full after doing a Cabot Creamery tour (free samples...

1 Killington- a new series of outdoor interpretive exhibits are in place on the Old-Growth Interpretive Trail at Gifford Woods State Park . The exhibits explore the natural and cultural history of what is probably Vermont’s best known and most accessible remaining old-growth northern hardwood forest. The six exhibits are located along the trail and detail characteristics of the old-growth forest, old-growth trees, and development of the park around this unique natural resource. The exhibits complement a self-guiding trail that includes a brochure and plant and tree identification plaques. The exhibit project was funded by a grant from the Vermont Recreation Trails Fund. Gifford Woods State Park , on Route 100 North in Killington, was established in 1931 and includes camping, hiking, picnic grounds and interpretive exhibits and trails. The park is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend to the weekend after Columbus Day. Day fees are $3 per adult and $2 per child. For more informa...