Vermont State Parks

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...

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...

A Vermont State Park cabin at night Rumors have gone round of haunted buildings in Kingsland Bay State Park . Last May, the Champlain Valley Vermont Ghost Hunters offered up their services to investigate if there actually is paranormal activity or if it's just people's imaginations running wild. The ghost hunters stayed for two nights in the park and conducted experiments in several park buildings including the main dining hall, the Hawley House and the staff quarters, and they did find some interesting evidence. Arriving in tricked out vans looking like command central, these four professionals use high tech equipment to scientifically determine if something else lurks beyond what we can see and hear. An Electrical Voice Phenomena reader (EVP), infrared cameras, motion cameras, laser devices, and other equipment help to document and measure images, noises, and the presence of 'others'. The investigators have been somewhat hush-hush about their findings pending of...

Crossett Brook Middle Schoolers pull out invasive honeysuckle This Sunday, September 25, we invite everyone to join us in helping wage the "War of the Weeds" as part of National Public Lands Day.   Come to Little River State Park at 10:00am. Park Interpreter Brian Aust will lead volunteers through the park removing invasive honeysuckle plants while teaching participants about invasives in Vermont. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. On September 24, 2011, over 170,000 volunteers will plant trees, remove trash, and build trails at public lands across the nation. Last year, volunteers and community partners contributed an estimated $15 million of improvements to over 2,000 public land sites. You can join in the effort too by doing your own War on Weeds on your property! Read more about Brian's fight below: Brian's "War on Weeds" program caught the...

Colin McCaffrey There seems to always be something fun to do and see at Little River State Park in August. Park Interpreter, Brian Aust, has been working hard to line up nature programs, special guests, performances, and other fun happenings during this summer month. Check out all the upcoming events by clicking here . Dave Keller Each Wednesday night in August at 7:00PM at the B-side playground, you'll hear great music. See the schedule below: August 3 - Dave Keller August 10 - Colin McCaffrey August 17 - The Cold Country Bluegrass Band The Cold Country Bluegrass Band More are in the works, so stay tuned. Call the park for more details, 802-244-7103.

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...

Are you interested in taking a group of students on a field trip this year, but funding is tight? You should apply for a field trip grant from Target: Are you wondering where you can take students for an interesting, interactive, and dynamic field trip? Look no further than Vermont State Parks ! Field trips are available on all sorts of topics from Native American studies to tree identification (and more)! Fall field trips are available at: Jamaica State Park , in Jamaica, Vermont Button Bay State Park , in Vergennes, Vermont Little River State Park , in Waterbury, Vermont Groton State Forest , in Groton, Vermont Contact Rebecca Phelps for additional information about these field trip opportunities at the contact information below. Rebecca Phelps Conservation Education Coordinator VT Dept of Forests, Parks & Recreation 103 South Main St, 10 South Waterbury, VT 05671 802.241.3651 rebecca.phelps@state.vt.us

Each year four parks, representing each geographical region in Vermont, are presented with the Park of the Year Award. The purpose of the program is to acknowledge exemplary accomplishments of the parks field staff, as well as for the enhancement of public service – to make the parks a better, more enjoyable place to recreate. Competition is fierce and award recipients receive the right to display the coveted "Park of the Year" banner the following season. This year's winners are Thetford , D.A.R. , Niquette Bay , and Little River .