Vermont State Parks

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation invites you to a public open house about  Bingham Falls, the popular waterfall in Stowe, Vermont. The open house will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at the Stowe Akeley Memorial Building from 6:30 – 9:00pm. Bingham Falls has become one of the popular destinations in Stowe for visitors to the area and is also loved by locals. The primary attraction at Bingham Falls is a series of stunning cascades, gorges, and pools collectively referred to as Bingham Falls. The West Branch of the Little River flows through the center of the property and is surrounded by steep forested hillsides to the east and west making this a unique natural place to visit. The consultant team of SE Group, Timber & Stone, LLC and Grenier Engineering has completed a site assessment of the Bingham Falls parcel, which is part of Smugglers’ Notch State Park and Mt. Mansfield State Forest. We are looking for community feedback on what featur...

The sheer beauty of Vermont State Parks, not only attract guests from a variety of places with a variety of interests but also attract a variety of staff.  Vermont State Parks Staff is composed of a dynamic groups of enthusiastic individuals.  You may find “retired” employees from successful careers in almost any sector, people who grew up on a farm, young people just starting out, college students on a variety of career paths and long time park veterans, among others. All of these diverse backgrounds bring unique skill sets to the parks.  So when Agnes Barsalow, the Ranger at Elmore State Park , suggested we swap a few staff members for the day, we here at Smugglers’ Notch jumped at the chance. Not only was it a chance for the staff to have a little variety over the summer but also a chance for each of our parks to learn from one another.  Each park was able to learn about great things the other parks do and absorb tips and tricks from the staff at the other par...

A few from the park of the surrounding mountains A new show, "Park Secrets", airing this summer on the Travel Channel brought Lusid Media including Jillian Cohen, the producer for the show, and her crew to Smugglers' Notch State Park on February 1st. The show uncovers "Park Secrets" and showcases a handful of hidden parks across the country and explores why they are so special. Regional Park Manager, Susan Bulmer, spent the morning with Jillian, discussing one of Vermont's hidden gems tucked in the green mountains near Stowe and what folks enjoy most about the park. Susan speaks to the film crew Smugglers’ Notch State Park is a little more 'hidden' in the winter months as part of the mountain road closes until the snow is gone, but that doesn't seem to stop many people from seeking it out and enjoying what the park has to offer. Ice climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing are popular sports in and around the park. In fact, two i...

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...

Help Green Mountain Club achieve Project 10,000 by the end of their centennial year (the end of March) by joining ! The club is currently supported by over 9,800 members but has an important goal of having 10,000 members by the end of its centennial year, this month ! For anybody who loves the Long Trail and all the other great projects GMC does, it's the perfect time to make a difference! Plus, any new members who join before March 11, 2011 will be entered into a drawing to win great prizes from local businesses. The Long Trail is a rugged footpath that spans the ridge of the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to Quebec, crossing through approximately 120 miles of state lands, including Smuggler’s Notch , Underhill , and Camel’s Hump State Parks. GMC exclusively maintains Camels Hump and Mt. Mansfield State Parks. The Long Trail exists because of the Green Mountain Club, a 100-year-old non-profit organization that built and maintains it. Since 1910, GMC volunteers have worked c...

Rain Droplet By Eric Bouchard, Assistant Ranger Smugglers’ Notch State Park In the purview, the clouds form round the mountain, This my home, the Earth’s life fountain, Just an insignificant being am I, A droplet formed and released from the sky, Free falling, where will I end? So many places I could descend, Will it be land? Will it be sea? Will it be roots at the base of a tree? Closer and closer, ready to go, It’s now time to begin the show, Bounce, pop from stone to stone, Into the stream is where I’m thrown, Thrash, swirl, side to side, What could I do, but enjoy the ride, With one fell swoop, the ride would stop, Onto a tongue and out of the drop, What happened then I cannot say, For the darkness set in and I was led astray, Up, down, round and round, Through the dark tunnels I travelled, will I ever be found? Lost no more, I was able to see, Released once again by the side of a tree, Into the dirt I went, through humus and silt, To that mysterious place an ecosystem’s built, Fil...

Foliage is starting to look good in Northern Vermont - here are some great parks for early fall foliage viewing and fun stuff to do in the surrounding areas: Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe, VT: Hike Mt. Manfield, VT's highest peak; Take a gondola ride up the mountain; Drive up Mt. Mansfield's Auto Road ; Bike Ride on the Stowe Bike Path ; Check out British Invasion Car Show Weekend; Visit the Boyden Valley Winery ; Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill ; Take a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory . Brighton State Park, Island Pond, VT: Try a stay in a cozy cabin ; Bring your own boat, and paddle on Island Pond , or rent one and paddle on Spectacle Pond, Check out the Northeast Kingdom's Foliage Festival ; participate in North Woods Stewardship Center's Foliage Bike Ride; Hike at Lake Willoughby ; Paddle the Clyde River ; Visit the Silvio Conte NWR . New Discovery/Osmore Pond State Park Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT Stay in a remote lean-to on Os...

Moscow, Vermont lays claim to the World's Shortest Forth of July Parade (Route). Not to be outdone, Smugglers' Notch State Park , Moscow's neighbors to the North, remains uncontested for the fifth year in a row for their self proclaimed title of the "World's Smallest Fourth of July Parade." Consisting of a single golf car affectionately named "Dora the Explorer" draped in flags and other patriotic finery that was largely donated by the community, enthusiastic park staff circle the park during the day sometimes drawing crowds numbering in the 10's of people! When asked about the rivalry Park Ranger Aaron Jacobs said "What?" Although Mr. Jacobs played coy it is rumored that all employees involved in the preparation and execution of this event take it very seriously, are sworn to secrecy and meet in a undisclosed portion of the park garage for preparation and planning. Nancy Tillman, a park guest who once thumbed through a copy of the Guin...

by Eric Bouchard, Assistant Ranger Smugglers' Notch Ever so gracefully do these winged creatures of the night, Flutter and soar in the pale moonlight, With brilliant shade of green this creature doth glow, And dance fancy free for the evening show. ~EWB Smugglers' Notch has attracted some bizarre, yet stunning visitors to the park as of late. These visitors of whom I speak, are not our campers, but a species of moth that is unlike anything I, personally, have ever seen before. The species to which I am referring is the Luna Moth. Seen left, the Luna Moth (a.k.a. the Giant Silkworm Moth) with its brilliant pale green wings, a white body, and pinkish legs, sports an impressive wingspan that can reach 4 ½ inches. Once common throughout the US, sightings of this beautiful creature have diminished due to spikes in pollution and habitat loss. Females, who lay their eggs, roughly 200, on the underside of black walnut tree leaves, live long enough for that purpose only. In fact, the a...

Can you see the face? Many people visit the Notch to view the rock formations. Even our youngest guests have no problems discovering fantastic creatures in the towering cliffs above. The dual mile long thousand foot cliffs which line Smugglers’ Notch are richly decorated with famous formations and provide ample opportunity to find new ones on your own. An imaginative person can discover new formations in the cliffs at the Notch just as someone gazing in the sky can make out different formations with the clouds. Some of the rock formations found in the Notch take a bit more imagination to piece together, but a few well known and more obvious formations in the Notch are: Smugglers’ Face, Elephants Head, Hunter and his Dog, The Shark’s Tooth, and The Singing Bird. The beautiful scenery sweeps up those who wonder into the Notch and gives them an unforgettable adventure full of cliffs, wildlife, and the undiscovered formations of rock. If you’re willing to explore you should come visit and ...

Ben & Jerry's, Cabot cheese, countless Vermont maple syrup stands and stores….truly, as this selection of tasty attractions attests, this is a state that takes pride in all things uniquely Vermont. But after the numerous factory tours and samples many visitors and tourists may still find themselves hungering for something a little different (and not just because of the tiny portioned samples). Perhaps what you yourself really crave is something that can be experienced by more than just your palette. Luckily a vastly different option awaits that surely will satisfy this craving. Wind up scenic Route 108 between Stowe and Jeffersonville and you will discover a taste something else uniquely Vermont… Smugglers’ Notch State Park. Carved between Mt. Mansfield to the west and Spruce Peak to the east, this uniquely Vermont landscape serves up hefty portions of scenic views, great hiking, and unlimited adventure that will undoubtedly please an outdoor enthusiast or outdoor enthusiast in...