Vermont State Parks

Hepatica at Niquette Bay - Lisa Liotta Spring is full of fresh starts (including the  Parks Operating Season ). As Park Staff prepared for the park season, Niquette Bay State Park began filling with spring wildflowers. Niquette Bay State Park houses many wildflower colonies that put on a beautiful show for just a few weeks this time of year. Learn what makes these short-lived beauties so special and what types of flowers you might find! What are Spring Ephemerals? These are unique early blooming wildflowers that grow, flower, and seed all in the very short 6-8 week window before the shade from leaf trees covers the forest floor.  By the time deciduous trees have leaves, these flowers will be gone. Where do they grow? The best location to find these is in a predominately hardwood, deciduous forest with large trees and little undergrowth.  They can grow very well on rocky ledges in less-than-ideal soil conditions. These plants are usually very small and begin growing under...

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. ...

Writing in a nature journal is a great way to spend time. Here is a little secret: things you enjoyed as a child are still super fun now. My daughter and I live right in town and have a postage stamp sized front lawn, but that doesn’t stop us from having wonderful, revitalizing outdoor adventures together just as I enjoyed with my siblings when I was eight. My daughter and I started writing and drawing in our nature journal daily. The last entry   before this was in December, and now we are packing our journal full of wonderful observations, illustrations, and descriptive words each day. We are looking closely at nearby nature, and watching the seasons change from winter to spring in our yard. This is an exciting time as spring is an awakening and rebirth of life in our yards and neighborhoods. Crocuses springing out in a front yard. You do not need to go far to find signs of spring. We had crocuses pop up out of the dried grass and winter weeds in our flower beds ...

Spring Crafts in Full Bloom The sun is shining, critters are coming out of hibernation, and the birds are migrating back for the summer. Longer days mean one thing: more time outside in the sun! Inspired by spring, but not quite sure what to do? Here’s a few crafts to connect your inner artist with nature.  Remember: For crafts involving natural materials, only use materials that are already on the ground and no longer living. Tempted by the beauty of a beautiful bloom? Snap a picture to cherish later and leave it for others to enjoy.  Source: myplumpudding Nature Sculpture A great nature keepsake or gift! 1.       Separate clay into golf ball sized pieces. 2.      Find leaves or twigs on the ground to press into the clay.  3.      Let pieces air dry and turn them into fridge magnets or paperweights. Note: Homemade clay is cheap and easy to make.  Growing A Jeweled Ro...

Now that the snow has melted and the temperatures are warmer, most of us want to get outside and hike! But, mud season is not a good time for hiking in certain areas. Rain and melting snow at higher elevations are keeping many of Vermont's hiking trails wet and muddy. When hikers tramp on saturated soils, they cause soil compaction and erosion as well as damage to the trail and surrounding vegetation. Please help protect the fragile trails this time of year by staying off muddy trails. Higher elevation soils take longer to dry out. This year mud season is early. A trail may be dry at the trailhead, but is muddy at a higher elevation this time of year. If you notice this happening, please turn around! Trails at lower elevations, dirt roads, and recreation paths provide excellent places for early spring walking. Below is a list of great places to hike during mud season and please visit our hiking page at http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/hikingtrails.htm...

Noyes Pond beside the lodge Seyon Lodge's unique huge backyard is a special place to spend time, hiking, fishing, spotting wildlife , and finding a spot to take in the fresh air. However, the next two months at Seyon are a little extra special for a few reasons. 1. The Fishing : As the weather warms and the bugs start returning, the fishing gets good, real good. Seyon Pond is Vermont's only public fly-fishing only pond.  The nearby state parks are quieter than in July and August, which makes Spring a great time for taking out a boat and casting a line for a big brook trout. For your convenience, rowboats are located on site. (If you're a frequent angler, check out the Angler's Special ).  Eggs benedict Seyon style 2. The Food : Innkeepers, JessieMae, Adam, and Emmet, use fresh local ingredients to cook up delectible dishes. A member of the Vermont Fresh Network, Seyon Lodge Staff supports local farmers by purchasing their pr...

Please help protect state lands and trails by avoiding muddy trails! You may not know it, but trails and vegetation are super vulnerable during mud season and hiking on them during this time can cause irreversible damage by compacting soils and surrounding vegetation which accelerates erosion and the need for maintenance. High elevation trails are especially vulnerable during this time and take considerably longer to dry than lower elevation trails, so the state closes high elevation trails from April 15 – Memorial Day Weekend. So, if you’re looking to get out and go hiking in the early spring, these trails make for some great options: Southeast Vermont Mt. Ascutney State Park Parkway after mid April (after the ice melts off) Southwest Vermont D & H Rail Trail Emerald Lake State Parks roads Button Bay State Parks roads Northwest Vermont Niquette Bay State Park (check at trail head for closures) North Hero State Park roads Grand Isle State Park roads and trails Alburg Dunes Beach r...