Vermont State Parks

By Jessica Savage   Looking for a fun way to start the New Year off right? Did you make a resolution to be fitter, to meet new people or to get outside more in 2014? Well, look no further than a Vermont State Park near you! With over ten hikes already on the schedule, and more being added, you can find one that's a perfect fit! Are you a family looking for a hike everyone can enjoy? Then check out our hikes in Silver Lake State Park in Barnard or Grand Isle State Park in Grand Isle. Ashley Brisson, Head Park Ranger at Grand Isle, will lead the way on the Ironwood Nature Trail, an easy 1-mile loop, while telling you about animal tracking in snow, how animals survive a Vermont winter, and more!  At Silver Lake, former park ranger and local naturalist Scott Davison ( the Woodstock Naturalist ) will lead the way through storytelling and natural history. Seeking a more challenging hike to get your body moving? Then consider the hike up to the summit of ...

Hunting is an annual tradition for Vermonters and an important part of the state’s cultural heritage. Many people view hunting as a way to source their meat locally and build a relationship with the land. Hunting is allowed on all state lands, including State Parks, during the off-season. Though the hunting season is in full swing, the parks are still available for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or skiing.  Please come and visit the parks, but remember to be cautious in the woods. Dress in blaze orange (dogs, too) and make yourself heard. The parks listed below currently have their gates open for hunting season: Allis State Park Coolidge State Park Mt. Ascutney State Park Bomoseen Forest Block (not the campground/park proper) Alburg State Park Burton Island State Park Grand Isle State Park Kamp Kill Kare State Park Knight Island State Park Knight Point State Park Lake Carmi State Park Niquette Bay State Park North Hero State Park Sand Bar Stat...

Parks in Northeastern Vermont used to sell these gigantic bags of 'kindling' comprised of small, square blocks that were leftover pieces from furniture making. These bags were sold to campers and kept in large 'kindling cages'. While they were a nice idea, they really didn't work very well starting campfires so we stopped using them and went to selling easier to manage 'fire starters' instead. Once we made the switch, there was no longer a need for the old kindling cages. So, with old fashioned Yankee thrift and a contemporary mind towards recycling, the clever staff at Maidstone State Park came up with these fun ideas for re-purposing the cages. Pretty cool, huh?

The East Barn on the former Preston-Lefreniere property in  Bolton was recently moved 60 feet north from where it sat on Duxbury Road. The property, which includes the Preston-Lefreniere house and two additional barns, is owned by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), and part of Camels Hump State Park. The East Barn is estimated to have been built in the early 1800s in the style of 19 th century English barns, and is featured on the Bolton town seal.  Five generations of the Preston family lived and worked on the farm, beginning in the 1790s.  It is believed that its close proximity to the road, coupled with age, led to the barn’s deterioration. On October 29th, the building was moved onto a new foundation, rotten beams were repaired, and new sills were added. FPR decided to move the barn in order to stabilize and preserve the historical structure for future use. Stabilization efforts will continue through November. According to Mike Fr...

The Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge wrapped up a few weeks ago and we have just finished reviewing the over 275 entries we received!  The program, which encourages individuals and families to get outside, visit Vermont state parks, and participate in different activities, kicked off on April 1 and ran through October 15.   Participants earned points by completing outdoor activities like hiking new trails or eating a picnic in a state park, and taking photos along the way. When they reached 250 points, they were eligible to receive a Vermont State Parks VIP gold medal coin and free day use in the parks for the rest of the current season and the following year. We were so impressed by all of the entries we received and the wide variety of parks and experiences represented.  We would like to highlight a few submissions that really stood out: Heidi McCarthy from Ferrisburg made a nature journal with awesome illustrations of landscapes and plants! The ...

By John Frigault In honor of Halloween, we asked Mt. Philo Ranger John Frigault to share any park ghost stories. He sent us the following story:  Mount Philo is Vermont’s first State Park generously donated back in 1924. The Civilian Conservation Corp constructed the Lodge and Rangers quarters back in 1935-1936 atop of the summit where we currently reside as park rangers for the summer. I have been fortunate enough to be able to utilize the old lodge in the mornings for my budding Tai Chi practice. It has always been a very powerful spot on top of the mountain overlooking the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. The Lodge itself has been a coveted spot for weddings, life ceremonies and special events throughout the decades. It has a sense of antiquity with its massive stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and rustic interior that people are drawn to. It is this energy that attracted me to its welcoming interior. Tai chi is an ancient martial art of flowing meditation originally intend...

Guest Blogger: Renee McWilliams Renee is a recent college graduate student from Illinois. She and her family spent a month in Vermont touring the parks. Renee is interested in photography and took some great shots of her travels. She had some fun adventures and met some great people. Here she details a few days on the trail. 8/15/13 Wilgus- Meeting people  And A Trip to Quechee Gorge We are at Wilgus State Park . Tonight is our last night at Wilgus. I got great photos here talking to different families and would love to take a quick note of the people I met. George and his family believe in spending time together away from TV and video games, and values the time away from those kinds of distractions. I met a couple playing Uno, who played various games to pass the time on the rainy day. They said they were  re-living their childhood. I met a family that posed by the fire with their dog for a moment before they would adventure off in their three handmade canoes, the man...