Vermont State Parks

British Soldiers lichen at Underhill State Park  By Rebecca Roy Hardy Vermont State Park fans have been out exploring their favorite parks, even in the sometimes chilly, sometimes icy winter world we are experiencing this year. My friend Amy, who loves state parks so much she completed our Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge with her little daughter last year, was recently hiking around in Underhill State Park . Amy came back with wonderful memories of the smell of a fragrant spruce, fir forest in winter, and a photo of an unidentified lichen specimen. To cope with harsh winter weather, and to prevent harmful freezing, most plants in Vermont lose leaves in autumn, and enter a dormant period. Deciduous trees, herbaceous plants, wildflowers, and many shrubs spend the winter leafless, waiting for spring. However, there are some hardy organisms possessing adaptations giving them the edge on winter weather. The winter landscape is like a cold desert, freezing temperatures bri...

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Are you looking for a romantic spot to take your current, potential, or totally imaginary sweetie? During the summer months, many parks host weddings, receptions and marriage proposals, and other creative types find romance year-round. In honor of the holiday, here are some picks for a park-related romantic rendezvous. Falls of Lana hike from Branbury State Park Lots of people find waterfalls to be romantic. Stands to reason, right? Nothing captures warm and fuzzy feelings more than the action of water violently cascading against rock. The Falls of Lana are only a short hike from the day-use area at Branbury, and offer several spots to view the falls from various angles. The park setting by Lake Dunmore is a more mellow, less dramatic place to walk along the beach or have a picnic. The Fire Tower at Molly Stark State Park There’s also something about the view from a fire tower (as long as neither you no your sweetie is afraid of height...

After skimming the latest Northern Woodlands magazine, I stumbled across an article about brewing native winter teas, naturally high in vitamins A and C. This was an intriguing idea, and I decided to take a stab at brewing my own tea from white pine. That was an activity I’d heard of before in passing, but hadn't considered in depth, and I decided to give it a try. Eastern White Pine ( Pinus strobus ) is a well-known and common native of the northeast. Its’ range stretches from eastern Canada though the northeast U.S. states as far south as Georgia. White pine grows large and lives a long time, and historically, even played a small part in the events leading up to the American Revolution. The British Navy needed sturdy wood for its’ ships to defend their ever-growing empire, but faced a shortage of trees at home. They discovered that tall white pines in the American colonies worked very well, and forbade anyone but the crown to cut down pines of a certain size. This was a d...

Tubing at Mt. Ascutney  Downhill winter sports get the most press this time of year, but we know there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in winter. Because being an adult is difficult sometimes (or lot of the time!), today we focus on a pair of activities that should appeal to the young.. and the young at heart. Sledding is of course popular with kids the world over, and fat bikes, with their big bouncy tires, just look fun.  Sledding A classic favorite with a nostalgic appeal. Sledding definitely isn’t just for kids though! The beauty of sledding is its simplicity: all you need is a sled (improvised or otherwise) and an incline. Snow is strongly recommended. Sleds have evolved over the years, from the classic wooden body with runners design, to sleek modern models. Here are some suggestions for sledding in the parks: Mt. Philo, Charlotte VT:  This long, windy park road from the summit is a dream come true for those who want to live on the edg...

Burton Island is one of Vermont’s most popular state parks, and now there is even more to love about this island in Lake Champlain. Three new cabins finished last summer will be open for the 2017 season and reservations can be made beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 9:00 am. Reservations can only be made through the reservation call center at 1-888-409-7579 Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. The new, universally accessible cabins are located on the secluded east side of the island, away from the main campground. Each cabin has one futon and a set of bunk beds, a table with four chairs and an electric outlet. Cabins sleep up to four people. Restrooms with hot water and showers are located a short distance away adjacent to the marina. A picnic table and campfire ring with grill are provided for each cabin. The cabins are named for nearby islands in Lake Champlain: Sunset, Savage and Popasquash. Off the tip of St. Albans Point on Lake Champlain, Burton Island State Park h...

White, green and (sometimes) blue: The colors of woods winter On a vacation day in late December, I happened to be driving past Allis State Park and decided to stop for a walk. It was a lovely day: sunny, not too cold and a fresh covering of snow. On the day I visited, the gate was open and the road to the contact station plowed. This was lucky for me since I had left my snowshoes at home.  The park was not busy, but certainly not deserted either. As I was leaving, another car pulled in- these people well equipped with winter gear and snowshoes. Allis is also a good place to go sledding. The park road is perfect for a long ride, and there are more gentle hills in the day use area. One caveat: make sure the gate is closed before going on a joy ride!  Since I was so close, I also stopped at Baker Pond and the Floating Bridge, which both have a very different feel in the wintertime. Fresh snow and sun ...

Jump-start your new year with a free family hike... now with extra added snow! Local experts all around Vermont will be offering guided hikes on January 1st, and we welcome everyone to participate. Start your new year by getting outside and enjoying the new snowfall.  Dogs are welcome on a leash. Hikes vary in length and difficulty, so there is something for everyone. All hikes are listed as easy to moderate, with the exception of Hunger Mountain, which is difficult.  (Detailed description of Hunger Mountain hike is at the bottom.) How Should I Prepare For a Winter Hike?  Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager, and Niquette Bay State Park hike leader gives us a rundown: "Bring a backpack with water and snacks. Make sure to have an extra hat and gloves, as well as an extra pair of wool hiking socks. Dress in layers, synthetic or wool. A good long underwear base layer under lined snow/ waterproof pants, with several warm layers on top, under a winter jacket...