Vermont State Parks

A hiker crosses a mountain stream using one of the newly built bridges on the Norcross Trail. Photos provided by ATA.   Windsor, VT - The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) in partnership with Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) announced the completion and opening of a new multi-use trail on Mt. Ascutney.  The 8-mile Norcross Trail provides a link for mountain bikers and hikers between the Ascutney Outdoors Center and Mount Ascutney State Park . Conceived in 2010, ATA members and FPR staff have spent the last 11 years working through a comprehensive environmental review to develop an ecologically sound trail, laying the trail out on the ground, and constructing this hand-built single-track recreational destination. Between 2016 and 2021, FPR-funded crews from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps spent nine weeks clearing and constructing trail.  Ascutney Trails Association funded and built three bridges and contributed both paid and volunteer tra...

A busy day at Waterbury Center State Park. Have you ever planned for a day of adventure and arrive at a park only to find no available parking? Vermont State Parks has launched Twitter accounts for four of our busiest parks with limited parking to help you plan ahead and maximize your free time. Park staff are posting to these accounts when parking areas are full. Follow these Twitter accounts for updates on parking availability: Green River Reservoir @VTGreenRiver Lowell Lake State Park @LowellLakeSP Waterbury Center State Park @WaterburyCtrSP Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites @VTWtbyRemotes

Last Updated 6/14/21. The State of Vermont is now fully open with no COVID-19 restrictions. We are no longer updating this page. For further COVID-19 updates, please check:   COVID-19 | Vermont Department of Health (healthvermont.gov)

  Montpelier, Vt. – The annual Vermont Days Weekend will be held this coming weekend, June 12-13, 2021, offering an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of summer and to explore Vermont’s fishing, state parks and historic culture.  As the state continues its push to 80% of eligible Vermonters receiving their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, walk-up clinics will be held at numerous State Parks across the state. All  Vermont State Park  day-use areas and all state-owned  Historic Sites  will be open at no charge. Saturday is  free fishing day , the one day of the summer when anyone can fish in Vermont without a license. It’s also a day for history: the  Vermont History Museum  in Montpelier will offer free admission on Saturday, June 12. “Vermont Days is a great opportunity to get out and explore the state, especially this year when we are all looking forward to spending time with friends and family again,” said Vermont Department of Tourism...

This guest blog is by Matt Parsons, longtime photography intern, writer and avid parks explorer. Check out more of his adventures at his blog  The Adventurers .

Vermont State Parks is excited to announce the return of the Words in the Woods  program. These programs allow Vermonters and visitors to enjoy our state’s natural beauty while listening to and reading literature in the outdoors. Words in the Woods events are made possible by Vermont Humanities , the Vermont Arts Council , and a sponsorship by a Northeast Kingdom donor in honor of poet Judy Chalmer.

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...