Greetings Everyone,

We are very excited to announce the grand opening of Vermont State Parks for the 2024 season! Get ready for a year full of beautiful sights, fun activities, and lots of chances to enjoy nature. Whether you're an experienced explorer, love camping, or just want to relax in nature, Vermont State Parks is for everyone.

The foundation of Vermont State Parks is the combination of breathtaking locations, play, and community building that happens inside each park. Much of what the parks offer is made possible by the incredible team of park managers, staff, and volunteers who join us each season to operate them. This team consists of folks who come from all over the country, and many Vermonters too. Their wide range of backgrounds and experience, along with their great passion and dedication for the work they do, energizes every park.

As we head into this momentous 100th year, grab your gear, lace up your shoes, and join the celebration!

Warm regards,

Nate McKeen, Director of Vermont State Parks

A Year of Celebrations

Join us in celebrating Vermont State Parks' 100th anniversary with a series of exciting events! Enjoy curated concerts, guided nature hikes, wildlife watching, and more.

Participate in hands-on workshops and family-friendly activities that connect you with the natural beauty of Vermont. Whether you're excited for the return of Words in the Woods poetry celebrations, exploring the Rainbow Garden with popular author and master storyteller Michael Caduto, or joining early morning bird walks, each event offers a unique way to explore and appreciate the great outdoors.

All events are free with park entry! New events are added weekly from June through August. Don't miss out on these special occasions to create lasting memories. Check out the full calendar and plan your visit today!

For more details, visit the Vermont State Parks event calendar.

All Parks Opening on Schedule

Above: Volunteers clean up at Camp Plymouth State Park - S. Blanchette & T. Soukup

Despite last year's historic floods, all parks are opening for the 2024 season. A big thank you to the park staff, contractors, and volunteers who helped along the way!

Camp Plymouth is reopening for the 2024 summer season on Friday, May 24th. We have been working hard to recover from last year’s flooding so that you can enjoy this much-loved location. The areas of the grounds impacted by flooding are a little dusty from the construction and we are waiting patiently for our grass to regrow there. While we wait, there will be modified operations including a slightly longer walk to the beach area from a secondary parking location. Accessible parking and assistance will be provided in our main parking lot. We look forward to seeing you this weekend or later this summer!

Ready to Hike?

When planning your hike, check for trail closures and alerts by heading to TrailFinder.Info. You can tailor your search by Accessibility, Difficulty, Trail Status, Location, and more. Looking for more trail recommendations? Head to the Vermont State Parks Hiking page.

A screenshot shows the searchable Trail Finder map

New Hats, Patches, Mugs, and more!

A collage of 100th anniversary merchandise shows a branded coffee cup, hat, patches, and hat pin.

New year, new gear! We have expanded our offering of Vermont State Parks merchandise to feature the special edition 100th anniversary logo. We have new travel mugs perfect for sipping your campsite coffee. These are the perfect size to fit in the cup holder of your camp chair or your car for the morning commute. Hats, patches, and pins are in with more gear arriving throughout the season. Buy state parks 100th-anniversary merchandise!

100 Years. 100 Stories.

Explore the rich history and personal experiences in our parks through stories shared by visitors just like you! Check out:

Discover more inspiring adventures and cherished memories on our 100th Anniversary site. Each story offers a unique glimpse into the beauty and magic of Vermont State Parks. Dive in and maybe even share your own story with us!

Share Your Park Stories

FREE Park Entry

Vermont Days is an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of summer and to explore Vermont’s fishing, state parks and historic culture. On June 8 - 9, 2024, all Vermont State Park day-use areas and select 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 8.

Updates from Vermont Parks Forever

As the non-profit foundation for Vermont’s state parks, your support makes the state parks even better! Check out some of what you’ve helped us do recently:

Grant over 13,000 free days in the parks to community organizations across Vermont through the Park Access Fund.

Purchase 4 new beach wheelchairs for Brighton, Crystal Lake, Lake St. Catherine, and Silver Lake State Parks.

Don’t forget to visit the new Groton Nature Center this park season.

In this 100^th Anniversary year of the state parks, celebrate by making a gift and sharing YOUR park story.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” – John Lubbock

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