9 State Parks to Visit in Vermont This Summer
Statewide, 55 parks make up a legacy of conservation and stewardship in Vermont, creating a haven for wildlife, families, and outdoor recreators to enjoy scenic landscapes and history while protecting and preserving them for future generations. These 9 parks are a great place to start as you plan your parks visit.
1. Lake Carmi State Park
Northwest Vermont’s Lake Carmi is Vermont’s fourth largest lake by land mass, and thanks to recent efforts, its water is the clearest it’s been in recorded history. Take in picturesque sunsets at this state park in Enosburg Falls, offering great fishing for warm-water species like walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, and bass, as well as one of the largest bogs in Vermont. The park also has nature programming from mid-June through Labor Day by the park interpreter, including night hikes, nature crafts and games, campfire programs and amphibian explorations.
2. Elmore State Park
It’s easy to see why Lake Elmore is called “Vermont’s Beauty Spot.” This state park is ideal for families, with a sandy beach on a comparatively shallow lake, campsites, boats available for rent, and picnic facilities on-site. Trails on park property lead up Mount Elmore to its fire tower, affording sweeping views of the Lamoille Valley (spot Vermont’s highest peak from up there.) A new beach house offers changing areas, bathrooms, and a concession stand selling park souvenir merchandise and light food.
3. Brighton State Park
Those looking for a remote escape will find it at the sprawling Brighton State Park, located on the shores of Spectacle Pond. The closest town is rural Island Pond, a favorite base point for snowmobilers in winter and ATV riders in summer. Anglers, hunters, and campers looking to roam away from development will find an ideal mix of refuge and amenities at Brighton State Park, with campsites on the beach, a bathhouse with bathrooms, historic logging roads that lead further into the woods, and boats available to rent.
4. Groton Nature Center
Located within the Groton State Forest, which contains a total of seven state parks and eight lakes and ponds, the Groton Nature Center shares exhibits focusing on the area’s plants, wildlife, and natural landmarks. Constructed as part of a partnership with Vermont Parks Forever and the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the Groton Nature Center features interactive learning opportunities highlighting Groton’s geology and natural history. The nature center is within walking distance of Big Deer, Stillwater and Boulder Beach state parks. Kettle Pond, Molly’s Falls Pond, New Discovery, Ricker Pond, and Seyon Lodge state parks are all just a short drive away.
5. Kingsland Bay State Park
On the banks of Lake Champlain in Vermont’s Champlain Valley region, Kingsland Bay State Park is home to the historic Hawley House, a former ferry house dating to the 1700s that once housed a girls summer camp. The park is a popular venue for weddings or events. It’s a stop along the Lake Champlain Paddlers Trail. The park provides paddling and fishing in a sheltered cove, or visitors can adventure further out onto Lake Champlain.
6. Mount Ascutney State Park
Calling all adventurers: Mount Ascutney State Park’s stock-in-trade is adrenaline. The park offers camping and hiking trails, leading hikers to the sites of former quarries and homesteads, relics of past logging operations, and other historical curiosities, as well as grand views of the Connecticut River Valley. Perhaps its most unusual offering is racing. Whether you race in cars, on bikes, or on foot, the park has been the site of annual races to the summit each summer. With two launch points, hang gliders love Mount Ascutney, too.
7. Silver Lake State Park
The 84-acre Silver Lake is a prime fishing, paddling, swimming, and boating spot. A sandy beach beckons, along with a snack bar and boat and canoe rentals. The remains of an old barn foundation are still visible in the campground. A beach wheelchair makes the beach accessible at no cost, and a picnic pavilion can bring groups together. An on-site park interpreter offers programming like night hikes, campfire programs, and more.
8. Molly Stark State Park
The park is located along the Molly Stark Trail Scenic Byway (State Route 9), the main east-west route in southern Vermont that connects Brattleboro, Wilmington, and Bennington. The park is named for the wife of General John Stark of the Revolutionary War. It is home to the 50-foot Mt. Olga fire tower, moved there from Townshend in 1955, with a hiking trail leading to it at the park.
9. Emerald Lake State Park
Sparkling Emerald Lake invites swimmers, boaters, anglers, and families, with a playground, a boat launch, paddling gear for rent, and a campground to extend the fun overnight or longer. Located in southern Vermont between Manchester and Rutland, the Dorset area was known for marble quarrying, and that history forged this park. With the largest state campground in southwestern Vermont, brand-new docks, and on-site nature programming in the summer, Emerald Lake State Park is a true jewel.
Find a Park
Vermont’s 55 state parks are all accessible via the Parks Finder tool. Filter by things to do, amenities like boat rentals and camping, and accessibility features as you plan your state parks visit.
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