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Camping and Hiking in Vermont
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Big Deer State Park
The campground has 28 tent/trailer sites. The rest room includes
hot showers. A sanitary dump station is available at Stillwater,
but no hookups. There's easy access to the Nature Center and
miles of hiking trails. For information call: Summer:
(802)584-3822 / Winter: (802)479-4280
Branbury State Park
The park is divided by Route 53. Twenty-two tent sites and 6
lean-to sites are on one side of the highway in a heavily wooded
area, and 17 tent sites are located along the perimeter of a
grassy open area near the beach. Flush toilets, hot showers ($),
and a dump station are provided. The 1000 foot natural sandy
beach, clean, clear Lake Dunmore, and the large open grassy
areas make the area very popular for swimming, sunning, or
picnicking. Hiking trails to scenic vistas, waterfalls, caves,
mountain lakes and streams, as well as an interpretive nature
trail, provide outstanding hiking opportunities. There is
fishing and boating (rowboats, canoes, paddle boat rentals) on
Lake Dunmore. For information call: (800)658-1622
North Hero State Park
North Hero State Park is named for North Hero Island in Lake
Champlain. The Hero Islands were named to commemorate those
early Vermonters who served in the Revolutionary War. Land for
the 399-acre park was purchased in 1963. Nearly one-third of
that land lies below 100 feet elevation. Lake level on Champlain
fluctuates seasonally from about 95 to 101 feet above sea level
so much of the park is subjected to seasonal inundation. The
forest type in these floodplain areas is uncommon in Vermont,
found only around Lake Champlain. The North Hero example is
noted for its size, relatively undisturbed condition, and rare
flora habitat. The thick woods around the campground, and the
fact that much of the property was farmed and pastured before
becoming a park, have led to conditions favorable for wildlife.
Old fields are in stages of reverting to forest. There is a
diversity of habitats that land management in the park works to
perpetuate. Fields are periodically mowed, burned, or cut back
around the edges. Patches of one or two acres are clear-cut into
the woods on a rotating schedule to create staggered openings in
varied successional stages. There are 99 wooded tent/trailer
sites and 18 lean-tos that are arranged in three camp loops.
Each loop has a rest room providing modern plumbing and hot
showers. There is a sanitary dump station for RVs, but no
hookups. Most sites are large enough to accommodate
self-contained RVs. There are lakeside picnic grounds, a
nongraded swimming beach, boat rentals, and a boat launch. Group
camping is accommodated. For information call: Summer:
(802)372-8727 / Winter: (802)879-5674
Molly Stark State Park
Molly Stark State Park is named after the famous wife of General
John Stark of the Revolutionary War. The park is located along
the "Molly Stark Trail," Route 9, which bisects southern
Vermont. Originally, the first settlers used the area for
farming. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
built fireplaces and a toilet building, but there is no evidence
that this area was used by the public for camping even though
local people may have used the land for picnics. The area was
designated and opened as Molly Stark State Park on July 2, 1960.
The park has open lawn areas, woods, and Mt. Olga rising to the
east where there is an old fire tower with spectacular views.
The area is very popular during the fall foliage season for its
colors, and also because it is located on one of the more
popular travel routes. Two camping loops consist of 23
tent/trailer sites and 11 lean-to sites. One rest room with
showers is located in each loop. There are a play area and a
picnic pavilion for large groups. A hiking trail starts from the
park and goes up to the Mt. Olga fire tower. For information
call: Summer: (802)464-5460 / Winter: (802)886-2434
Stillwater State Park
The campground has 62 tent/trailer sites and 17 lean-tos. All
rest rooms include hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is
available, but no hookups. There is a swimming beach, boat
launch/dock facility, play area, shelter, and access to miles of
hiking trails. The Groton Nature Center is within walking
distance. For information call: Summer: (802)584-3822 / Winter:
(802)479-4280
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