 Maidstone
State Park
R1, Box 388,
Guildhall, Vermont 05905
Park Phone: 802-676-3930
Maidstone is the most remote of Vermont's state parks and still retains much
of the wilderness character associated with the Northeast Kingdom. Maidstone
Lake was created when glacial ice carved out a deep basin in a preexisting
valley. When the last glaciers melted 12,000 years ago, a deep, clear, cold lake
was formed.
The lake offers good lake trout and salmon fishing and has had some
outstanding record catches. Maidstone Lake is one of the few lakes in Vermont
where loons have reared their young in recent years. The loon loves the solitude
of the northern lakes whose shores are rimmed with spruce-fir shade. Once common
in Vermont, the loon has recently been removed from the endangered speicies
list, but is still considered a threatened species.
Maidstone was designated by the state of Vermont as a state park in 1938. The
camp areas were wilderness, but the area around the lodge was a Civilian
Conservation Corps camp. The CCC built many sites with fireplaces for camping,
the lodge, and a picnic shelter, which are still in use today.
The campground has 45 tent/trailer sites and 37 lean-tos. Three of the four
rest rooms include hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available, but no
hookups. There are a play area, hiking trails, and a swimming beach in both camp
areas. A picnic shelter, swimming beach, and two additional rest rooms are also
available at the day use area.
Area Attractions: Ethan Allen Furniture, Island Pond; Peaslee's Host
Farm for Consumer Education, Guildhall; Colebrook Fish Hatchery, Colebrook;
Historical Holton House Flea Market, Lancaster; Santa's Village, Jeffersonville.
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