102 State Park Rd
Island Pond, VT 05846
Season: Friday of Memorial Day Weekend - 2nd Monday in October
Day Use Hours: 10am - official sunset
Camping Camping: 54 tent/RV sites, 23 lean-to sites
Cabin/cottage/lodge Cabins/ Cottages: 5 cabins available to rent
Pets Pets are not permitted in the day use areas, on beaches, in designated swimming areas or in most cabins. At this time, only the Raven cabin is pet-friendly. Pets are allowed elsewhere throughout the park. Please clean up after your pets.

Park Updates & Alerts

  • Firewood is not to be brought to parks from out of state UNLESS the wood is packaged, labeled as having been heat treated, and certified by USDA or the appropriate state department of agriculture. For more info, click here.
From Island Pond:
Go 2 mi. E on Hwy 105, then 3/4 mi. S on local road.
Camping Camping: The park has 54 tent/RV sites and 23 lean-to sites. There are also 5 cabins available to rent.
Hiking Hiking: Brighton offers mostly flat, easy walking around Spectacle Pond. There is also a self-guided nature trail.
Playground Playground: There is a playground onsite.
Swimming Swimming: There are two swimming areas at the park.
Boating Boating: You are welcome to bring your boats to the park, though there is no boat launch. Kayaks, canoes, row boats, and pedal boats are available to rent.
Stand-up Paddingboarding Stand-up Paddle Boarding: SUP's are available to rent through the park.
Fishing Fishing: Spectacle Pond and Island Pond both have great fishing. Brown trout, pickerel and large mouth bass are among some of the species you can find.
Nature Program Nature Programs: This park offers nature programs. Please call the park for more details.
Mountain Biking Mountain Biking: There are mountain biking opportunities at the nearby Kingdom Trails.
Horseshoes Horseshoes: There are two horseshoe pits at the park.

Welcome

Welcome to Brighton State Park, located on the shores of Spectacle Pond. The outstanding attraction of this area is its remoteness: mountains with tree-covered slopes, fast running streams, and clear lakes. It is common to hear loons calling at night. The wild lands to the northeast and southeast of the town of Island Pond are suited to the angler, the hunter, or the outdoor lover who likes to roam away from developed roads or towns. Logging roads into the deeper reaches of this area offer adventurous side trips.

Canoeing at Brighton State Park
Canoeing on Spectacle Pond

Island Pond enjoyed a heyday from the late 1800's until the Depression years, along with the fortunes of the Grand Trunk railroad between Montreal, Canada and Portland, Maine. Island Pond was the site of the first international railroad junction in the United States. At the height of the town’s population, its streets were lively with railroad men and loggers, most of whom rode in on one of the 13 rail tracks that passed through town. A mere two tracks remain today. The unique wooden bridge, which once held all 13 tracks, is gone, but the heritage of railroading is still evident in the well-kept train station and a few associated structures at the north end of town.

Facilities / Amenities

Cabin at Brighton State Park
The park has five cabins available to rent

There are 5 cabins, 54 tent/RV sites and 23 lean-to's. All three restrooms have flush toilets, hot and cold running water and coin-operated hot showers. A sanitary dump station is available, but there are no hookups. There are hiking trails, a campers' beach, the Don Eagle Museum, an amphitheater, a nature center, and a play area. At the nearby day use area (at the southern end of Island Pond) there is a long, sandy beach, a bathhouse with restrooms, and boats available to rent.

There are 5 cabins at the park that are available to rent.

Cabin pricing and details

Park Interpreter

This park has a park interpreter offering fun, hands-on activities. Interpreters are park staff solely dedicated to helping you learn more about the natural and cultural history of the park. Some popular activities include night hikes, nature crafts and games, campfire programs and amphibian explorations.

Check out the of current events to see some of the programs planned during your visit.

Additional Resources

State Park Passes

Upcoming Events

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