Camping
Day use
THINGS TO DO
Camping
Hiking
Swimming
Boating
Fishing
Biking
Park Events & Programs
Venture Vermont
Winter Activities
Other Activities
Family Fun
Enjoying Nature
Charlotte, VT 05445
Fee Area: Day Use/Camping fees apply
Camping: 7 tent sites, 3 lean-to sites
Pets are permitted 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.
- Bath houses use shower tokens instead of coins. One token costs $0.50 for 5 minutes of hot water. Tokens are available at the contact station during regular operating hours.
Go 6 miles north on U.S. 7, then 1 mile east on local road.
Camping: There is a small camping area with 7 tent sites and 3 lean-to's located on the north side of the mountain.
Hiking: The park sits atop Mt. Philo. Visitors can park at the bottom and climb to the top or chose to drive to the summits.
Picnicking: There are picnic tables at the park. There is also an indoor lodge that can be rented for group functions.
Note: The entrance and camp roads are not recommended for trailers. Buses and limos are not permitted on the mountain road but can park in the lower lot.
Welcome
Welcome to Mt. Philo State Park. Sitting atop 968’ Mt. Philo, the 237-acre park became the first Vermont State Park in 1924. With breathtaking views of the Lake Champlain Valley and New York’s Adirondack Mountains, the park is a favorite of hikers and picnickers, and includes a small campground.
History
G. Lewis and Associates, proprietors of the Mt. Philo Inn, built the original carriage road to the top of Mt. Philo in 1903. Inn guests were able to ride to the top of the mountain in horse-drawn surreys. Traces of the original road are still visible in sections along the current park road, and the inn still stands outside the park’s southwest boundary. Toward the end of the first decade of the 20th Century, Mrs. Frances Humphreys acquired the mountain property. In 1924 Mrs. Humphreys deeded the 150 acres to the State for use as a recreational area. In the early 1930’s a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) unit was assigned to the mountain. This crew built the current access road, campground, ranger’s quarters, picnic area and summit lodge. Subsequent donations have been added: John and Hobart Wells deeded 13.45 acres in 1969 and Charles and Gwen Allmon deeded 69 acres in 2009.
Activities, Facilities and Amenities
Today the park attracts hundreds of hikers, picnickers and nature watchers each day during the busy summer months. The summit access road allows visitors to drive to the top, or a ¾-mile hiking trail leads to the mountain’s summit for more ambitious visitors. Hikers are likely to see a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer or moose. The park is an excellent spot to watch autumn bird migrations, and is noted for raptor watching. A small campground is located on the north side of the park. Due to the steep grade and narrow width of the roadway, recreational vehicles are not suited to this park.
As at any trailhead parking lot, it is always wise to lock your car and keep your valuables out of sight.
The park also has a rustic, 1930's lodge that can seat up to 60 people and has electricity, grills, tables, chairs, and a nearby restroom. The connected and covered pavilion has a working fireplace and refrigerator, and is included in the rental.
Learn more about pavilions and shelters
School Groups
K-12 school groups are welcome at Mt. Philo at a discounted rate of .50 cents per student during the school season. The number of school groups are limited due to the impact of the trails and facilities. Pre-registration is encouraged to insure all schools enjoy the park without significant overlap. Please contact the park manager at 802-425-2390 to register.