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
Ludlow, VT 05149
Fee Area: Day Use/Camping fees apply
Group Camping: 6 lean-to sites in group camping area
Cabins/ Cottages: 4 cottages
Pets are allowed in the park on leash and on the grass. No pets at the beach/on the sand. If pets like to swim, they may do so only at the cartop boat launch. Please clean up after your pets.
Park Updates & Alerts
- Camp Plymouth is open for the 2024 summer season! We have been working hard to recover from last year’s flooding so that you can enjoy this much loved location. The areas of the grounds impacted by flooding are a little dusty from the construction and we are waiting patiently for our grass to regrow there. A small amount of construction work is being wrapped up. Park operations are now running normally. We look forward to seeing you this season!
- Check for beach closures and latest swimwater test results for this location.
- 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.
Cross the concrete bridge, go 1 mile E uphill to crossroad and turn left, go 1 mi N on the east side of Echo Lake.
Group Camping: There are 6 lean-to's designated for group camping. There are also 4 cottages available to rent.
Hiking: The Vista Trail is a 1 mile, round-trip, moderate hike through a white pine forest.
Swimming: There is a sandy beach with a swimming area.
Boating: Boats are welcome at the park. There is a car-top boat launch and boats can be rented through the park.
Stand-up Paddle Boarding: SUP's are available to rent through the park.
Fishing: Echo Lake is home to trout, perch, pickerel, bass and bullhead.
Picnicking: Camp Plymouth is a great park for picnicking. There are large, open and shaded areas with picnic tables. The park also has 3-4 picnic pavilions that are available to rent.
Horseshoes: There are several horseshoe pits at the park.
Volleyball: There are volleyball nets in the day use field and by the picnic shelters.
Welcome
Camp Plymouth is rich in history from the birth of our nation right up to present day.
History
The Crown Point military road was authorized for construction in 1759 to connect strategic military posts at Fort # 4 in Charlestown, New Hampshire to Crown Point on Lake Champlain. The military road was instrumental in moving troops and supplies in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Later, the road became an important route for commercial traffic. Today, Scout Camp Road follows part of the road’s original route.
A farm was established on part of the property in the 1840s by Amos Pollard. One day in 1850, a young man was fishing in Buffalo Brook and discovered gold there. The man tried to keep his find a secret, but could not do so. By 1855, it was known as Gold Brook, and a commercial mining operation was set up. Up the stream at the now-abandoned village of Plymouth Five Corners, a mill and crusher were established, and many prospectors flocked to the area. One of the more successful operators, Rooks Mining Company, claimed to have earned more than $13,000 in a 6-month period in 1884. Such profits were seldom validated, and most investors lost their fortunes. Mr. Pollard himself never had much to do with searching for gold. He died in 1874 and is buried in the nearby cemetery.
When the Rooks Mining Company went bankrupt in 1889, Henry Fox, the superintendent, bought the mine. He continued to search for gold for thirty more years until his death in 1919. Today, remains of the mine operations can be seen along the brook, and although most of the mines themselves are outside of park boundary, visitors should still stay away from all abandoned mines regardless of location. Most of the gold is known as “placer” gold, deposited by glacial action.
In 1925, a girls’ summer camp was established here and operated for two years. In 1927, the property was purchased by the Boy Scouts of America and turned into Camp Plymouth, for which the park is named. At its height, the scout camp included camping sites for 10 troops, a trading post, archery range, rifle range, water front, and ceremonial camp fire area. In 1984, the property was conserved with the assistance of the Ottauquechee Land Trust and conveyed to the State of Vermont. Park facilities were constructed over the next few years and Camp Plymouth State Park opened to the public in 1989.
Facilities/ Amenities
There is a group camping area on the south side of Buffalo Brook consisting of six lean-to's, tent/RV sites, pit toilets, and a large field for activities. On the north side of the brook there is a large picnic area, a play area, a sandy beach, horseshoe pits, concessions, and boat rentals.
The park has four fully furnished cottages available to rent. The cabins each sleep six people and are located near the water.
Cottage pricing and additional information
Additionally, there are three picnic pavilions that can be rented.
The indoor, Harwood Pavilion is the largest. The pavilion seats up to 150 people. The pavilion has:
- electricity
- 2 stoves
- 2 refrigerators
- banquet tables and chairs
The smaller Fernwood and Wedding Grove pavilions are open air facilities. Both have:
- electricty
- group grills
- picnic tables
The Fernwood pavilion seats up to 100 people while the Wedding Grove pavilion seats up to 60 people.
Learn more about picnic pavilions
Gold Panning
Camp Plymouth State Park is a popular destination for gold panners. Recreational gold panning for personal enjoyment is allowed in Buffalo Brook. Only hand-panning is permitted; mechanical sluices are not allowed. Commercial operarations are likewise prohibited. To learn more about gold panning in Vermont State Parks, click here.