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Venture Vermont
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Winter Activities
Using Parks in the Off Season
Contrary to what you might think, Vermont State Parks stay open for use all year long. Parks are great places to go for skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding, fat biking, snowmobiling and more.Here are some guidelines to make your trip more enjoyable:
- Please park only in a manner that allows access by others and please drive only on established roadways or parking areas.
- Water supply, restroom or refuse removal services or facilities are closed for the season.
- Leave No Trace: Carry in and carry out. Please clean up after your pets.
- Have a plan. Snow plowing arrangements vary by location. Be prepared to dig yourselves out in the event of inclement weather.
- Check the Off-season Access and Parking information before your visit. Access is mostly by foot. Most gates are locked for the season.
- While hunting is not permitted in developed recreation areas like state parks during the regular operating season, hunting is allowed on most state lands in the parks off-season.
- Access is free of charge.
- Park staff are only present sporadically during the off season. We invite you to be our "eyes and ears" by please reporting to parks@vermont.gov anything you notice or discover amiss or out of the ordinary (vandalism, break-ins, inappropriate facility use, etc.).
Favorite Parks for Winter Activities
Cross Country Skiing
Ice Fishing
Snowmobiling
Off-season Access and Parking
Northwest
Alburgh Dunes State Park: Main gate is open until first snow; East and center gates open for VAST trail during snowmobile season.
Grand Isle State Park: Open through town road but gate is closed at Rt. 2; Plowed to boat launch for ice fishing access.
Kill Kare State Park: Gate is open and road is plowed to parking lot. Port-a-let toilets available during ice fishing season.
Knight Point State Park: Gate is open and parking lot is plowed for ice fishing and trail access. Bathroom open.
Lake Carmi State Park: Gate is open. Plowed to boat launch area for ice fishing access. Port-a-let onsite for ice fishing season. Campground access road is part of a VAST trail.
Niquette Bay State Park: Gate is open. Entrance and parking lot plowed; Port-a-lets are provided in parking lot.
North Hero State Park: Parking area near entrance is plowed.
Sand Bar State Park: Gate is open; parking lot is plowed and port-a-lets are provided.
Underhill State Park: Gate remains open until first snow. Thereafter, road is plowed to within one mile of the gate; turn-around and some parking space provided.
Northeast
Brighton State Park: Open for deer and moose hunting, then the gate is closed; a VAST trail connects with the park near the beach area. Entrance to gate is plowed.
Crystal Lake State Park: Gate is open and is plowed around the contact station.
Elmore State Park: Lower access is open and plowed; park is open for deer season.
Green River Reservoir State Park: Gate is closed. Upper parking may be plowed.
Kettle Pond State Park: Gate is closed. Day use parking area and in front of park entrance gate are plowed.
Little River State Park:Gate is closed until mid-day November 15, then it opens for deer rifle season and camping. Gate will be closed November 29 – December 3. Gate will reopen for winter on December 3.
Maidstone State Park: Gate is open for VAST trail; day use parking is open and plowed for ice fishing access.
New Discovery State Park: Parking area is plowed. Park is open for deer season.
Seyon Lodge State Park: Park is open
Smugglers' Notch State Park: Park is plowed to contact station. No parking is available at the contact station for day users or off season camping. Parking is at Bingham Falls parking area along VT 108.
Groton Nature Center: Plowed parking.
Groton Overlook: Plowed parking.
Northern Parking Area in Groton: Plowed parking.
Southwest
Bomoseen State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout the winter; Port-a-lets are provided.
Branbury State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout the winter; Port-a-lets are provided.
Button Bay State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout winter.
D.A.R. State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout winter.
Emerald Lake State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout the winter.
Lake St. Catherine State Park: Parking access is plowed throughout the winter; Port-a-lets are provided.
Mt. Philo State Park: Parking lot is plowed in winter; Port-a-lets are provided.
Taconic Mountain Ramble State Park: Plowed to winter parking area.
Woodford State Park: Plowed parking is available on Route 9 across from park entrance for ski, snowshoe and snowmobile access.
Southeast
Camp Plymouth State Park: Plowed parking is available just south of park entrance.
Coolidge State Park: Plowed parking is VAST parking lot on Ranger's Road .4 miles from intersection of Coolidge State Park Road and Route 100A.
Fort Dummer State Park: Limited access at the main gate. Please do not block the snow plow turnaround or the gate.
Gifford Woods State Park: Plowed parking available through the main gate.
Jamaica State Park: Plowed parking is available at the main entrance. Do not block any gates.
Lowell Lake State Park: Plowed parking.
Muckross State Park: Plowed parking at the park entrance (26 Muckross Road).
Quechee State Park: Access and parking is available at the Quechee Gorge Visitor Center. Park can be accessed by staircase leading from the visitor center lot.
Silver Lake State Park: Parking is available down the street at the Barnard Town Hall (115 North Rd).
Wilgus State Park: Park gate is locked. Do not block the gate or entrance. Parking is available .1 mile south on the opposite side of Route 5.
Off-Season Camping
Please visit the Off Season Camping section of our Camping page.
Snowmobiles and ATV's
ATVs are only permitted on frozen bodies of public water.
Snowmobiles must be registered and display a valid TMA (Trail Maintenance Assessment) decal to operate on the VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers) trails network, unless operated solely on frozen bodies of public water. Snowmobile operators must carry liability insurance. Off-VAST snowmobile operation in state parks is permitted only on non-plowed roadways and on frozen bodies of public water. See www.vtvast.org for more info.
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