State Parks in Vermont
Information courtesy of Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
Jamaica State Park remains as popular in the wintertime for hiking as it does in the summer. Many people who use Jamaica in the winter trade in their running shoes and hiking boots for snowshoes and skis. 
Several state parks contain major snowmobile routes maintained by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST). VAST trails can be found on both state forest and state park lands. Little River, Woodford, Coolidge, and Groton all have major snowmobile trails. While the Catamount Trail (Vermont’s end-to-end cross-country ski trail) crosses park land in several locations (most notably Camel’s Hump State Park), some of the best winter routes for cross country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts are the park roads and nature trails that offer miles of brush-free paths in the snow. People can be seen enjoying the trails at Mt. Ascutney or Underhill nearly every day. Some of these paths are incorporated into permitted (and groomed) trail systems and courses such as those in Thetford State Park. Trails that connect to commercial ski areas may charge a fee, but offer ample parking and amenities. Other park trails may require some ingenuity for safe parking (most park entrances and lots are not plowed in winter), but these trails offer the best opportunities for solitude and winter nature study.
In an effort to make it easier for you to “visit” some of the features of our state parks, we’ve put Burton Island’s North Shore Nature Trail on-line, complete with color pictures and text from the brochure.
For information or maps on VAST trails, please contact them at 41Granger Rd. Barre, Vermont 05641 (802-229-0005), or www.vtvast.org. Catamount Trail information and maps are available at 1 Main St, Room 308A, Burlington, VT 05401 (802-864-5794) or www.catamounttrail.org. For information on winter recreation opportunities in a park near you, contact your FPR regional office or the Waterbury office at 802-241-3655.
