Visiting national parks is a great way to experience the natural and cultural heritage of America. These sites aim to protect these lands and wildlife from any environmental damage, whilst also allowing tourists to explore them.
Vermont has a number of national parks to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat or an action-packed adventure, these parks offer something for everyone.
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is the only national park in Vermont that focuses on conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship. Visitors can explore 555 acres of forest, tour a mansion that was home to three conservationist families across nearly 200 years, and contribute their voice to an ongoing conversation about what it means to be a steward.
The park was created in 1992 when the Rockefellers gifted their estate’s residential and forestland to the people of the United States. The park preserves the Marsh-Billings House as well as the site where Frederick Billings established a managed forest and a progressive dairy farm.
The museum collection includes 19th-century art and artifacts from the Billings, Marsh, and Rockefeller families. It is especially significant for its landscape paintings by artists associated with the Hudson River School. It also has a fine collection of household furnishings and decorative arts from the 19th century.
Sitting pretty in a narrow passageway pressing through Vermont’s famed Green Mountains is Smugglers’ Notch State Park. Lined with thousand-foot cliffs, winding alpine roads and challenging footpaths, the park delivers the frickin’ best of rural New England.
Smugglers’ Notch State Park offers a small campground with 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos. It has restrooms, hot and cold running water, and coin-operated showers.
Note: During the winter, Smugglers’ Notch Pass is closed to all traffic from mid-October through mid-May. For information on accessing Smugglers’ Notch State Park during the winter, visit the official website or AllTrails app.
Smugglers’ Notch State Park is a great spot to get out and hike with your family or friends. There are trails for every skill level and many of them offer stunning views.
Camel’s Hump is Vermont’s third-highest mountain and a favorite hiking destination. Besides the hikes to the summit, Camel’s Hump State Park offers plenty of other trails to explore.
Abenaki Indians first named the mountain “Tah-wak-be-dee-ee-wadso” or “Saddle Mountain,” while Samuel de Champlain’s explorers called it “lion couchant” or “resting lion.” The mountain became known as Camel’s Hump in 1830, and a historical map by Ira Allen depicted the name.
Despite the logging that occurred during the 1800s and the 1903 fire, Camel’s Hump is one of Vermont’s best-preserved old forests. It is known for its red spruce (Picea rubens) population, which was largely saved from the ensuing decline by Hub Vogelmann’s landmark paper in 1982. The state is committed to restoring the area’s forest ecosystem and is taking steps to protect its biodiversity. This includes monitoring the carbon dioxide stored in the old timber. It’s also working to develop an effective reforestation program that will keep the area’s ecosystem intact.
The Green Mountain National Forest is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. It’s made up of a vast forest of hardwood trees that are beautifully sculpted by glaciers and provide one of the most spectacular displays of fall foliage in the country.
It’s also a veritable maple capital with the purest and tastiest maple syrup in the world. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting Vermont.
When it comes to hiking, the Green Mountain National Forest has everything you need. There are more than 900 miles (1448 km) of trails, and whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, you can find a route to enjoy.
There are also several campgrounds throughout the national forest, with a range of amenities to suit every taste. You can stay in a glamping site or a backwoods camp if you’re looking for a more rustic experience.
