It's happening all around you. It's starting to feel a little cooler at night. The dew is heavier on the grass in the morning. You had to put on a long sleeve shirt today. You are serenaded by a symphony of crickets each evening. I just saw a rack of mums for sale at the florist. Fall is on the way.
Let's face it, we are all summer people. Ask anyone their favorite outdoor childhood memory. The answer will be something like: watching the Milky Way from the comfort of a sleeping bag, the cool feeling of water closing over your head as you plunge off the pier, the smell of summer rain after a drought; all summer memories. Even my brother, Luc, who claims to love winter first and foremost, secretly loves summer best. I've seen it in his eyes from the stern of his canoe floating on Spectacle Pond at Brighton State Park. 

Preserve those summer memories in the way you enjoy most-a collection of photographs, a scrap book, a journal of tidbits about your adventures, and then get excited about the advent of autumn by watching seasonal changes. The woods grow quieter as your favorite songbirds sing less and less. Breeding season is done for these migratory birds; their babies have fledged. There is no reason to sing anymore. Soon the early migrators will gather together to head south for the winter months. 

Moose spent the summer on our highest mountain peaks, or in the murkiest bogs, to stay cool at higher elevations or submerged in cool water. Now you will find them moving into the lowlands. The breeding season for moose, known as the rut, begins in mid-September. Moose tend to move around more during the rut, so you are more likely to see them. They can be aggressive however, so watch from a very safe, very far distance. Look for them while driving the back roads during visits to Ricker Pond, Half Moon, Gifford Woods, and Underhill State Parks this fall. 

 
The eggs that mama snapping turtle you saw lay at Silver Lake and Grand Isle State Park earlier this summer are hatching now, under the sand. Mama turtle laid 20-40 eggs and now little turtles are emerging. These baby turtles may stay right where they are for the winter, or they may dig their way out of the sand now and crawl to the nearest body of water. 

 
One of Vermont's greatest treasures is the symphony of fall foliage. Even in early autumn, some trees start to tinge vibrant reds and yellows. Stick around and watch these bright colors wash across the Vermont landscape. Spend a weekend at Wilgus State Park and gather orange maple leaves floating in the Connecticut River for your scrap book; or visit Woodford State Park and gape at the brilliant, bright hillsides all around you. 

One of the best changes we feel with the advent of autumn is the decline of biting insects. September and October are fantastic months to camp, no insect repellent needed. Hang out in the woods, sit by your campfire, sleep under the stars, watch for all the seasonal changes, and make lifelong autumn memories.

The Vermont State Parks have taken strides to make our campgrounds and facilities more accessible to visitors with varying needs. Many of our pavilions and picnic areas are universally accessible and we're doing more every day to increase trail and water accessibility as well. One of our projects was celebrated during an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the American's with Disabilities Act at Waterbury Center State Park, where we linked the parking area, swimming beach, and picnicking areas with ADA accessible paths!

Briar Lean-to at Jamaica State Park

Searching through our system to locate accessible campsites and activities can be challenging, so we've compiled a brief list to make it a little easier. One thing to keep in mind when looking through our interactive campground maps is that any site listed as "universally accessible" is within 150 feet of drinking water, toilet facilities and showers. The full version of this guide is available on our blog. 

For a bit of everything: 

Smugglers' Notch State Park - *ask for tent site #4 or Oak lean-to*
Smugglers' Notch is a great option for anyone looking a hike with lovely views as well as access to restaurants, lodges, and local businesses in Stowe,VT. Why is that? The Stowe Recreation Path is a 5.3 mile paved multi-use trail that criss-crosses the West Branch of the Little River. For more details check out their website. The town of Stowe also hosts the Smugglers' Notch Adaptive Programs, which are primarily for kids but do have some options for adults.

Stowe Recreation Path

Gifford Woods State Park - *ask for Alder lean-to, Moose cabin, Coyote Cabin, or Whitetail cabin*
Gifford Wood State Park is a great option if you're looking for a smaller, more secluded campground with some good fishing. Across the street is access to Kent Pond and the Kent Pond shorefishing platform, both great spots to relax and unwind with fish and family.

Kent Pond Fishing Platform

If you prefer a more exciting adventure, head over to the nearby Killington Adventure Center, where you'll find two scenic lift rides (the open-air Snowshed Express Quad and the K-1 Express Gondola), a Terra Maze, and motorized Utility Terrain Vehicle mountain tours that are all wheelchair accessible. Their Snowshed Pond is also accessible, with some sand and rock just at the water's edge. And as if that wasn't enough, their 4,800 ft alpine "Beast Mountain Coaster" will also be accessible, and opens in late July or early August!

Quechee State Park *ask for Hemlock lean-to*

A long-time favorite park for sightseers and anglers, Quechee State Park has access to the Quechee Gorge Visitor Center and the gorge itself (wheelchair accessible from the bridge by the visitor center), Quechee Gorge Village for shopping and dining, and is only fifteen minutes away from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and Nature Center, with tons of exhibits, activities, and live shows. There's a wildlife rehabilitation clinic in the nature center, live raptor shows, and accessible nature trails on the property.

Falcon Demonstration at the VINS Center

The Vermont State Parks constantly seek to make our parks more easily accessible to every current and prospective visitor who comes our way. Hopefully this mini-guide helps you in your adventure planning, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us at (888) 409-7579.

Park of the Year awards were given at our annual meeting, and the regional winners are...

Wilgus State Park Ascutney, VT

Head Ranger: 

Eric Hanson

Brandon, VT

Head Ranger: 

Lesley Porter