Vermont

Vermont, a northeastern state in the United States, is celebrated for its charming landscapes, including the iconic Green Mountains and picturesque valleys.

The Green Mountains, adorned with lush forests and pristine lakes, serve as a backdrop for exploration. From ascending scenic trails to cycling through quaint villages, the state caters to diverse interests. The Green Mountain National Forest provides a haven for camping under the stars, while Vermont’s serene lakes and rivers offer opportunities for kayaking and water-based escapades.

This webpage centers on free camping opportunities within the Green Mountain National Forest, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the region’s natural beauty. With a focus on hiking, biking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities, Vermont offers a plethora of adventures.

In Vermont, the union of nature’s wonders and outdoor pursuits promises a memorable and enriching experience for all who seek it.

M/V Adirondack Proposal to Reef | State Historic Sites

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M/V Adirondack Proposal to Reef | State Historic Sites

The Lake Champlain Transportation Company is offering to donate the soon to be retired Ferry Adirondack for the creation of a new Lake Champlain Underwater Historic Preserve dive site. The Adirondack, built in 1913, is the oldest continuously operating double ended ferry in the U.S. The Ferry has been a fixture on the Lake Champlain Transportation Company’s Burlington to Port Kent crossing for 65 years, since having started service here in 1954. During this time Adirondack has transported thousands of passengers and vehicles across one of the Champlain Valley’s most scenic lake crossings.

The Ferry Adirondack Project is an opportunity to preserve this piece of Lake Champlain history by sinking the vessel in the Lake and adding it, as a site, to the existing Lake Champlain Underwater Historic Preserve (UHP). The Underwater Historic Preserve system was created in 1985 and currently includes ten historic vessels. It is one of the first and best regarded preserve systems in the country and is overseen by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The M/V Adirondack would be the eleventh vessel in the Preserve and ownership would transfer from the Lake Champlain Transportation Company to the State of Vermont upon sinking. The UHP System benefits the public by protecting historic vessels while providing public access for both recreational divers and the general public through the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). It may seem counterintuitive to preserve a vessel by sinking it, but Lake Champlain’s cold fresh water will preserve the vessel’s structure for many years so that it can continue to be interpreted and appreciated in the Champlain Valley. In addition to preserving history, the Ferry Adirondack Project will help provide an economic stimulus to the Champlain Valley through increased diver visitation to the UHP from around the country. By adding the Ferry Adirondack to the Lake Champlain Underwater Historic Preserve, this significant piece of maritime history will be preserved, protected and enjoyed by the public for many years to come.

Better Days Ahead 🏡

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Better Days Ahead 🏡

While often the future seems so far away, I am convinced that with hard work and long-term, healthy habits, I’m working towards a better tomorrow. Little things don’t matter if you do them once or twice but habits are powerful and define your future. What you choose to do each day or weekly defines who you are and who you will become. The more good you can do automatically, the more better you will become.

Vermont Farm Data

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A county-by-county overlay that when you click on the layers will show information about the number of farms, acreage and cattle raised per county by year.

Camping in Green Mountains National Forest

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Green Mountain National Forest Camping 🏕

Here is a full-screen interactive map, that uses the official forest service maps as a backdrop. You will need to zoom in to see the individual roads.

In the Green Mountain National Forest there are a variety of back country roads, offering primitive roadside camping.

  • Campsites are free to use, and have no facilities except for a fire ring and a pull-off from the road, and sometimes a site reinforced with gravel.
  • As noted below, some campsites have additional facilities.
  • Don’t make a mess of campsites, pack out any garbage left over.
  • Burn only dead and down trees, don’t bring in wood from out of state.
  • You can camp up to 14 days per 30 day period in Green Mountain National Forest — no permits are required.

Here is a listing of the campsite coordinates in a spreadsheet (Green Mountain tab). Please note, these coordinates are not exact as they are drawn based on memory.

Please see also information on dispersed, roadside and back-country camping in New York State, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The below descriptions of camping areas from the Green Mountain National Forest’s webpage, General Forest Camping.

 North Half of the Green Mountain National Forest

Note: You must zoom in to see individual roads on above interactive map. Campsite locations were added by hand-digitizing and are not exact.

Austin Brook Road: There are three easily accessible campsites by Austin Brook on Forest Road 25 in Warren. They are all within 0.25 mile of State Route 100.

Campsite 4

Bingo: Forest Road 42 in Rochester runs alongside a mountain stream; camping is allowed at designated sites only. These 10 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of 10 people per site. Check the Bingo Brook bulletin board for designated site locations and other site limitations.

Downingville: There is one secluded site in a small clearing near a mountain stream on Forest Road 291 in Lincoln.

Fay’s Meadow: There are a few sites in an open meadow in Forest Dale. Please do not drive on the meadow because a farmer mows the hay from it. There is a stream for wading and fishing at the north end of the meadow.

Goshen Brook Road: There are a few campsites in and around an open area just beyond the turnaround at the very end of Forest Road 67 in Ripton.

Kettle Brook: A small meadow site at the end of Furnace Brook Road in Pittsford.

Michigan Brook Road: Forest Road 35 in Pittsfield provides many camping opportunities in the woods and along Michigan Brook. The road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles.

New Haven River: There are a few campsites next to the New Haven River at Emily Proctor and Cooley Glen trailhead, on Forest Road 201 in Lincoln.

Field Camping at Romance Header Campsite

Romance Header: A large meadow campsite at the end of Forest Road 224 in Forest Dale. A stream lies to the southeast of the meadow.

Sparks Landing: There is one site in a small meadow on Forest Road 233 in Lincoln. There is good fishing in Sparks Brook, which lies just south of the meadow.

Steam Mill Clearing: There is a large open field on both sides of Forest Road 59 at the Skylight Pond Trailhead in Ripton.

Texas Falls Campsite

Texas Gap: These old fields and side roads on Forest Road 39 in Hancock offer many camping opportunities.

White River & Gulf Brook Roads: Secluded camping, open fields, and beautiful views are offered from the abundance of primitive campsites found along Forest Roads 55 & 101 in Granville.

South Half of the Green Mountain National Forest

Note: You must zoom in to see individual roads on above interactive map. Campsite locations were added by hand-digitizing and are not exact.

Campfire

Branch Pond Road: Several sites on this road off of Kelley Stand offer good camping opportunities.

Making Breakfast at Camp

Forest Road 71: This forest road stretches from the old Somerset airfield to the Kelley Stand Road. Campsites can be found in various spots along the way, and along some of the forest roads leading off of Forest Road 71.

Forest Road 74: This forest road is a little less remote than other roadside camping opportunities. Off Vermont Route 9, it dead-ends a couple miles in. Campsites are found unevenly spaced along the way. This area fills up early as it’s one of most accessible.

Kelley Stand Road: Connects the towns of Arlington to West Wardsboro, traveling along an unpaved forest road. A handful of campsites are avaliable on this road, many of the sites along Roaring Brook are permanetly closed.

Morning

Old Job: Off Forest Road 30 there are a few camping opportunities; an open area along FR 30, and both an open field area and a site near Lake Brook at the end of FR 30.

Somerset Road Bridge

Somerset Airfield Campground is a small primitive campground along Forest Road 71. There is a pit-privy and fireplaces in this field camping area. Also popular is Castle Brook Road, near the Deerfield River. This area fills up early, and is known for rowdy crowds but is good if you have a big camper.

Farm on Jersey Street

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Another picture I took up in Addison County in 2006. I had to re-upload it, as the full size image had gotten lost in the database.

Taken on Sunday March 26, 2006 at Addison County, VT.