Brighton State Park

Brighton State Park

Guide Name: John Predom, Green Mountain Club NEK Volunteer and Vermont State Parks Staff

To register or for more information: gmcnek@gmail.com

Meeting Time: 10:00 am

Meeting Location: Meet at the entrance gate to Brighton State Park campground, 102 State Park Road, Island Pond.

Hike Description: We are hiking Shoreline Trail to Pine Point. This is considered an easy 1 mile out and back. Depending on the snow depth we will either use snowshoes or micro-spikes. If everyone is having fun, we may explore some other trails as well.

Come Join Laura Lee as we hike all the trails at Brighton State Park. We'll enjoy the Changing leaves, colorful mushrooms, and beautiful scenery surrounding Spectacle Pond! At the same time we'll hear some history about the park and local town, along with checking out the area that was Chief War Eagle's home! Bring water, bug spray, a snack, and good walking shoes.

Come to the Nature Center at Brighton State Park and make your own Sand Art! This will be the last craft of the 2024 season!

Join Laura Lee for a guided hike along all the Trails at Brighton State Park! Can you spot a bear print, moose print? We'll meet at the Amphitheater at 9:30! Come prepared with Bug Spray, water, and sneakers or hikers! 

Join us at the Nature Center for a visit with Lucy Neel and Lisa Pleurd of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki! We'll hear about the past to the present! We'll see some artifacts, enjoy some singing and drumming with maybe a story or two! They have visited Brighton State Park for many years and we look forward to hosting them again!

Come to the Brighton State Park for a special Program featuring the Nulheaghan Drummers! Lucy Neal, Lisa Plourde and Nulheaghan members will give a talk and presentation regarding the Nulheaghans! They will have some artifacts, baskets, and games to show. They will do a bit of drumming and singing! This is their 4th time visiting Brighton State Park! 

Check out the Don Eagle Museum! Who were Chief War Eagle and his son Don Eagle? What part did they play in the land above Spectacle Pond and the opening of Brighton State Park? How were they a part of Island Pond/Brighton Communities? After come to the Nature Center and create a Native American Sand Painting!

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Browse the Nature Center at Brighton State Park! Check out the Geods and Crystals! We can do a Native American Pinch Pot,  learned from the Cherokee in NC. We'll add our own design and put crystals along the design! You can create your own clay master piece! 

Come join Laura Lee for a hike from the Main Trail through the Red Pine Forest and two miles over to the Day Use Beach! We'll check out the natural lightening strike that happened during a recent storm! How did our Natural Red Pine Forest come to be here! We'll check the Flora and Fauna all the way up to Eagle Point where we'll sample some wild huckleberries,then, Hike to the Rail Road and up to the Day Use Beach and back to the camping park. Total about 4.5 miles! Please wear good walking/hiking shoes, bring a bottle of water and some bug spray!

We'll change things a bit and hike in the afternoon at Brighton State Park! We'll begin on the Main Trail, through the Loggers Loop, along Shoreline Trail, through the Red Pine Trail, through the Wooded Loop Trail all the way to Indian Point. We'll see the tree with the most recent lighting strike, the biggest all Natural Red Pine Tree in Vermont!  We learn about Chief War Eagle and his son Don Eagle who use to own the land above Spectacle Pond.