News

The Vermont State Parks popular online merchandise sales are back after a pause due to COVID-19. Vermont State Parks make giving the gift of outdoor adventure easier than ever before with online ordering at www.vtstateparks.com.

New national and state data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on the economic impact of outdoor recreation in 2020 confirms that Vermont’s outdoor sector remained a significant driver of the state’s economy, both during and after the onset of the COVID pandemic.

Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA) and The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR), which owns and manages the Perry Hill Block within the CC Putnam State Forest, are excited to announce the opening of a 1,500-foot extension to the Six Flags Trail at Perry Hill.

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) announced the availability of grant funds to support businesses engaged in adding value to forest products with costs related to permitting.

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) has begun work on improvements to the south end of Lake Willoughby in Westmore, VT. These improvements are in response to significant increases in visitation and use and are intended to improve safety, environmental quality, and visitor enjoyment at Willoughby State Forest.

With wood stove season rapidly approaching, it is time to make sure you have enough dry firewood ready to go for this winter.

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) in partnership with Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) announced the completion and opening of a new multi-use trail on Mt. Ascutney. The 8-mile Norcross Trail provides a link for mountain bikers and hikers between the Ascutney Outdoors Center and Mount Ascutney State Park.

Today the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) announced the launch of the 2021 Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) Community Grant Program and the Enhancement of Recreational Stewardship and Access (ERSA) Trail Grants. These programs will distribute over $6 million to municipalities and non-profit organizations.

With swimming holes across Vermont getting busier as summer arrives, more than a dozen non-profit organizations and state and federal agencies in the Vermont Swimming Hole Collaborative want to remind the public about important safety and etiquette considerations.

Many Vermonters around the state are encountering gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) caterpillars causing defoliation of their trees. This invasive insect arrived in the United States over 100 years ago and has been expanding its range ever since. Gypsy moth can be a significant defoliator (leaf eater) of trees and shrubs.