Snowshoeing in Vermont will take you through awesome winter scenery

While the design and materials of snowshoes has advanced the simple enjoyment of traversing Vermont forests and meadows is still a simple pleasure. The old wood and woven rawhide snowshoes are now just used for decoration while newer composite materials are used for snowshoes that allow for better trekking. This is an activity everyone can participate in and enjoy. Many cross country ski areas also have snowshoe rentals and trails. You can, of course, set your own trails through the woods and fields.

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Central top of listings

Allis State Park

284 Allis State Park Road Randolph, VT Phone: 802-276-3175

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

Several ponds nearby offer excellent bass fishing. A loop hiking trail within the park provides a strenuous workout. Baker Pond is nearby on Route 12, two miles west of the park; North and South ponds lie together one mile east of the park; Sunset Lake is in the village of Brookfield, two miles east of Bear Mountain. The villages of Brookfield, Northfield, Randolph and Williamstown are all within a 20-minute drive. There is a fire tower,hiking trails, a large picnic shelter and one rest room. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Blueberry Hill Inn

Goshen - Ripton Road Goshen, VT 05733 Phone: 802-247-6735

Blueberry Hill has 75 kilometers of groomed and wilderness trails with connections to the Catamount Trail and Vermont’s Long Trail. A separate snowshoe trail network is being developed.

Blueberry Lake

424 Robinson Road Warren, VT 05674 Phone: 802.496.6687

The ski area offers 31 km of trails all of which are groomed. Some of the trails are lit for night skiing.

Bomoseen State Park

22 Cedar Mountain Road Fair Haven, VT Phone: 802-265-4242

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

The campground contains 66 campsites including 10 lean-tos. The sites are both wooded and grassy open areas. Some are located along the lakeshore. Flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station are provided. The park has a beach for swimming and a picnic area. An open pavilion-type picnic shelter can be reserved for large gatherings. A snack bar concession and boat rentals (canoe, kayak, row, and pedal) are available at the beach. Several hiking trails, including one to Half Moon State Park, provide great hiking opportunities. There is boating and fishing in Lake Bomoseen, as well as in nearby Glen Lake.

Branbury State Park

3570 Lake Dunmore Road (Route 53) Salisbury, VT Phone: 802-247-5925

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

The park is divided by Route 53. Twenty tent sites and seven lean-to sites are on one side of the highway in a heavily wooded area, and 17 tent sites are located along the perimeter of a grassy open area near the beach. Flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station are provided. The 1,000-foot natural sandy beach, clean, clear Lake Dunmore, and the large open grassy areas make the area very popular for swimming, sunning, or picnicking. Hiking trails to scenic vistas, waterfalls, caves, mountain lakes and streams, as well as an interpretive nature trail, provide outstanding hiking opportunities. There is fishing and boating (canoe, kayak, rowboat, and pedal boat rentals are available at the park) on Lake Dunmore. Day use hours:10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Button Bay State Park

5 Button Bay State Park Road Vergennes, VT Phone: 802-475-2377

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

Button Bay, a 253-acre park, is located on a bluff in Ferrisburgh along the 130-mile long Lake Champlain. The camping area is an open, grassy area with 73 sites, including 13 lean-tos. Flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station are provided. The park has a play area and a swimming pool with lifeguards. There is a picnic area and a large open picnic shelter pavilion. Boating (canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals available), fishing, and sailing are popular on Lake Champlain. You can explore Button Point Natural Area, hike the trail, and visit the Nature Center. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Coolidge State Park

855 Coolidge State Park Road Plymouth, VT Phone: 802-672-3612

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

A trip to Coolidge State Park is a trip back in time; the park remains essentially the way it was when it was first created in the 1930s. There are 36 lean-to sites and 26 tent/trailer sites in two camping loops. Five restrooms providing modern plumbing; two have hot showers. There are two large picnic shelters, a picnic area, and a play area. There also is a sanitary dump station for RVs, but no hookups. Many day hikes are available in the park. There a several hiking trails, volleyball and a group camping area in the park.

Hancock Overlook

Hancock, VT Phone: 802-767-4261

This park features hiking and nature trails, cross-country ski trails, fishing, boating, canoeing, and picnic areas. Hunting for big game, small game and waterfowl is permitted.

Mountain Meadows XC Area

209 Thundering Brook Rd Killington, VT 05751 Phone: 802.775.7077

Located in the heart of the Green Mountains, Mountain Meadows cross-country ski area has 57 km of trails through meadows and hard woods.

Okemo Valley Nordic Center

77 Okemo Ridge Rd Ludlow, VT 05149 Phone: 802.228.1396

Okemo Valley Nordic Center features 26km of cross-country trails, 10km of dedicated snowshoe trails and 20km of skating lanes.

Ole’s Cross Country Center

Airport Road Warren, VT 05674 Phone: 802.496.3430

Ole’s Cross Country Center in the Mad River Valley has 50 km of moderately rolling trails groomed for classic skiing and ski skating for all abilities, as well as snowshoeing.

Quechee State Park

Woodstock Road (Route 4) White River Junction, VT Phone: 802-295-2990

Season: Memorial Day Weekend - October 19

The focal point of the park is Vermont’s deepest gorge, formed by glacial activity approximately 13,000 years ago. Visitors can look down at the Ottauquechee River, flowing 165 feet below viewing points along Route 4.
The park contains 45 tent/trailer sites and 7 lean-to sites which are located in the camping area. Two bathrooms with showers ($) serve the campground. Most sites are large enough to accommodate large RVs. There is a sanitary dump station, but no hookups. A large field and play area are also in the campground. Located next to Quechee Gorge is a picnic area with a pit toilet and a hiking trail along the gorge. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Rikert Touring Center

Route 125 Middlebury, VT 05753 Phone: 802.443.5000

The Carroll and Jane Rikert Ski Touring Center is owned and operated by Middlebury College and is open to the public. The center offers 42 kilometers of varied and scenic trails for cross-country skiers and snowshoers of all abilities.

Stowe XC

5781 Mountain Rd. Stowe, VT 05672 Phone: 802.253.3688

Stowe Mountain Resort has 35 kilometers of groomed and 40 kilometers of backcountry trails. Also available are 5 kilometers of trails specifically for snowshoeing.

Three Stallion Inn Touring Center

665 Stock Farm Road Randolph, VT 05060 Phone: 802.728.5656

Come and enjoy the 35 km of x-c skiing and snowshoeing trails that criss-cross our 1300 wooded acres and open pastures.

Wilderness Trails Ski School

Main Street Quechee, VT 05059 Phone: 802.295.7620

At Wilderness Trails there are 18 km of groomed trails. Ski or snowshoe along the spectacular Quechee Gorge and waterfall and through the deep woods.
Northern top of listings

Bolton Valley XC

4302 Bolton Valley Access Road Bolton Valley, VT 05477 Phone: 802.434.3444

Bolton Valley features Nordic and backcountry skiing and the highest elevation of Vermont's cross-country ski areas. There are over 100 km of Nordic trails. There is also snowshoeing.

Brighton State Park

102 State Park Road Island Pond, VT 05846 Phone: 802-723-4360

Season: Memorial Day Weekend - Columbus Day Weekend

Brighton State Park is located on the shores of Spectacle Pond. A sandy day use beach and bathhouse is located on Island Pond just a half mile from the campground. The campground sits on the mostly undeveloped Spectacle Pond where it is common to hear loons calling at night. There are 5 cabins, 61 tent/trailer sites and 23 lean-tos. All three restrooms include hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available, but no hookups. There are hiking trails, a camper's beach with boat rentals, nature museum, an amphitheater, a garage theater, and play area. At the nearby day use area there is a long sandy beach, a bathhouse with restrooms, and rental boats. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

535 Lost Nation Rd Craftsbury Common, VT 05827 Phone: 802.586.7767

In addition to world-class cross-country skiing, choose from snowshoeing, orienteering, ice-skating, backcountry tours, animal tracking, nature studies, There are 135 km of trails.

Hard'ack

179 Congress Street St. Albans, VT

With nearly 700 feet of rope tow, Hard'ack combines affordability with great local access for families to enjoy traditional Vermont recreation. Downhill skiing, snowboarding, skating, sliding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing can all be enjoyed at Hard'ack. The ski hill, towrope, and sliding hill will be operated and supervised during specific hours of operation. There is no charge to use any of Hard'ack's facilities, but donations are accepted. Hours for the 2011 season are: Thursday, 4-5 p.m.; Friday, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Rink open on weekends from noon to 2 p.m. is for public skating. No sticks or pucks Allowed on the Ice.

Hazen's Notch Association

1423 Hazen’s Notch Road Montgomery Center, VT 05471 Phone: 802.326.4799

In a town noted for covered bridges Hazen’s Notch has 70 km of groomed and marked trails passing through mixed maple, birch and evergreen forest and across gentle, open meadows. Thirty trails for all abilities provide loops of different lengths for classical cross-country skiing and or snowshoeing.

Maidstone State Park

Maidstone Lake Road Guildhall, VT Phone: 802-676-3930

Season: Memorial Day-Labor Day

Maidstone is the most remote of Vermont's state parks and still retains much of the wilderness character associated with the Northeast Kingdom.The campground has 44 tent/trailer sites and 37 lean-tos. Three of the four rest rooms include hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available, but no hookups. There are play areas, hiking trails, and a swimming beaches in the campground. A picnic shelter, swimming beach, and an additional rest room is available at the day use area. Surrounding the park are acres of forest lands that offer miles of logging roads for mountain biking or just walking. Day use hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Ricker Pond State Park

18 Ricker Pond Camp Ground Road (Route 232) Groton, VT 05046 Phone: 802-584-3821

Season: Memorial Day-Columbus Day

The campground has 27 tent/trailer sites, 23 lean-tos, 5 cabins and a waterfront rental cottage that comfortably sleeps up to 5 and comes with a canoe. Two of the three rest rooms include hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available, but no hookups. There is a swimming beach, boat launch, shelter, and access to miles of hiking trails.

Sleepy Hollow Inn & Bike Center

1805 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington, VT 05462 Phone: 802.434.2283

Forty km of scenic trails for cross-country skiing. Ice skating, night skiing and snowshoeing.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort

4323 VT Route 108 South Smugglers' Notch, VT 05464 Phone: 802-644-8851 Toll-Free: 800-451-8752 Reservations Fax: 802-644-1230

Voted #1 for Family Programs in North America by SKI Magazine Readers for 9 years, Smugglers’ has been bringing together everything your family loves most… especially each other. Every member of your family will find something to love – skiing and snowboarding for every level, outdoor adventures like Winter Walking or tube sliding, and indoor activities like indulgent massages or The FunZone Family Entertainment & Recreation Center. Parents find it easy to relax knowing their children are well cared for in our award-winning children’s programs for ages 6 weeks to 17 years. America’s Family Resort offers affordable vacation packages for everyone with Family Fun Guaranteed!

Stowe Mountain Resort

5781 Mountain Road Stowe, VT 05672

Situated on Vermont’s largest mountain, Stowe has a vertical drop of 2,360 feet, 48 trail and 13 lifts as well as terrain parks and a superpipe. There is an adaptive skiing program, snowshoeing and dog sledding.
Southern top of listings

Ball Mountain

Jamaica, VT Phone: 802-874-4881

The US Army Corps of Engineers Ball Mountain Dam Flood Control project has mountain and lakeside scenery. Visitors will enjoy hiking and nature trails, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Hunting for big and small game, as well as waterfowl, is permitted.

Brattleboro Outing Club

Upper Dummerston Rd. Brattleboro, VT 05302 Phone: 802.257.5292

The Ski Hut is the hub of cross country skiing in the Brattleboro community. The Ski Hut offers 30 km of trails.

Grafton Ponds

Townshend Road Grafton, VT 05146 Phone: 802.843.2400

Grafton Ponds is best known for its Nordic trail network, totaling 30 kilometers of skating and classic skiing through groomed fields and forests. In addition, there is another 30 kilometers of back country terrain. Snowshoeing facility is 15 kilometers of snowshoeing trails. Wine & Cheese snowshoe tours are open to the public. There is a separate 600-foot tubing run. Snow tubes are available for rental. Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hermitage XC Center

21 Handle Road Wilmington, VT 05363 Phone: 802.464.3511

The Hermitage offers 50 kilometers of cross-country ski trails along rushing mountain streams and frozen ponds, pass beaver dams, cross ridges, through pine forests and circle fields with expansive views.

Hildene Ski Touring Center

1005 Hildene Rd Manchester, VT 05254 Phone: 802.362.1788

There are 15 km of trails at Hildene, the historic house museum built by Robert Todd Lincoln as a summer home.

Mount Snow

Pisgah Road West Dover, VT Toll-Free: 800-245-SNOW

In addition to Alpine skiing on four mountains Mount Snow features many other activities including tubing, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing and a full compliment of spa services. There are 145 trail, terrain parks, pipe and tubing park. There are 23 lifts and a vertical drop of 1,700 feet.

Prospect Mountain XC Ski Center

Route 9 Woodford, VT 05201 Phone: 802.442.2575

Prospect has over 35 km of expertly groomed ski trails offers skiing for every ability. Snowshoe and backcountry ski trails are available.

Stratton

Stratton Mountain Road Stratton Mountain, VT 05155-9406 Phone: 802-297-2200

Stratton Mountain, with 90 trails, four terrain parks, and fourteen lifts is a mountain resort with activities for all. In addition there is snowshoeing and horse-drawn sleigh riding.

Timber Creek XC Ski Area

Route 100 North West Dover, VT 05356 Phone: 802.464.0999

Located across from Mount Snow, Timber Creek offers a choice of adventures on a 14 km trail system that meanders through forested hills or reach up to the high ridges. Snowshoeing is also available.

Viking Nordic Center

615 Little Pond Rd Londonderry, VT 05148 Phone: 802.824.3933

From the rolling gentle terrain of our inner trail system to the long loops through the woods of our outer trail system, Viking Nordic Center’s 40 kilometers of trails offers something for every skier and snowshoer.

Wild Wings Ski Touring Center

North Road Peru, VT 05152 Phone: 802.824.6793

Classic skiing at its best with 28 km of trails and snowshoeing.