Gifford Woods State Park
Gifford Woods State Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
30 within 3 miles
Attractions
11 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
54 reviews
Excellent
30
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Kayak Kira
Neptune, NJ11 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We camped the last weekend that the park was open for the season. It was during Covid times and I was grateful for the care that was taken by the employees and the visitors. The bathrooms were cleaned 2x per day and that was very appreciated.
Our trip lined up with the new moon so we walked to Kent Pond once it was dark and it did not disappoint!! The stars and milky way were mesmerizing!! I love that the AT crosses through it this park, there were many fun places to explore!
The lean to was the perfect size for our 2 person tent to be fully covered with room to move around. We had plenty of room left to spread out our gear which was clutch since it rained half our time camping.
I can’t wait come back to this park to camp!!
Our trip lined up with the new moon so we walked to Kent Pond once it was dark and it did not disappoint!! The stars and milky way were mesmerizing!! I love that the AT crosses through it this park, there were many fun places to explore!
The lean to was the perfect size for our 2 person tent to be fully covered with room to move around. We had plenty of room left to spread out our gear which was clutch since it rained half our time camping.
I can’t wait come back to this park to camp!!
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynne1153
Edinburgh, UK1,049 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We were greeted by a really friendly staff member who gave us a map and showed us the routes. Unfortunately we did not find the first section very clear to follow and we obviously didn’t have the correct insect repellent on and so we left earlier than planned. Would like to go back again to do the full trail!
Written July 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lylescript
Santa Monica, CA24 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
Gifford Woods is a campsite that is pet-friendly and close to everything. While dogs are not allowed in the cabins, they are allowed in your tent, camper or lean-to. As for location, it's a stone's throw away from Killington & Pico and the AT runs right through it. There's a beautiful pond across the street for kayaking, hiking and spotting the occasional moose. We also post up here when we mountain-bike Killington, because of its proximity, clean bathrooms, showers and quite camp sites. Definitely a great spot with or without your dog and we will be back soon!!
Written June 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarolDM1900
Montpelier, VT3,343 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
100 years ago, 80 percent of Vermont was open farmland, and only 20 percent was forested. Today, that situation has reversed, which is to say that Vermont has abundant forests. Very few of them, however, are more than a hundred years old, and real "old-growth" stands are rare. You'll find some at Button Bay State Park, Cambridge State Forest, and the Battell Preserve of Middlebury College.
Here at Gifford State Park, you can visit one of Vermont's best-known and most accessible old-growth forests. An interpretive trail, with easy-to-read signs to help you along the way, runs right by the picnic area that itself is just a few steps from the park headquarters.
Not every section of the park has trees 200-400 years old, but the interpretive trail is set like a jewel in one of them. A child, even a toddler, can easily walk it. The signs are easy to read and to understand. The old beeches are amazing. I've never seen this variety of tree so tall with such huge trunks. And there others, easy to identify by the signs placed near them.
To see another old-growth section, a bit off the beaten track, you can cross the street at the main park gate and "bushwhack" through the woods in the direction of Kent Pond. You'll see the blue water in the distance across Route 100. There are no trails, and the ground is uneven, not to mention tangled with fallen branches and trees. But that's what old-growth forests are like. So if that is the experience you seek, here it is.
The view across the pond is pretty spectacular, too, especially when the trees are clad in their fall foliage. Although there is a fence that seems intended to keep walkers away from the lake shore, it's got a big, well-used opening if you'd like to get closer to the water. Or, you can drive around to the other side of the lake, where there's parking, but that will mean missing the old-growth section.
Whatever you choose to do, Gifford Woods Park is a good place to spend a relaxing day in nature. And visiting the old growth stands offers a rare opportunity to see what Vermont looked like before the plow.
For those inclined to stay over, there's a nice campground and there are rustic cabins for rent for about $50 a day. Although the park recently closed for the winter, you can still walk, snowshoe or XC ski on the trails. It's a beautiful place any time of year.
Here at Gifford State Park, you can visit one of Vermont's best-known and most accessible old-growth forests. An interpretive trail, with easy-to-read signs to help you along the way, runs right by the picnic area that itself is just a few steps from the park headquarters.
Not every section of the park has trees 200-400 years old, but the interpretive trail is set like a jewel in one of them. A child, even a toddler, can easily walk it. The signs are easy to read and to understand. The old beeches are amazing. I've never seen this variety of tree so tall with such huge trunks. And there others, easy to identify by the signs placed near them.
To see another old-growth section, a bit off the beaten track, you can cross the street at the main park gate and "bushwhack" through the woods in the direction of Kent Pond. You'll see the blue water in the distance across Route 100. There are no trails, and the ground is uneven, not to mention tangled with fallen branches and trees. But that's what old-growth forests are like. So if that is the experience you seek, here it is.
The view across the pond is pretty spectacular, too, especially when the trees are clad in their fall foliage. Although there is a fence that seems intended to keep walkers away from the lake shore, it's got a big, well-used opening if you'd like to get closer to the water. Or, you can drive around to the other side of the lake, where there's parking, but that will mean missing the old-growth section.
Whatever you choose to do, Gifford Woods Park is a good place to spend a relaxing day in nature. And visiting the old growth stands offers a rare opportunity to see what Vermont looked like before the plow.
For those inclined to stay over, there's a nice campground and there are rustic cabins for rent for about $50 a day. Although the park recently closed for the winter, you can still walk, snowshoe or XC ski on the trails. It's a beautiful place any time of year.
Written November 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David Z
Richmond Hill, Canada59 contributions
Oct 2018
If hiking in Vermont, definitely take the time to hike this portion of the Appalachian Trail - through Gifford Woods, See Deer Leap side trail for a great view, Kent Pond, and ending at Thundering Falls. Lots of sites to see in this section of the Trail and great hiking conditions!
Written October 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bourgo
Connecticut71 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
My husband and I camped here in August 2014 for 3 nights on a lean-to site. The site was very clean and had clearly been raked and the fire pit had been cleaned out prior to our arrival so there was no need to shovel it out ourselves. The lean-tos are great because you can ut all of your stuff in there or set up your tent, or even, as we did, set up your air mattress inside of it and tarp the front to keep out critters at night.
The bathrooms were very clean with hot water and pay showers for use.
The staff was very friendly and helpful and were always available if need be.
There are lots of hikers that come through this park since the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail run right through the park. That said there are some nice trails in, around and near the park and Kent Pond is right across the street. Unfortunaltey we didn't have the chance to hike(due to some wet weather/muddy conditions) or rent a canoe for use on the Pond (maybe next time).
Killington, Pico and bear are nearby as is Woodstock(a nice walking town with some neat shops) and Long trail Brewery.
We have camped at numerous VT state parks and this was one of our favorites but they are all nice.
The bathrooms were very clean with hot water and pay showers for use.
The staff was very friendly and helpful and were always available if need be.
There are lots of hikers that come through this park since the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail run right through the park. That said there are some nice trails in, around and near the park and Kent Pond is right across the street. Unfortunaltey we didn't have the chance to hike(due to some wet weather/muddy conditions) or rent a canoe for use on the Pond (maybe next time).
Killington, Pico and bear are nearby as is Woodstock(a nice walking town with some neat shops) and Long trail Brewery.
We have camped at numerous VT state parks and this was one of our favorites but they are all nice.
Written August 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
markrS9301NT
Berlin, United States33 contributions
Sep 2017 • Family
Loved the park the staff was very helpful and attentive, the site was clean and the bathrooms were clean as well. I highly recommend this State Park to anyone who loves to camp. I believe they recently received an award for best Vermont State Park fro 2017!
Written September 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LIV2FLY
Olathe, KS1,102 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
This is probably the most beautiful, well maintained State Park I have ever seen. I just walked through while hiking the AT, but this is a park I will return to when exploring VT!
Written August 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BD346
East Georgia, Vermont, United States21 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
We camped here one night on a road trip through the western and central parts of the state. The park itself was peaceful but there is quite a bit of road noise from Rt. 100. We walked the Kent Brook Trail which was a nice walk but I was underwhelmed by the tree size. They are billed in the park brochure as "grand-sized." I didn't really see anything that looked much bigger than the trees in the woods behind my house. If you're not used to being in the woods it would probably be more interesting... One bit of advice - if you need supplies get them before you get into Killington. The closest grocery store is in Rutland according to the rangers. There is a small convenience store close by but the prices are pretty high. Make sure you walk or drive across the road to Kent Pond. It it beautiful and peaceful. It is not marked but there is a lovely waterfall just to the right of the pond- just listen for it. The highlight of the visit was hearing the loons calling from the pond during the evening and early morning.
Written July 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
westmotraveler
Holden, MO234 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
We stopped here on a rainy day to walk the Kent Brook Trail. Due to the weather, we were the only people in the park and had the trail to ourselves. The trail through the old growth forest was interesting and alerted us to look for similar conditions in other locations. This trail is suitable for young and inexperienced hikers. Total length about 1 mile.
Written June 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skid1701b
Charleston, West Virginia
Planning a trip to VT in the fall. Love to take photographs & view wildlife -- when is best time to see fall colors?
Written April 20, 2018
I'm renting a house off of access rd in killington, are we allowed to swim at Kent pond or is it for campers only? Any idea how close it is to access rd? Thanks!
Written June 30, 2015
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