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Jamaica State Park
Very nice family-friendly swimming area on the West River. (Water shoes are recommended.) Picnic tables, restrooms. Great playground for kids with swings, slides and more. Hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking are very popular. Home to the semiannual Jamaica Whitewater Weekend. Hundreds of whitewater enthusiasts and spectators come here for a weekend in late April and late September, when there is a water release on the West River from Ball Mountain Dam. The stretch of the river between the dam and the Salmon Hole swimming area are classified as Class II, III, and IV.
Driving time: 5 minutes. Open: last Friday in Apr to Oct 15th. Admission.
285 Salmon Hole Lane, Jamaica, VT 05343
Directions: from Jamaica village go 1.5m east on Depot St.
802-874-4600
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/jamaica.cfm |
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Townshend Dam Recreation Area
Nice sandy beach on the lake above the dam. Swimming and wind sailing. Great playground for the kids with swings, slide, badminton court, bathrooms and picnic areas with grills. Also for the kids: large wooden structures ideal for group play (ship, train, jeep). Hiking trails (Ledges Overlook trail). The road over the dam provides great views.
Driving time: 15 minutes. Open: Mid-May to Labor Day.
Townshend, VT 05353
Directions: Rt 30 between Townshend and Jamaica. Can't miss it.
802-365-7500
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/tsl/tlrec.htm |
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Pikes Falls
Large swimming hole at the bottom of the falls. The falls themselves are neither large (20') nor spectacular. No facilities of any kind. But you'll love the swimming! Access is easy, but the falls are tricky to find.
Driving time: 15 minutes.
Directions: in Jamaica, follow Pike's Falls Rd until a small collection of houses marked on maps as "Pike's Falls." Here, Day Rd connects to Pike's Falls Rd from the south. Before the crossroad, Pike's Falls Rd has a wider left shoulder, indicating the place to park. There is a small wooded path that leads down to the stream and the falls. |
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Winhall Brook Campground
Great beach with bath house, playground for kids, picnic areas and restrooms. Other activities include canoeing, fishing and hiking.
Driving time: 15 minutes. Open: May - Sept.
Directions: take Rt. 100 from Jamaica to Londonderry. Sign on your right.
802-874-4881
Trip Advisor Reviews |
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Hamilton Falls
Large (125') and beautiful waterfall with two swimming pools at the base. Dip into the cool crystal clear waters and admire large fishes as they go about their business right next to you. Stand beneath a small stone grotto and look up at the water rushing down the ledges. Having water shoes is a plus. One must be able to swim as one of the pools is deep. Water may be very cold even in summer and the current can be strong. We would not recommend this for small kids. Do not attempt to climb the ledges - very VERY dangerous - people got killed doing this. Access requires a short but steep hike.
Driving time: 20 minutes.
Directions: in W.Townshend (Rt. 30) turn north onto paved Windham Hill Rd. At 4.4m turn left onto unpaved Burbee Pond Rd. At 5.3m, just before the pond, turn left onto West Windham Rd. Stay on this road for 8.2m. Small informal unmarked parking place will be on your left soon after a sharp 90-degree right turn (next to a small sawmill). Continue on foot down a steep path towards the bottom of the falls. Alternatively, the falls can be reached via a several mile hike from Jamaica State Park. |
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Lowell Lake State Park
Great place for kayaking and canoeing, but not swimming, although one certainly can swim. Boat launch, picnic areas, including on an island, wetlands. Also has a 3.5m flat terrain loop trail around the lake. Trail features a revolutionary war-era cemetery, stands of large white pine trees, beaver lodges and scenic views of the lake and wetlands.
Driving time: 20 minutes. Open year round.
1756 Little Pond Rd, Londonderry, VT 05148
Directions: several miles east of Londonderry on Rt. 11.
802-824-4035
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/lowell.cfm |
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Hapgood Pond
Nice sandy beach. Picnic tables. Restrooms and a bath house. Easy hiking trail around the pond (0.8m loop). Great for kids! Canoes and small boats are allowed on the pond.
Driving time: 25 minutes. Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day. Admission.
Directions: from Peru Village on VT Rt. 11 take Forest Hwy 3 north 1.4m to the junction with the access road to Hapgood Pond on the left.
802-362-2307 (Manchester Ranger Station)
http://www.hikercentral.com/campgrounds/112314.html |
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Camp Plymouth State Park - Echo Lake
Sandy beach, playground, picnic area, beach house, concession stand, boat launch, fishing and boat docks, boat rentals. Vista trail loop (1.5 miles) with great views.
Driving time: 40 minutes. Open mid-May to Labor Day.
1960 Scout Camp Rd, Ludlow, VT 05149
Directions: in Tyson on Rt. 100, take Kingdom Rd, cross concrete bridge, go 1m east uphill to crossroad and turn left into Scout Camp Rd, go 1m north.
802-228-2025
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/plymouth.cfm |
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Shaftsbury State Park
Sandy beach, playground, volleyball court, picnic areas among stately white pines, beach house, concession stand, rowboats, canoes and paddleboats rentals. Nature trail walk around lake Shaftsbury - one of the best in Vermont.
Driving time: 40 minutes. Open mid-May to Labor Day.
262 Shaftsbury State Park Rd, Shaftsbury, VT 05262
Directions: park entrance is on Rt. 7A, 4 miles south of Arlington.
802-375-9978
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/shaftsbury.cfm |
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Emerald Lake State Park
Sandy beach, playground, picnic areas, beach house, concession stand, rowboat, canoe, paddleboat and tube rentals. Hiking and nature trails. One problem - too close to Hwy 7 - you can hear the traffic.
Driving time: 40 minutes. Open May 26 to October 15.
65 Emerald Lake Lane, East Dorset, VT 05253
Directions: in Manchester take Hwy 7 North, the park's entrance will be on your left in about 5-10mins.
802-362-1655
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/emerald.cfm |
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