Emerald Lake State Park: A Quiet Corner of Vermont Worth Discovering

Dark woodland trails, a turquoise mountain lake, and one of the most family-friendly campgrounds in Vermont.

This is what you’ll discover at Emerald Lake State Park in East Dorset, a small town in the mountains of Southern Vermont.

This little park is a favorite with locals and is widely regarded as one of the best places to cool off on a summer day in Vermont. In fact, Emerald Lake is one of our favorite spots in all of Vermont to swim, and we think you’ll agree!

We’ve been spending summer afternoons and weekends at Emerald State Park in Vermont for many years, and relaxing at this Vermont State Park is always a highlight of our summer.

Here’s why we love Emerald Lake State Park and why we think you’ll love it, too!

Quick Facts: Emerald Lake State Park

Address: 65 Emerald Lake Lane, East Dorset, VT
Activities: swimming, hiking, paddle sports, camping
Open: Friday of Memorial Day weekend to the 2nd weekend in October
Fees: $5 adults, $2 kids
Dogs: Yes, on leash
Camping: 66 tent/RV sites (no hookups), 37 lean-tos
Dogs: On-leash, but not on the beach
Visit the official park website

Emerald Lake State Park is nestled in a deep valley between the Taconic Mountains to the West and the Green Mountains to the east. The two mountain ranges are only a few hundred yards apart here, and they rise up steeply on either side of the lake, making for lovely views in all directions.

Covering just 20 acres, Emerald Lake isn’t big, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. Its clear green waters and sandy bottom attract swimmers, paddlers, sunbathers, and anglers throughout the summer.

My family and I aren’t strangers to Emerald Lake’s charms. We’ve picnicked on the shores and spent countless hours exploring in and out of the water.

We also try to make camping at Emerald Lake a habit at least once during the summer.

Emerald Lake may be known as the best swimming spot around, but there’s more to this beautiful park than swimming. It’s also a hiker’s paradise, a haven for dog lovers, and a perfect spot for family camping.

We’d love to share some of our favorite ways to explore Emerald Lake State Park.

A Brief History of Emerald Lake State Park

Emerald Lake State Park feels like a quiet, tucked-away escape today, but its story is rooted in hard work and industry.

Back in the late 1700s, Dorset was already making a name for itself thanks to marble.

In 1785, Isaac Underhill opened what’s widely believed to be the first commercial marble quarry in the United States on nearby Mount Aeolus. For more than a century, quarrying shaped this landscape and the lives of the people who worked it.

By the early 1800s, the hills surrounding what is now Emerald Lake State Park were buzzing with activity.

The Freedley and Sons Quarry opened in 1804 at the southern end of the present-day park, and at its peak, there were around 30 quarries operating in the Dorset area. Workers carved massive blocks of marble straight from the mountainside, then sent them down the slope on an inclined rail system to a finishing mill about a mile away.

From there, the stone traveled by rail to projects across the country; they were used in everything from grand public buildings in New York City to local sidewalks and homes right here in Vermont.

By the early 1900s, the industry began to fade as other quarry sites in places like West Rutland and Proctor proved easier to work and produced higher-quality stone. But the imprint of those early days never disappeared.

The land that now surrounds Emerald Lake took on a new chapter in the early 20th century, when Robert Alfred Shaw purchased more than 1,000 acres between 1918 and 1921, creating North Dorset Farms.

His property included the area around Dorset Pond, which we now know as Emerald Lake. After his death, the state purchased the land in 1957, dividing it into Emerald Lake State Forest to the east of Route 7 and Emerald Lake State Park to the west.

The park officially opened in 1960, with a modest campground, beach, and picnic area welcoming its first visitors.

Today, if you know where to look, you can still spot pieces of this history scattered across the landscape.

Stone ruins from the old Freedley and Sons finishing plant sit just south of the park, and former quarry sites have softened into water-filled pits along Route 30 and nearby hillsides. Even the North Dorset Cemetery above the park tells part of the story, with marble headstones that were likely cut from the very mountains that surround you.

It’s a place where Vermont’s industrial past and its present-day beauty overlap in the most unexpected ways.

Read Next: Enjoy the Gettysburg Quarry Hike in Dorset, Vermont

Camping at Emerald Lake State Park

There are more than 100 campsites perched on a wide ledge on the west side of Emerald Lake in Vermont.

While I wouldn’t call any of them waterfront campsites, you do catch enticing glimpses of the sparkling water far below the campground. The campsites are wooded with beautiful giant hemlock trees, interspersed with a scattering of maple, oak, beech, and cherry trees.

The Emerald Lake campground is great for hammock and tent camping, but there’s also room for RVs if that’s more your style. Just note that there are no RV hookups here or at any Vermont State Park campground.

Afraid of nasty weather? Rent one of 36 lean-tos to be better protected from the elements.

During our last camping trip to Emerald Lake State Park, we chose site 19, at the end of the A loop.

There are three sprawling campground loops, each with its own trail down to the lake. Loop A is closest to the swimming area and usually a bit more popular than the other two. On our visit in early June, loop A was home to just three other camping families.

Except for the chirping birds and the distant sound of the cars on Route 7, the Emerald Lake campground is usually blissfully quiet.

Insider tip: Emerald Lake State Park gets extremely busy in the summer when the kids get out of school. For a more mellow camping experience, plan your camping vacation for early June or September.

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Swimming and Paddling at Emerald Lake State Park

The water is cold and clear, and when the light sparkles on the surface, the lake appears turquoise-green.

There are no slimy spots that make you cringe, and there’s a little island in the middle that you can swim around like a real explorer. Climb onto the island to look for wild blueberries or the elusive Emerald Lake rope swing for some old-fashioned fun.

Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are available to rent from the snack bar at the beach, or you can bring your own.

There’s a sandy beach and picnic area with no lifeguard on duty. If you want to escape the crowded beach, you can hike along the trail and find a more secluded swimming area. This is especially nice if you’re visiting with dogs, who aren’t allowed at the Emerald Lake beach.

Hiking at Emerald Lake State Park

The hiking trails are never very crowded at Emerald Lake State Park – that’s because everyone is too busy swimming!

Over the course of our two-day visit this past June, we explored every single trail on the map.

We were surprised by the diversity of the trails but not the beauty — we discovered meadows bursting with wildflower blooms, cool ancient forests, and wetlands teeming with life.

Lake Trail to Campground C

The Lake Trail hugs the shore of Emerald Lake. It’s strewn with boulders and flanked by huge hemlock trees.

Like a magical promenade, this trail features secret swimming spots, ephemeral wildflowers, and lots of photo ops.

At the southern end of the lake, you can continue on the trail to the C loop in the campground. This part of the trail meanders along a sunny wetland, where you’re likely to see songbirds, turtles, frogs, and beavers. When you arrive at the campground, you can walk the campground roads back to your site.

Vista Trail

For awesome views of the lake from high above, you can’t beat Vista Trail. It’s a moderate hike through beautiful, shady woodlands, with a good variety of ferns and spring wildflowers.

The climb is steady toward the views, but the trail is very even and well-marked. The vista loop is 0.7 miles, and walking at a good clip with lots of photography breaks, it took me half an hour.

Work up a sweat on the Vista Trail and then hit the lake for a swim before heading back to camp.

Meadow Trail

To hike the Meadow Trail, you can either start past the ranger station near the park entrance or on Lower Trail, which starts in campground loop A.

I started on Lower Trail and gradually ascended through a mixed hardwood forest. Little red efts were making their way across the trail in droves, and we had to be very careful where we put our feet.

After walking along a level, wooded ridge for a while, the trail turns sharply and begins to descend through a series of meadows flanked by tall trees on every side.

In June, when we visited, the meadows were teeming with birds, butterflies, and wildflowers.

The North Dorset Cemetery is located toward the end of the trail. It’s a tiny local graveyard with headstones crafted from local marble. The oldest headstone we found was dated 1811.

The best part about Emerald Lake in Vermont is that there’s something for everyone.

The sandy beach and shallow waters are perfect for frolicking kids. Families can rent paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks for paddling around the lake. Teens and more adventurous kids can search for the island rope swing for a little adrenaline rush.

The quiet trails, secret coves, and abundant wildlife are enough to keep me coming back again and again.

Have you explored Emerald Lake State Park in Vermont? What do you love best about this magical park?

Read Next: The Best Family Campgrounds in Vermont

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