Woodford State Park, Season by Season: One of Vermont’s Best-Kept Secrets

The little slice of wilderness called Woodford State Park is nestled in the mountains of southern Vermont.

Fall foliage around the lake in Woodford State Park in Vermont. — Fall at Woodford State Park

It’s not exactly a tourist destination, but it beckons to certain people with its quiet mountain lake, secluded hiking trails, and beautiful waterfront campsites. I am definitely one of those people.

Woodford State Park is my happy place — A place that my family and I have been exploring in every season for the past 20 years. Come on, we’ll show you around!

The centerpiece of Woodford State Park is a small, jewel-like lake called Adams Reservoir.

Surrounded by forest, with pretty campsites tucked into the trees and along the shore, this 21-acre lake attracts wildlife, anglers, and kayakers seeking solitude and connection with nature.

Quick Facts: Woodford State Park

Address: 142 State Park Road, Woodford, VT
Activities: swimming, hiking, paddle sports, camping
Open: Memorial Day weekend to the 2nd weekend in October
Fees: $5 adults, $2 kids
Dogs: on-leash, but not on the sandy beach
Camping: 76 tent/RV sites (no hookups), 20 lean-to sites, four camping cabins
Official Park Website

At 2,400 feet in elevation, Woodford State Park is home to the highest public campground in the state.

Although the park is just 398 acres, it’s bordered by the George Aiken Wilderness and the Green Mountain National Forest, so there are unlimited opportunities for exploring.

The dog-friendly Lady Slipper cabin in Woodford State Park in Vermont. — The dog-friendly Lady Slipper cabin in Woodford State Park

Why Woodford State Park is Special

Woodford State Park is for people who seek solitude over spectacle. It’s a small park, and while it gets plenty of visitors on summer and fall weekends, it mostly attracts folks looking for a quiet getaway: peaceful paddles, leisurely swims, summer picnics, stargazing, campfires, woodland strolls, and photography.

It’s not a park for peak-baggers or adrenaline seekers, but it’s a great park for families!

We’ve been visiting Woodford State Park since our kids were babes, and it’s at the top of our list for hiking, swimming, picnicking, and paddling. We’ve camped here plenty of times, but the park is just a few miles from home, so we’re more day-trippers than anything else.

Here’s an overview of all the fantastic things you can do in Woodford State Park in all four seasons:

Camping: Woodford State Park’s campground features 76 tent sites, 20 lean-to sites, and 4 cabins, all with access to drinking water, picnic tables, and campfire rings.
Hiking: Hike the Adams Reservoir Trail, which is a 2.7-mile loop around the reservoir.
Paddling: The park allows non-motorized boating on Adams Reservoir. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent one at the park office.
Fishing: Adams Reservoir is stocked with brook trout, and fishing is allowed from the shore or from a boat. You will need a Vermont fishing license to fish in the reservoir, which you can purchase at the park office.
Wildlife viewing: We have seen moose, otters, and owls in Woodford State Park, and you may also spot beavers, mink, deer, or fishers.
Find Peace and quiet: Escape the hustle! The quiet and serene setting is perfect for relaxation and introspection.
Stargazing: The park is located away from city lights, making it a great place to stargaze. The night sky is often clear and free from pollution, allowing you to see the Milky Way and other constellations.
Photography: Woodford State Park is one of my favorite spots to escape with my camera. The beautiful scenery provides ample opportunities for shutterbugs.

A loon momma and babies on Adams Reservoir in Woodford State Park.

Woodford State Park is officially open from Memorial Day until Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but visitors are welcome to explore in the off-season, provided they park their vehicle outside the park gates.

We love Woodford’s beauty in all four seasons and recommend it to everyone who visits Southern Vermont. Here’s why visiting Woodford State Park in VT is incredible year-round.

Spring: Fishing and Hiking

A young. boy stands holding a fishing pole and a few fish in Woodford State Park, VT. — Rowan and his catch of the day

Adams Reservoir is stocked with brook trout in April, when the locals come out with their tackle boxes and picnic baskets and line the shore hoping for a trophy catch.

The more patient anglers will sit on the banks from morning till the sun sets, hoping for a good catch to stock the freezer.

If you want to fish in Woodford State Park, you can buy a Vermont fishing license at the park office.

For those who want to stretch their legs and take in the beauty of the forest, the trail around Adams Reservoir is a 2.7-mile loop through a dense softwood forest.

You can shorten the loop by a mile if you cut into the campground and walk back to your starting point on the campground road.

This easy loop is one of our favorite spots to hike with dogs and kids, and one of the best easy hikes in southern Vermont.

A woman hikes through the woods in the summer at Woodford State Park in Vermont. — Auntie Janet strolling through the woods at Woodford State Park

The temperature at Woodford State Park remains chilly well into June, so be sure to plan for weather extremes if you visit in the spring. You should also be prepared for muddy conditions year-round.

The trail around Adams Reservoir has no significant elevation change, but it does have plenty of rocks and roots to keep you on your toes!

Also worth mentioning are the black flies, which appear toward the end of May and stay through June.

Summer: Paddling and Camping

A woman sits in a kayak in the wetlands at Woodford State Park in Vermont. — Me, taking photos of sundews in the wetland.

Summer is an outstanding time to visit Woodford State Park in Vermont.

The best way to experience the lake and its laid-back atmosphere is to reserve one of the 100 campsites surrounding it.

You can choose from 76 tent/RV sites (some are waterfront), 20 lean-tos, and four camping cabins, one of which is dog-friendly (Lady Slipper).

We live fairly close to the park, in the valley below.

When it’s 90 degrees at home in Bennington, we can count on it being 10 degrees cooler at Woodford State Park, but let’s be honest — it’s rarely 90 degrees in Vermont.

Two boys running through the water on a sunny day at Woodford State Park in Vermont. — My kiddos playing in the water at Woodford State Park in Vermont.

If you’re planning a camping trip in the mountains, bring your woolies, even in the summer!

This is one of the few state parks that allows leashed dogs year-round. It’s one of Vermont’s most dog-friendly state parks.

You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats from the park rangers for a small fee, and the swimming is great from the small, sandy beach.

Eric paddling at Woodford State Park. — Eric testing out our Oru Kayak at Woodford State Park.

On the hottest days, there’s nothing like a dip in this mountain lake to restore the senses and fall in love with the world. Try it. I know you’ll agree!

Fall: Leaf-Peeping

Fall foliage view on the lake in Woodford, Vermont. — Fall foliage in Woodford State Park

Late September brings oranges, reds, and yellows to the forests of Vermont. It also brings leaf peepers from all over the world.

The forest surrounding Woodford State Park changes earlier than much of the state, thanks in part to the abundance of swamp maples in the wetland areas. Early October is always a good bet for fall foliage photography in Woodford.

If you don’t mind roughing it, Woodford State Park makes a fabulous home base for exploring autumn in Vermont. It is very close to two of our favorite spots to explore in the fall: Wilmington and Bennington.

The Woodford State Park campground is open until Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the fall. If you’re not sure about camping in the cold, reserve one of the four cabins in the park—the Lady Slipper cabin is pet-friendly.

A trail sign in Woodford State Park during autumn in Vermont. — A sunny fall day in the woods at Woodford State Park

You can fish for trout in Vermont until the end of October, and hiking is fabulous here in the fall — no bugs!

Winter: Skiing and Snowshoeing

Skiing across the frozen lake at Woodford State Park.

Winter is an outstanding time of year to head into the Vermont backcountry.

Cross-country ski trails crisscross the nearby Green Mountain National Forest, and during snowy winters, there’s a pretty well-marked trail through Woodford State Park and the surrounding wilds.

However, we prefer skiing on the campground roads, which usually remain covered in snow all winter.

The frozen lake at Woodford State Park makes a fine playground, skating rink, and ski track all rolled into one.

The park is officially closed in the winter, so you have to park your car in the snowmobile lot across the street and hike in from the road. You can also request a free permit to try winter camping in Woodford State Park for up to three nights. Here’s the request form if you’re brave enough to try it.

Woodford State Park: Know Before You Go

Woodford State Park is located at 2,400 feet above sea level, which means it’s always colder up here than in the valley. There’s usually a 10-degree difference between Woodford and where we live in Bennington, just 10 miles away. Plan accordingly, especially if you’re camping.

The trail around Adams Reservoir is muddy year-round. I would avoid the trail entirely in March/April and be prepared for mud the rest of the year. I wear good boots and use hiking poles for my jaunts around Woodford, and I always bring snowshoes for winter hiking.

Cell service is limited, but it’s gotten much better over the past few years.

Woodford State Park is one of our favorite Vermont State Parks. It’s small, unassuming, and mostly quiet. Read more about the Vermont State Parks we love.

For trail maps and campground reservations, check out Woodford State Park’s official website.