Groton State Forest

Groton State Forest is the largest contiguous state-owned land in Vermont — a vast, wild expanse of more than 26,000 acres of northern forest, ponds, bogs, rocky hills and wetlands in the foothills of the Northeast Kingdom and the central Vermont highlands. It is one of Vermont’s premier wild retreats, offering a remarkable concentration of natural and recreational assets in a single forest.

Six state-park campgrounds (Seyon Lodge, Ricker Pond, New Discovery, Stillwater, Kettle Pond and Big Deer) are scattered through the forest, connected by a network of hiking trails, with beautiful Groton Pond, Kettle Pond, Peacham Bog (a rare boreal bog), and panoramic summit hikes on peaks like Owl’s Head. Canoeing, swimming, fishing, birding and backcountry exploration round out the draw. A vast, wild forest retreat, Groton State Forest is a treasured natural icon of Vermont.

Groton State Forest offers hiking on a trail network linking its campgrounds and peaks (Owl’s Head is the signature summit hike, with panoramic views), swimming and canoeing on Groton, Ricker and Kettle Ponds, fishing for trout and bass, birding in the forest and bogs, naturalist programs at Seyon Lodge (a fly-fishing-only estate), mountain biking on forest roads, and camping across six state campgrounds. In winter, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling bring out visitors. The wide-ranging recreation of a vast wild forest — especially the ponds, bogs and summit hikes — makes Groton a premier Vermont retreat.

Summer is the prime season for camping, swimming, canoeing, hiking and all outdoor recreation, when all campgrounds and facilities are open and the ponds warm enough for swimming, while fall brings spectacular Vermont foliage across the forest (gorgeous from Owl’s Head) and excellent fishing. Spring is fresh and green but muddy. Winter brings snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling through the quiet, snow-covered forest. Summer and fall are the highlights — come in summer for the full forest experience, or autumn for the foliage and the crisp fishing weather.

The forests and ponds of the Groton highlands were the territory of the Abenaki people. The land was logged extensively in the 19th century, then gradually acquired by Vermont as a state forest starting in the early 20th century. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many of the facilities, trails and campgrounds in the 1930s, and the forest has grown back to its wild character. Vermont manages it as both a working forest (sustainable timber) and a recreation and conservation reserve. Groton State Forest preserves this great wild Vermont forest, its ponds and its heritage, a treasured icon of the state.

Groton State Forest occupies the central Vermont highlands, where ancient metamorphic rock — schist, quartzite and phyllite — was folded and uplifted during the building of the Appalachian Mountains and later deeply eroded, leaving a rolling, rocky landscape of hills and valleys. Ice Age glaciers scoured the terrain, leaving the ponds (many in glacially scooped basins), bogs (in kettles and wet depressions), and the rocky summits. The ancient rock, the long erosion and the glacial sculpting created the ponds, bogs and forested hills of Groton’s landscape.

Groton State Forest is rich in wildlife — moose are commonly seen (especially near the ponds and bogs), black bears, white-tailed deer, beavers, otters, fishers and other woodland mammals roam the forest, loons call from the ponds, and the boreal bogs attract rare and boreal birds (like palm warblers and Lincoln’s sparrows). The combination of forest, ponds, bogs and wetlands supports exceptional biodiversity. Groton is a premier Vermont wildlife-watching destination, especially for moose, loons and the rare boreal species of Peacham Bog and the other forest wetlands.

Groton State Forest protects a large expanse of northern Vermont forest — spruce-fir, northern hardwoods and mixed forest — along with ponds, brooks, wetlands and especially Peacham Bog, a rare boreal sphagnum bog with northern plants normally found in Canada, accessible by a boardwalk trail. The forest is a working landscape (sustainable timber) and a conservation reserve. The rare bog, the ponds and the large wild forest are sensitive and ecologically rich. Protecting the bog, the ponds, the forest and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the wild character of Groton State Forest.

Groton State Forest holds a special place among Vermont’s public lands — the largest contiguous state-owned land in Vermont, a vast wild forest of ponds, bogs and hills beloved for camping, paddling, hiking and wildlife watching, shaped by CCC-era development and generations of Vermont families. Its scale and wildness embody the undeveloped, forested interior of Vermont. Groton State Forest is a cherished natural treasure and a cornerstone of Vermont’s outdoor recreation heritage.

Groton State Forest is in central Vermont’s highlands, roughly between Groton, Peacham and Marshfield, reached via U.S. Route 2 and State Routes 232 and 302, about 20 minutes east of Montpelier (the state capital). The forest is large; the main campgrounds and trailheads are spread along Route 232 through the forest. Camping fees apply at all campgrounds (reserve through Vermont State Parks). Seyon Lodge requires separate reservations (fly-fishing only). There is no entrance fee for day use of the trails. Check Vermont State Parks for campground reservations, trail info and conditions before visiting.

Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation manages Groton State Forest for both sustainable timber harvesting and recreation and conservation. Visitors help by staying on trails to protect sensitive bogs and wetlands (the Peacham Bog boardwalk is essential — never walk off it into the bog), packing out everything, respecting wildlife (especially the loons on the ponds), cleaning watercraft to prevent invasives, and following all rules. The rare boreal bog, the loon-bearing ponds and the large forest are sensitive. Protecting the bog, the ponds and the wildlife sustains the ecology of this great forest.

Groton State Forest is large and remote in places — carry a map and compass (or GPS), tell someone your plans and carry food, water and layers, as services are limited and cell service is sparse. The trails can be muddy, and the rocky summits and beaver-flooded paths require good footwear. The ponds are cold; wear a life jacket when canoeing or kayaking. In winter, the forest is wild and cold. Be aware of moose on forest roads (a collision hazard). Respect the remoteness, the moose on the roads, the cold ponds and the limited services.

Camping requires a reservation and fee at the six state-park campgrounds; day use of trails is generally free. Stay on trails and boardwalks (especially at Peacham Bog — do not leave the boardwalk). Clean watercraft to prevent aquatic invasives. Pets must be leashed/controlled. Fishing requires a Vermont license. Hunting follows Vermont rules and seasons (use caution and wear blaze orange in hunting season). Drones are restricted. Pack out all trash; follow Leave No Trace. Check Vermont State Parks for camping reservations, rules and conditions before visiting.

The state capital of Montpelier (20 minutes west), the town of St. Johnsbury and the wider Northeast Kingdom to the east, the village of Peacham (one of Vermont’s most beautiful), and the rolling Vermont highlands lie near the forest. Groton State Forest is the great wild heart of central Vermont, a centerpiece of a Vermont backcountry adventure, easily combined with Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom and the scenic villages of the Vermont highlands.

Base at one of the six campgrounds (reserve early — they fill in summer) and use Groton as a base for a multi-day Vermont forest retreat: hike Owl’s Head for panoramic views, canoe on Groton or Kettle Pond, and walk the boardwalk at the remarkable Peacham Bog (a taste of the boreal north). Come in summer for the full experience, or fall for spectacular foliage; watch for moose on the forest roads at dawn and dusk. Visit Seyon Lodge for guided fly-fishing, and explore the back corners of Vermont’s largest state forest.