Summary
The park is situated on the southern end of the 17-mile-long Lake Dunmore, offering breathtaking views of the water and surrounding hills.
One of the main reasons to visit Monroe State Park is to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and picnicking. The park has a sandy beach and a designated swimming area with lifeguards on duty during the summer months. Visitors can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to explore the lake or hike on the trails that wind through the forested hills. The park also has several picnic areas with tables and grills, making it a great spot for a family outing or a group gathering.
The most notable point of interest in Monroe State Park is the Silver Lake Trail, which is a 3.5-mile loop that offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Hikers can also explore the nearby Moosalamoo National Recreation Area and the Long Trail, which is a 273-mile hiking trail that traverses the length of Vermont.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the lake was once used for logging operations, and many of the logs that were cut in the nearby forests were floated down the lake to be transported to sawmills. The park was established in 1961 and covers over 200 acres of land, including a 35-acre lake.
The best time of year to visit Monroe State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is ideal for swimming and boating. However, the park is also open year-round, and visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months.
Overall, Monroe State Park is a beautiful and peaceful destination that offers a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Hump Brook Campsite
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Little River State Park
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A Area
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B Area
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Primitive Campsite #22
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Primitive Campsite #21
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