Pittsfield VT camping sites are nestled in a varied terrain of forested mountains, offering elevation changes from 750 to over 3,000 feet in nearby peaks. Winter camping is possible at some dispersed locations, though most campgrounds close after mid-October. Temperatures typically range from 60-80°F in summer with cooler nights in the 50s, making sleeping comfortable even during peak season.
What to do
Hiking to mountain lakes: Access Silver Lake via a short 0.6-mile trail from the parking area near Moosalamoo Campground. "Silver Lake is just a one mile hike from the sites. The trail to the site features a multitude of cascading falls and is incredibly tranquil," notes Michelle R.
Trail access to Appalachian Trail: Gifford Woods State Park offers direct connections to famous long-distance trails. One camper explains, "The Appalachian Trail runs directly through this park. While on a 4 state section hike I traveled by foot through this park."
Mountain biking opportunities: Dedicated trails for cycling enthusiasts are available at several sites. At Moosalamoo, a reviewer mentioned "awesome bike trails with smooth trail beds and nice rolling bumps. The kind campground hosts can tell you all about the hiking and biking trails within Moosalamoo National Forest."
What campers like
Fall foliage viewing: Autumn transforms the landscape into vibrant colors. A camper at Branbury State Park simply stated, "Fall in New England can't be beat."
Secluded campsites: Many campers value privacy at sites throughout the region. At Chittenden Brook Campground, "This was a great site that feels secluded but isn't. There's quite a bit of space between each site so you can't really see your neighbors which is excellent."
Winter camping options: For those seeking solitude, some dispersed sites remain accessible in winter. A visitor to Green Mountain National Forest noted, "My first time winter camping and had the entire area to myself. Beautiful sunsets, night skies and scenery. Extremely calm and peaceful. Woke up to two moose nearby the morning I was leaving."
What you should know
Road conditions and vehicle requirements: Many forest service roads require appropriate vehicles. For Michigan Brook Road camping, "Beware that in Spring the road gets muddy and quite rutted, I would not recommend driving down there with a car that is low to the ground."
Bear safety precautions: Wildlife requires proper food storage. A camper at Coolidge State Park reported, "We were advised that there was an active bear in the campground, but we took the advice of Sean the park ranger."
Limited facilities at dispersed sites: Free sites offer minimal amenities. At Michigan Brook, a camper described it as "Very back woods camping!" while another noted "there was some trash (please practice LNT fellow campers!!!)."
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds have limited seasons. Moosalamoo operates from "Memorial Day to Columbus" while Coolidge State Park runs from "Memorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day Weekend."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Quechee State Park offers programs specifically for children. A visitor shared, "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee.)"
Family-accessible swimming: Several parks offer swimming options suitable for various ages. At Branbury, "There is a beach with wading depth, sand for playing, buoys to mark the shallow area, a large dock to jump from with a ladder for climbing out."
Playground access: Some campgrounds include play structures. A Branbury visitor noted, "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground."
Tips from RVers
Clearance challenges: Forest service roads can pose difficulties for larger vehicles. At Chittenden Brook, "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair."
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds lack full amenities for RVs. Quechee State Park has "No Electric or hookups" but does provide "a spacious dump site if needed."
Level site considerations: Finding flat parking can be challenging. A camper at Quechee noted, "Site 16 is one of the smaller sites and is not super level, but we were able to get the Subaru backed in and relatively level for camping."
