New Discovery State Park Campground offers designated equestrian camping facilities near Sutton, Vermont. The campground sits within the 26,000-acre Groton State Forest, which features terrain ranging from 900 to 2,300 feet in elevation. Winter temperatures in the region often drop below freezing from November through March, with summer highs typically reaching the mid-70s.
What to do
Trail riding network access: Equestrian campers at New Discovery State Park Campground can access multiple interconnected trails. "The bathhouse looks typical and clean. Not much cell service, but some in places. Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion," notes Miccal M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: While exploring the trails around the campground, watch for local wildlife. "We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife. There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here," advises Laura M.
Water activities on multiple ponds: The Groton State Forest area contains several ponds within riding distance. "Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions, Osmore pond, Kettle pond, or Ricker pond," reports Rick S. from his stay at New Discovery.
What campers like
Site privacy and separation: Groton Forest Road Campground offers spacious sites with good separation between camping areas. "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," writes Reid B.
Variety of site settings: Campsites at New Discovery vary significantly in layout and environment. "Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground," explains Sarah C.
Seasonal considerations: The region offers distinct experiences across different seasons. "Open year round!! I have stayed here many times, three times in the winter (it is so nice to have an open bathroom in the winter!) and a few times in the summer. Quiet, clean sites," notes Kim O. about Hancock Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom and shower facilities: The shower facilities at New Discovery require quarters for operation. "Showers are something like $1 for 8 minutes, quarters only. The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they'd be so fun to sleep in," mentions Laura M.
Water access for horses: Multiple water access points exist for horses throughout the forest trail system. "The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers," Reid B. explains about the Groton Forest Road area.
Wildlife precautions: Bears are present in the area, requiring proper food storage. "They have food compost bins here, but the rangers keep forgetting to unlock the bin, so you just have to ask them. There's also a book exchange library and adorable little gnome habitats set up in the campground," shares Laura M.
Tips for camping with families
Remote shelter options: For families seeking a more secluded experience, consider the remote shelters. "There are more remote walk-in shelters on the Osmore Pond, located within New Discovery State Park. The shelters are rustic, have shared outhouses between a few sites, fire pits and small picnic tables," describes Sarah C.
Bear box availability: Families will appreciate the bear-proof storage containers at some sites. "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries," reports Lindsey M. about her stay at Hancock.
Campground activities: Beyond equestrian activities, the campgrounds offer additional recreation options. "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers," mentions Laura M.
Tips from RVers
Water fill considerations: RVers should note the water access points may require adaptors. "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," advises Laura M. about New Discovery.
Dump station and hookup availability: Facilities for RVs vary between campgrounds in the area. "Electric hookups, water connections, and a dump station make this location particularly convenient for those traveling with horse trailers and RVs," notes camp host information about Groton Forest Road Campground.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs or horse trailers. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there," Laura M. observes about the terrain at New Discovery.
