Townshend Lake is a 108-acre reservoir in southern Vermont, created by the Townshend Dam on the West River at an elevation of 533 feet. The area's hardwood forests and river valleys create natural corridors for wildlife that frequently visit campsites. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F with occasional thunderstorms and higher humidity during July and August.
What to Do
Swimming in reservoir access points: Emerald Lake State Park Campground offers a unique swimming experience with its turquoise waters. As one visitor noted, "Swimmers can swim out to a small island in the middle of the lake and check out the rope swing" while others appreciate that "there's a small, sandy beach at one end of the lake, with a bath house and changing rooms nearby."
Paddling the connected waterways: Winhall Brook Camping Area provides excellent paddling opportunities where two rivers intersect. "Beautiful campground nestled between the Winhall river and west river... Spent the week in the river exploring and relaxing," reports one camper. Another mentions, "Where the two rivers intersect is a nice spot to put your feet in the water. Kids enjoy tubing the small rapids."
Hiking mountain trails: The area features several hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. Molly Stark State Park Campground offers "a 1.7 mile round trip" hike to Mt. Olga with "a fire tower at the top, which provides awesome views of the Green Mountains." Hikers can also explore "the relics of the old Hogback Ski Resort" where "there are rusted remnants of ski lifts and warming huts."
What Campers Like
Waterfront camping options: Campers appreciate sites situated directly on waterways. At Bald Mountain Campground, sites are positioned along the West River, where campers report "the river was magnificent and I could hear it babble by all night; very relaxing once the place quieted down." During seasonal changes, "the river fluctuates in water level so experiences can vary throughout the year."
Clean facilities despite rustic settings: Grout Pond Campground receives praise for its maintenance. "The grounds were beautiful with the river behind us. Not too many people there so we got the best spot. The bathrooms are sanitary and are not port-a-potties," shares one visitor. Another notes, "The campground is meticulous as it is run by the Army Corps and they have done a great job."
Diverse campsite options: Woodford State Park Campground offers various accommodation choices. A camper explains, "There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean-tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins." Another camper points out that "bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price."
What You Should Know
Seasonal crowding patterns: The region experiences distinct high and low seasons. One visitor to Emerald Lake State Park Campground advises, "The campground is super busy on summer weekends, but if you want solitude, hike some of the beautiful trails in the park." Another camper notes, "We love spending time in this area as there are a lot of beautiful places... The place books up early in the year for weekend visits so we went on weekdays."
Site privacy considerations: Many campgrounds have varying levels of site seclusion. At Woodford State Park, "Sites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers." A camper at Fort Dummer reports, "Sites are large and well maintained. Plenty of space between sites," while another mentions, "The sites offer little privacy even though they're spaced well."
Weather preparedness: Vermont's weather can change rapidly, particularly in higher elevations. One camper notes, "We had 30mph winds and luckily the platforms had tie downs!!" Another suggests, "The nights were very loud with kids screaming and people partying," highlighting the importance of noise considerations regardless of weather.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly water features: Kampfires (formerly Hidden Acres) offers multiple family attractions. "They have an ice cream shop attached to their office/store, mini golf just outside of it too. There is an amphitheater for concerts and shows throughout the summer," reports a visitor. The campground also features "a dog park, badminton, basketball, horseshoe, shuffleboard, the works."
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. One camper notes, "There's a neat small playground with swings for the kids, a big rec hall for groups to gather and clean rest rooms." Another mentions, "Very family friendly place with beautiful hikes to Hamilton falls."
Site selection for families: Choose sites carefully when traveling with children. At Emerald Lake, "many of them are perched on a steep ledge, making them a bit sketchy for families with kids. If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge."
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: Most state parks have minimal RV services. A visitor to Fort Dummer State Park Campground notes, "There are some great stretches of river for kayaking nearby if not right at the park. The pace of life is slow there. The restrooms are immaculate and the sites are grassy. Few sites have hookups so bring your solar and pick a sunny site."
Size restrictions: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. "Our site was very spacious, you could of easily accommodated a family of four with a large tent. Some sites, however, were a little close together, so if you're looking for total privacy choose your site wisely."
Level site availability: Finding level sites can be challenging in mountainous terrain. One RVer reports, "The site was somewhat level with a gravel base. FHU at each site made hook up easy," while another advises, "Sites are pretty big and somewhat private which is nice."
