Montpelier Parks and Gardens

(Montpelier, Vermont - VT, USA)

As the smallest capital city in the United States, it would be wrong to expect Montpelier to be filled with expansive public gardens and parks.

When the city was initially laid out, recreational space was always an important consideration. As Montpelier has slowly expanded over the years, the city has given much attention to its primary green space, Hubbard Park.

After paying a visit to the Vermont State House, it is well worth taking a stroll behind the golden dome, to neighboring Hubbard Park. This important green space covers an area of almost 80 hectares / 200 acres and can be reached by taking State Street, Main Street, Spring Street and then Parkway Street.

General Information

The Hubbard Park Tower is one of the main draw cards within the park itself, with its magical views of the Montpelier cityscape, although there are certainly plenty of additional reasons to visit this peaceful spot other than its historical observation tower. These include more than 7 miles / 11 km of walking trails, picnic areas, playing fields suitable for soccer and baseball games, a pond and many mature trees, such as beech, birch, hemlock, maple, oak and pine trees.

There is always much seasonal interest in Hubbard Park, whatever the time of year. The sizeable red oak trees are cloaked in spectacular scarlet colors each fall, while when the cold and snowy winter arrives, the resident sledding hill really does come into its own.

To the south of Montpelier, Berlin Pond can be reached by taking Interstate I-89 and is surrounded by green expanses, such as the Montpelier City Forest on its northern shoreline. The Berlin Town Forest and the Northfield Village Forest are close by, being found a little further to the south.

Roughly 15 minutes to the southwest of Montpelier is the 80-hectare / 200-acre Boyer State Forest, which comprises three separate woodlands and offers trout fishing, hunting and nature trails, as well as many large butternut trees. Also of note, the Putnam State Forest lies to the northwest and is reachable in just over 40 minutes. Its neighbor, the Little River State Park (comprising the Waterbury Reservoir), is a similar distance away, via Interstate I-89.