New Discovery State Park RV & Campground Guide
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New Discovery State Park is located in northern Vermont between Montpelier and St. Johnsbury. It spans more than 6,900 acres with rolling hills covered by birch, maple, hemlock, beech, spruce, and pine trees. The landscape includes Osmore Pond and Owl’s Head Mountain. Because of the waterways in and near the park, this area of Vermont was colonized sooner than other areas of the state. Some of these waterways were used by French settlers and Native Americans to reach Quebec in the early 18th century. New Discovery State Park was established in 1933 and continues to be a beautiful destination for a hiking and camping trip.
Spring 18-65 F
Summer 50-77 F
Fall 26-68 F
Winter 7-31 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in New Discovery State Park
Two distinct campgrounds are available at New Discovery State Park. One of these has 15 lean-to sites. The other has 46 sites that are suitable for tent and RV camping. The maximum RV length for these sites is 20 feet. None of the campsites have hookups. The campground features a children’s play area, a horseshoe pit, community water faucets, and a restroom with coin-operated showers. The restrooms, parking lot, and select campsites are handicap accessible. A trash recycling bin and a dump station are available just beyond the park office.
What to Do at
New Discovery State Park
Hiking and fishing are among the more popular ways for visitors to spend time at New Discovery State Park. Both boating and fishing are allowed at Osmore Pond, and several picnic areas are located throughout the park.
Fishing
Osmore Pond is a popular fishing spot thanks to many easy access points to the water and the pond's abundance of brown trout. Fishing is also permitted by boat. Hiking trails at the park also lead you to Peacham Pond, Kettle Pond, and Lake Groton, which are larger fishing spots nearby.
Nature Watching
Across the forests and waterways at New Discovery State Park, you could spot birds like robins, loons, creepers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, kinglets, and warblers. Mammals that are native to the area are otters, beavers, black bears, deer, and moose.
Hiking
From the campground, you can take a 0.5-mile trail to the 2-mile Osmore Pond Hiking Loop that winds around the pond. The 1.5-mile Owl’s Head Trail has an elevation change of almost 2,000 feet and offers stunning views of the Green Mountains, Kettle Pond, and Lake Groton. Several other trails connect to hiking trails leading to the adjacent state parks.
Stargazing
New Discovery State Park is easy to access from several small towns, but it is far removed from major cities. The lack of light pollution makes the park a great destination for stargazers to watch the night sky.
Boating
Boating is permitted on Osmore Pond. Visitors can bring their own non-motorized boats or take advantage of a boat rental available at the park office.
How to Get to
New Discovery State Park
From Montpelier, take Highway 2 west through the small town of Marshfield. Just beyond Marshfield, turn right on Route 232. After traveling a few miles, SFH Road branches off to the left. The park entrance is just beyond the turnoff. You can also reach the turn for Route 232 by traveling west on Highway 2 from St. Johnsbury.
Entering New Discovery State Park
The park is open daily between Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends. The office hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is available near the park office as well as near the restrooms in the campground, the group pavilions, and the trailheads. Some parking spaces are handicap accessible.
New Discovery State Park Entry Fee (visitors 14 and older) : $5.0
New Discovery State Park Entry Fee (children 4 to 13) : $2.0
Frequently Asked Questions About New Discovery State Park
New Discovery State Park is open seasonally between the end of May and the middle of October. Weather conditions are well-suited for hiking, camping, picnicking, and fishing throughout these months.
Whether you are fishing at Osmore Pond, enjoying great weather at your campsite, or hiking along the trails, you could view numerous bird and mammal species. These include moose, black bears, otters, deer, and beavers. Bird species native to Groton State Forest include warblers, woodpeckers, robins, kinglets, nuthatches, creepers, and loons.
None of the camping spots at New Discovery State Park are designated RV spots. The 46 tent and RV spots are suitable for RVs up to 20 feet, and they do not have hookups.
Reservations are not required to camp at New Discovery State Park. The nightly fee is $20 for Vermont residents and $28 for non-residents. An additional fee of $5 per person is charged for more than four campers at a site, and the maximum number of people allowed per site is eight. An additional fee of $2 per night is charged for prime spots. In addition, the non-refundable reservation fee is $8.
Pets are permitted on a leash at New Discovery State Park. However, they are not allowed at the Osmore Pond picnic shelter. Campers are responsible for an additional fee of $2 per pet per night.