Visit 03 · Forest walk · Gifford Woods State Park · Killington, Vermont

Old-growth trees at Gifford Woods

Acer saccharum

Walking: Interpretive loop: 0.10 mile in current table
Terrain: Easy-rated natural-surface woodland trail
Fees: $5 day use, ages 14+; check passes

At this destination.

Autumn woodland trail among tall trees and fallen leaves at Gifford Woods — Gifford Woods woodland trail · photographed October 5, 2024 · Victoria Stauffenberg / National Park Service · Public domain (US federal work) · Photo source ↗ · Resized and converted to WebP

Pond-side autumn landscape photographed at Gifford Woods — Gifford Woods pond-side landscape · photographed October 5, 2024 · Victoria Stauffenberg / National Park Service · Public domain (US federal work) · Photo source ↗ · Resized and converted to WebP

Get to know Maple.

Species reference photographs from the Tree Library, photographed elsewhere. Use several features and local guidance to identify a tree at this destination.

Sugar maple: form — form · Bruce Marlin · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Photo source ↗ · Converted to WebP

Sugar maple leaf showing its lobed outline — Leaf shape · Superior National Forest · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source ↗ · Converted to WebP

Meet Maple in the Tree Library →

Arrival & parking

Use the Gifford Woods park entrance on VT-100, about half a mile north of the US-4 junction in Killington. Check in at the park office for parking, fees and the current walking map. The old-growth natural area is east of Route 100; ask staff for the appropriate approach and road-crossing guidance. The manager-supported Trail Finder listing identifies off-season walk-in parking at 515 VT-100.

Walking & terrain

The current Vermont State Parks hiking table lists the Old Growth Interpretive Trail as a 0.10-mile easy loop, taking about 10–15 minutes. An older regional hiking PDF lists 0.3 mile, so confirm the route and approach with the park office; neither figure establishes the distance from your parking space. Woodland paths have a natural surface and may be muddy or root-covered. The state identifies sugar maple, beech and yellow birch in the old-growth area. This is a forest encounter, not one certified champion tree.

Access, fees & seasons

The park lists staffed day use from 10 a.m. to official sunset during its operating season. Verify this year’s opening and closing dates and alerts before travelling; off-season facilities and services may be closed. Current general state-park day-use admission is $5 for ages 14 and older; check the official fee table for younger visitors and passes. Follow marked routes and park rules.

Sources checked October 12, 2026

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