How to Plan A Green River Reservoir State Park Overnight Kayaking Trip

Looking for a peaceful kayak or canoe camping trip this summer? Then Vermont’s Green River Reservoir State Park is just the place for you.

Located in north-central Vermont, this remote and wild area is set against an idyllic New England backdrop with plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

While many people just visit the Reservoir for the day, if you want a truly special experience, plan a night or two at one of the paddle-in campsites scattered around the lake. That’s right, unlike most other campgrounds, you won’t hear any loud motors or generators at Green River Reservoir State Park because all of the camping is only accessible by boat.

In this post, we share everything you need to know about planning an overnight kayaking or canoe trip on the Green River Reservoir in Vermont.

Important Reminder: As it goes in all of the destinations we share, please remember to Leave No Trace. This means packing out all of your garbage (including toilet paper), being respectful to others, and following the established rules.

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Green River Reservoir State Park Basics

The scenic Green River Reservoir State Park is located in the heart of the Green Mountains near Hyde Park, Vermont in the northern part of the state.

It’s just over an hour’s drive from Burlington and Lake Champlain.

The 653-acre Reservoir includes about 19 miles of shoreline and is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped shorelines in Vermont.

This New England locale was developed in 1999, a fairly young park, and has been dedicated to remaining a low-impact, wild setting with it’s remote and primitive campsites that are only accessible by paddling.

Here are a few more helpful tips to consider when planning your overnight trip:

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Getting to Green River Reservoir State Park

Service in rural Vermont is spotty, so be sure to have your directions already started before you start driving to Green River Reservoir.

It’s in a pretty isolated area so there is only one way to access the park via Vermont (VT) Route 100.

Luckily, it is accessible from nearby major highways like Interstate 89 or 91 if you are coming from out of state or out of town.

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Best Time to Visit

Since the park season begins in Mid-May (usually around the 18th or 19th) and ends Columbus Day Weekend in October, you’ll need to pick a time in between those two dates to visit.

Planning a trip for the spring and early summer will give you the best kind of warm weather and allow you to avoid the crowds.

High summer in Vermont (July-August) is equally as beautiful, just hotter and more crowded as school lets out and other campers head out to the park as well.

Arguably one of the loveliest times to visit the area is late summer or early fall. Warm days lead into cool and crisp nights, plus you’re likely to get a glimpse of that iconic New England foliage.

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Where to Rent a Kayak or Canoe

There aren’t a lot of options in the area for canoe and kayak rentals but luckily Up North Canoe and Kayak Rental is nearby in Morristown, Vermont to get you out on the water.

Up North is the go-to boat rental shop for all local waterways, Green River Reservoir included.

They will even drop off and pick up your kayaks or canoes at Green River Reservoir and all rentals include life jackets, paddles, and boats as well as drop off and pick up

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Camping on the Green River Reservoir

Each of the 27 campsites are meant to be primitive and remote. Not all of the sites have waterfront access, so docking and launching your boat can be a bit tricky.

There are also some areas that are closed due to overuse and degradation of the land and vegetation. To make sure that this doesn’t happen on your watch be cautious when docking and launching in your boat. Look out for plants and other wildlife and stay within the boundaries of what has already been used by other campers.

If you get lucky enough to have a wide-open sandy shoreline, you’re good! Again, be respectful and mindful of all flora and fauna.

Most campsites have a fire ring or a fire pit that you are welcome to use for cooking and warmth. Plan ahead to bring firewood with you if you wish to cook and always clean up your area afterward.

The park recommends bringing your own portable camping stove and not cooking over the fire.

Whatever you decided to do make sure you follow the rules of Leave No Trace and always, always carry out what you carry in.

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How to Make Camping Reservations

The campsites at Green River Reservoir State Park are by reservation only. In order to reserve your spot ahead of time call the park or make your reservation online.

All of the campsites are equally beautiful and located on or near the waterfront. Check out their interactive park map to select your spot.

Sites are $20/night for Vermont residents and $28/night for non-residents.

I’m partial to site #119.

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Getting to Your Campsite and Paddling Around

Green River Reservoir’s 19 miles of shoreline means there’s plenty of paddling to do while you’re here.

Start by making your way out to your assigned campsite, which for some may only be under a mile while for others, it could be nearly 2 miles away from the boat launch.

When paddling out to your site, look for a signpost with your designated campsite number and pull ashore.

Once you’ve unpacked and set up camp, get back in your boat and explore the rest of the reservoir. The water is pretty wide open, save for a handful of small and large islands, Big Island being the biggest.

I recommend paddling through the Merganser Inlet to explore the nooks and crannies of the reservoir.

If you are lucky enough to have good weather, pack a lunch and paddle over to Picnic Island for, you guessed it, a picnic!

The island is available for day trippers so you might meet some other paddlers out there. In any case, this is a great spot for swimming, fishing, picnicking, and enjoying the waterfront, as some campsites don’t have waterfront or beach access.

All of the reservoir is open to fishing, swimming, and paddling so take advantage of this by doing all three!

Have you done an overnight Green River Reservoir State Park kayak trip in Vermont? If you have questions about visiting the area, please us a comment below.