Fort Dummer State Park
🏕️ Where Vermont Began — Camping Above the First English Settlement in the Green Mountain State — Fort Dummer State Park near Brattleboro, Vermont, 217 acres, Connecticut River Valley views, site of first English settlement 1724, camping with lean-tos, hiking trails, swimming hole on Broad Brook, hardwood forest — Windham County, VT
Vermont started here. In 1724, Fort Dummer was built on the banks of the Connecticut River — the first permanent English settlement in what would become Vermont. The original fort now lies underwater, flooded by the Vernon Dam in 1908. But the state park above it preserves 217 acres of hardwood forest, a campground with lean-tos, and a view over the valley where it all began.
This is Vermont at its most quiet and historical. No waterpark. No beach. Just trails through oak and maple forest, a swimming hole in Broad Brook, and the knowledge that you’re camping above the birthplace of a state. The nearest town is Brattleboro — Vermont’s artsy, funky southern gateway — five minutes away.
What to Do
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| Camping | 50 tent/trailer sites and 10 lean-to shelters in a hardwood forest. Flush toilets. Coin-operated hot showers. No hookups. The sites are shaded under a canopy of oak, beech, and maple — southern New England forest species, unusual for Vermont |
| Sunrise Trail | Nearly 1-mile loop with a scenic overlook of the original Fort Dummer site below — now submerged beneath the Vernon Dam reservoir. The view across the Connecticut River Valley is wide and historical. You’re looking at where Vermont began |
| Sunset Trail | Half-mile loop with a western vista of the village of Algiers and the surrounding hills. The trail passes the remains of the 1880s Boyden Farm — stone foundations in the forest, reminders that this hillside was once cleared farmland |
| Swimming Hole | Broad Brook Trail descends half a mile (steep in sections) to a natural swimming hole on Broad Brook. The water is cold, clean, and surrounded by forest. No lifeguard. No chlorine. Just rocks, current, and Vermont summer |
| Brattleboro | Five minutes from the park — a walkable downtown with galleries, bookstores, breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Brattleboro is Vermont’s cultural southern gateway — quirky, progressive, and genuinely interesting |
The Historical Setting
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fort Dummer (1724) | Built by Massachusetts colonists to protect the frontier from French and Indian attacks. Named after William Dummer, the lieutenant governor. The fort established the first permanent English-speaking community in the territory that became Vermont in 1791 |
| Under Water | The Vernon Dam, built in 1908, raised the Connecticut River and submerged the fort site. You can see the approximate location from the Sunrise Trail overlook — a piece of Vermont history lost to progress and hydropower |
| Connecticut River | The longest river in New England — 407 miles from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound. The river defines Vermont’s eastern border and was the highway of early settlement. Fort Dummer sat at a strategic narrows |
| Southern Vermont | The forest here is different from northern Vermont — more oak, hickory, and beech than spruce and fir. The park sits in the southern foothills of the Green Mountains, in a climate zone that feels more Connecticut than classic Vermont |
Best Time to Visit
| Season | Best For |
|---|---|
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | ☀️ Camping. Swimming hole. The forest in full canopy. Brattleboro alive. Long Vermont evenings |
| Fall (Sep–Oct) | 🍂 Hardwood foliage — oak, beech, and maple. Quieter camping. The Connecticut Valley in autumn light |
| Spring (May–Jun) | Park opening. Wildflowers. Broad Brook high and fast. The forest greening. Cool nights |
| Winter (Nov–Apr) | Park closed. Brattleboro open year-round. Cross-country skiing in the area |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the actual fort?
No — the original fort site is underwater, submerged by the Vernon Dam reservoir since 1908. The Sunrise Trail overlook lets you see the approximate location. The park preserves the memory and the landscape, not the structure.
Is the swimming hole safe?
It’s a natural brook — no lifeguard, varying water levels. The trail down is steep. The water is cold. Use judgment, don’t dive into unknown depths, and supervise children. That said, it’s a classic New England swimming hole — worth the hike.
🏕️ Camp Above the Birthplace of Vermont. Swim in a Brook. Watch the Sun Set Over History.
In 1724, they built a fort here. The river took it back. But the forest stayed — 217 acres of hardwood above the Connecticut River Valley. Camp in a lean-to. Hike to the overlook. Swim in Broad Brook. And remember that Vermont started right here, under your feet.
Park Location
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