Groton State Forest, State forest in Caledonia, Orange, and Washington Counties, Vermont.
Groton State Forest covers 26,164 acres across Danville, Groton, Marshfield, Orange, Peacham, Plainfield and Topsham in Vermont. It holds seven state parks, eight lakes and ponds, and three state-designated natural areas: Peacham Bog, Tabletop Mountain and Lords Hill. U.S. Route 302 and Vermont Route 232 cross the forest.
The forest was established in 1919 and later developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built trails, facilities, and recreational areas that remain in use today. These early improvements shaped how the forest functions as a public space.
The 12-mile Montpelier–Wells River Rail Trail, part of the Cross Vermont Trail, runs the length of the forest on a former rail bed, and snowmobiles use designated VAST trails. The Groton Nature Center explains the forest's natural history, while the seven state parks host campers each season.
The forest offers year-round activities including hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing on marked trails throughout the property. In winter, these same paths become routes for cross-country skiing and snowmobile riding.
Peacham Bog Natural Area covers 748 acres, the largest of the forest's three state-designated natural areas, ahead of Tabletop Mountain (129 acres) and Lords Hill (25 acres). The forest also holds eight lakes and ponds, from 422-acre Lake Groton down to 39-acre Noyes Pond.
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