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Walking the Trails of Vermont’s First State Park Mount Philo

photo provided Ranger John Frigault and his trusty pup Philo are welcoming loads of visitors to hike, relax, and enjoy Vermont’s oldest and first state park!

photo provided Just one of the “ world class views” from a top of Mt. Philo state park in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.

Tuesday July 9, 2013

By Cookie Steponaitis

It is a sunny Saturday morning and Ranger John Frigault is on duty at the base of Mount Philo in Ferrisburgh, Vermont. A break in the rain has brought people out in droves and he greets each with a smile and enthusiastic support for their walking, hiking, driving or exploring the Mt Philo State Park where he has worked for the past two seasons. Frigault, a veteran ranger with nine years involvement with the fifty-two different state parks is drawn to Mt. Philo not just because of the, “world class sunsets,” but because it really is the place where it all began. Mount Philo is the prototype for all of the fifty-two parks in the state.
Mount Philo’s 968 foot views and 237 acres of woodlands became the first park in the state in 1924.

Historically speaking it was the owners of the Mt. Philo Inn G. Lewis and Associates that built the original road to the top so guests could ride to the top in horse drawn surreys. While the original road is only visible in spots the Inn still stands near the southwest corner of the mountain. In the early 1900’s Mrs. Frances Humphreys purchased the property and in 1924 deeded 150 acres to the state for use as a recreational area. In the 1930’s the Civilian Conservation Corps built the road used today, laid out the campgrounds, ranger’s quarters, picnic areas and summit lodge. Over the years land donations from the Wells family in 1969 and the Allmon’s in 2009 increased the park to its current 237 acres.

One of the great assets to Mt. Philo is the small campground included in the park. “It really is a great place for people to start camping,” shared Ranger Frigault. “With the park’s proximity to population bases including Middlebury, Burlington and Vergennes, it is very affordable and accessible for individuals, families or brand new campers.” While Frigault admits that the views are the most popular draw to the park, Mt. Philo boasts an incredible amount of migratory birds and hiking trails that can accommodate both novices and people looking to track their times to the summit and back. With apps on phones that will showcase your time, many of the people trekking into the park have speed plans, while others are more content to stroll along and gaze at the dolomite and quartzite that dominate the formations on Mt. Philo. While people walk the trails accompanying information shares the startling realization that over 12,000 years ago Mt. Philo was a hilltop in a sea that covered the Champlain Valley.

Another benefit to the park is the, “rustic, elegance of the lodge,” shared Ranger Frigault. “All season from Memorial Day to Columbus Day the park is humming with people renting out the lodge for weddings, gatherings or special events. Many groups like the Audubon Society have been coming here for years to bird watch and document the wildlife of the park.” For those not as physically able to hike the drive to the summit is beautiful and once atop the mountain it is easy to see what brings people back repeatedly. “I have been in many different places around the world,” shared Ranger Frigault, “and I have to admit that these are not only world class sunsets here but that in my mind Vermont will always be home.”

For the generation that has grown up in Vermont as a state with a priority of saving, appreciating and experiencing nature Mount Philo is more than just a wonderful place for an afternoon hike. It is the birthplace of a concept of preservation and passing on to the next generation a sense of wonder and awe about the Green Mountain State. Whether you try the Old Carriage Road Trail, hike House Rock Trail, or try Ranger Frigault’s favorite Devil’s Chair Trail, something magical will happen when you set foot on Mount Philo. The modern world will recede and the farther your walk the more the ferns, white cedars, cliffs, the sounds of birds and the haunting beauty of the timbre of the wind will take you to a place where all Vermonters need to go just off the beaten path back to the natural world that surrounds us all and where nature is more than a passing fancy. It is a part of life in the Green Mountain State and as Ranger Frigault concluded, “There is a vibe and energy to Mount Philo that is positive and makes it an incredible experience.” Stop by and visit where it all started at Vermont’s first and one of its most spectacular parks. Ranger Frigault will probably be on duty at the gate or the downstairs as he and his wife call it and she will probably great you on the summit or the upstairs. Bring a lunch or your dog on a leash but come. It is an affordable three-quarter mile hiking trail and a place to watch the county from an aerial perch usually reserved for the birds and raptors and it is right in your backyard.

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