Allis State Park

Located in Brookfield

Allis State Park
284 Allis State Park Road
Randolph, Vermont 05060

Park Phone: 802-276-3175

Open for day use:
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM or Official Sunset

Season: Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day Weekend

Please Note: Camping is not permitted.

Operations for this park have changed. Park is open for day use only. Shelter use, group and individual day use still permitted and shelter reservations will continue to be accepted.  Restroom in shelter area will be open. 

Allis State Park Map & Guide (pdf)

Allis Nature Trail (pdf)

Photo Gallery

Directions:

From the South: 
Take I-89 to Exit 4; Turn left onto VT 66 West and travel for 1.6 mi; turn right onto Windover Rd. and travel for .4 mi.; continue straight onto VT 12 North for 10 mi.; turn right onto VT 65 East (a gravel road) and for 1.3 mi.; turn right onto Allis State Park Rd. up the hill and continue .5 mi. to park headquarters.

From the North: 
Take I-89 to Exit 5; turn right onto VT 64 West and continue for 2.7 mi.; turn left onto VT 12 South for 4.4 mi.; turn left onto VT 65 East (gravel road) for 1.3 mi.; turn right onto Allis State Park Rd. up the hill and continue .5 mi. to park headquarters.

N44° 3.101' W72° 37.895'  Directions/Map

About the Park:

Welcome to Allis State Park, one of Central Vermont’s best kept secrets!  The hilltop setting and dramatic views from the lookout tower make it a favorite spot for those who cherish the peace and tranquility the park affords.  Allis State Park’s location off of one of Vermont’s few remaining gravel state highways adds to the rustic and old-time character of the area.

The park was established in 1928 as Vermont’s second developed state park. The park is named for Wallace Allis, who willed his Bear Mountain Farm to the State of Vermont to be developed as a campground and recreational area.  It is located on the summit of Bear Hill which provides sweeping views of central Vermont from a lookout tower once used to spot forest fires. On a clear day, Killington, Pico, and Mt Ascutney peaks are visible to the south; Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield to the north; Abraham, Lincoln, and Ellen to the west; the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the east.

Wallace Allis maintained a summer home and a sheep farm on the property until his death in 1928.  In those days, the entire hill was open pasture land with excellent views from just about any spot.  Mr. Allis allowed the public to drive to the top of the hill and enjoy the views; its popularity led him to leave it to the State.   The property was in the Allis family for several generations as a working farm.  Today, all that remains as evidence of the farm are many stone walls that crisscross the property.

The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1932.  They dismantled the Allis farmhouse and constructed a new one in its location.  They built up the access roads, constructed a massive timber picnic shelter, picnic grounds and a campground.  The park remains essentially the same today as it was constructed in the 1930s. 

Several ponds nearby offer excellent bass fishing.  A loop hiking trail within the park provides a strenuous workout.  Baker Pond is nearby on Route 12, two miles west of the park; North and South ponds lie together one mile east of the park; Sunset Lake is in the village of Brookfield, two miles east of Bear Mountain. The quaint villages of Brookfield, Northfield, Randolph and Williamstown are all within a 20 minute drive. 

There is a fire tower,hiking trails, a large picnic shelter and one rest room.

Nearby things to do:

Floating Bridge, Marvin Newton House, Fishing in several ponds, Brookfield Gulf, Brookfield; Norwich University Museum, Northfield; Vermont State House, State Museum of the Vermont, Historical Society, Historic downtown, concerts & events, TW Wood Gallery, Sugar house tours, Farmer's Market, Montpelier; John Selby Maple Museum, VT Historic Museum, Historic downtown, VT Granite Museum, Granite Quarries nearby, Barre; Farm tours & orchards, Opera house, Porter Music Box Museum, Historic downtown, Randolph