Sweet Pond State Park

Located in Guilford

Sweet Pond State Park
2763 Sweet Pond Rd
Guilford, VT 05301

This undeveloped park is open for day visits. There are no staff present and there are no developed facilities. Camping is not permitted. For information, please contact Vermont State Parks at the Springfield Regional Office, (802)885-8855.

Sweet Pond is currently drained; water based recreation is not available at this time.

Parking
There is a trailhead parking area that can accommodate approximately ten vehicles. 

Parking is also available at a pull-off on the road shoulder by the dam and at the car-top boat launching area; two vehicles can fit at each location.

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE FEB 9
SWEET POND DAM ANALYSIS

Sweet Pond Dam Analysis Documents:

Main Report (pdf)
Figures (pdf)
Appendix A (pdf)
Appendix B (pdf)
Appendix C (pdf)
Appendix D (pdf)
Appendix E (pdf)

Sweet Pond Map & Guide

Weather Forecast for Sweet Pond State Park

Directions:

From Interstate 91 take Exit 1, travel south on U.S. Route 5. In the village of Algiers, turn right after 1.3 miles onto Guilford Center Road. Travel .4 miles and turn left onto Weatherhead Hollow Road. Travel 4.6 miles and turn right onto Sweet Pond Road. The trailhead entrance is a sharp right hand turn at 2 miles; immediately turn left after the park sign – the parking lot is down the hill.

N 42.76º  W 72.62º  Directions/Map

About the Park:

Sweet Pond State Park was established in 1976. The park is named after Dr. Charles and Susan Sweet, who maintained a summer home on the property for a time prior to State acquisition.

Located in the southeastern Vermont town of Guilford, the park is less than one-half mile from the Massachusetts border, and is nine miles southwest of Brattleboro. The park includes all of the shoreline of 18-acre Sweet Pond. The pond is an artificial impoundment on Keats Brook; a dam was first established here in the mid 19th century to power a mill. The land was originally settled by the Franklin family, who farmed the land for more than 150 years beginning in 1777. The Franklin Cemetery lies within the park.

The park is undeveloped, except for the Sweet family home (privately rented), a public parking area and a foot trail. There are traces visible of historic farmsteads and roads on the property. The 1.3 miles Sweet Pond Trail circumnavigates the pond. It is a popular place for the easy hike and for paddling and swimming (though not currently as the pond has been drained).

In April, 2011, Sweet Pond was drained due to safety concerns with the aging dam at the site. Options are currently being investigated for the long-term future of the dam.

Camping is available in season at nearby Fort Dummer State Park (10.6 miles) or Molly Stark State Park (25.5 miles).