This New England village is close to camping, hiking, and boating in the Vermont mountains.
Fair Haven is a small town on the New York-Vermont border surrounded by hiking, camping, and boating opportunities—and it’s the first town you reach in Vermont if you’re heading into the state via US 4 from New York. The Castleton River flows right through town, where the downtown area boasts some of the best Victorian architecture in the state. Several state parks and the Green Mountain National Forest are just a short drive from Fair Haven, many offering lakeside camping, cabins, and access to some of Vermont’s best beauty spots.
Under 15 minutes from Fair Haven, Bomoseen State Park is set on the shores of Vermont’s largest lake, Lake Bomoseen. The park offers camping, boating, and fishing, while hikers will find several forest trails, including one to nearby Half Moon Pond State Park. Campers can make reservations up to 11 months in advance.
Only 20 minutes from Fair Haven, Half Moon Pond State Park is situated on a quiet pond in the middle of dense woods near Bomoseen State Park. Motorized water boats are not allowed on the pond, making it ideal for paddlesports and fishing. In addition to 11 lean-tos and 52 campsites suitable for tents and medium-sized trailers, Half Moon Pond State Park also has five cabins and one cottage available for rent.
In southwestern and central Vermont, just west of Fair Haven, the Green Mountain National Forest spans nearly 400,000 acres of green valleys, mountains, lakes, and streams. Parts of the Appalachian Trail run through the forest, and several national forest campgrounds offer quiet, scenic camping spots in the heart of the woods. Once the snow falls, the Green Mountain National Forest becomes a popular destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and downhill skiing.
The best time to camp, hike, and boat at the state parks and national forest surrounding Fair Haven is from late May through September. The Bomoseen State Park campground is only open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, while the Half Moon Pond State Park campground stays open until the second Monday in October. Some Green Mountain National Forest campgrounds are open year-round. Fall is a popular time to visit Fair Haven, as leaves start changing in mid-September and often peak in early to mid-October.