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Lake Shaftsbury State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 158 Google reviews · Running trail in Shaftsbury, Vermont · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Shaftsbury State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
State park featuring a lake with swimming, a beach, and a playground, plus hiking trails and boat rentals.
What runners say about Lake Shaftsbury State Park
“The park has a lovely, well-maintained beach area that’s sectioned off for swimmers, as well as a separate launch area for kayaks and other watercraft—which is a big plus.”
“Beautiful state park offering great swimming and a well maintained walking trail around the lake.”
“Everything is clean, well-maintained, and enjoyable for people of all ages.”
A pretty scenic spot. Plenty of space in the surrounding park area to sit and chat, walk the dog and have a picnic with bbq. Scope for fishing and kayaking is available as well although lifeguards are not present. One small con is the route that leads to the state park from the main road.
Lake Shaftesbury is a quaint and pleasant location to relax or go for a swim. Everything is clean, well-maintained, and enjoyable for people of all ages. One can rent paddle boats, hike, swim, play on the playground, or simply relax on the beach.
Did the loop around the lake in about 30mins with my young daughter. I think it's about 1.25 miles. It was a nice walk with some bridges and walkways over the swamp area. Looks like a nice little beach area with some rentals available. We will definitely be back with some charcoal and hotdogs.
Beautiful tranquil park. Beach area with no lifeguard. Fishing allowed. Nature trails, boat rental and small concession stand with snacks only. $5 per adult and $2 for children admission fee. Special thanks to Josh for his kindness.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful state park offering great swimming and a well maintained walking trail around the lake.”
“The lake is clean, the restrooms and changing rooms are clean, nobody bothers you.”
“Did the loop around the lake in about 30mins with my young daughter.”
Plan your run at Lake Shaftsbury State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitevtstateparks.com
- Phone(802) 375-9978
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Shaftsbury
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
The Mile-Around Woods
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White Rocks
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Bennington Area Trail System
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