Explore Burlington's Wild Places

Visitors of Arms Forest will find an extensive trail network lined with unusual plants, glimpses of deer and fox, and old farm roads shaded by rich canopies of centurion oaks.

Centennial Woods is one of the most frequently visited UVM natural areas. This area is home to over 65 acres of mature conifer stands, mixed hardwoods, fields, streams, and wetland areas.

Ethan Allen Park was one of the first public forest parks in the country and today remains a great place to go on a hike or bike ride. Woods filled with a variety of trees and the Ethan Allen Tower are situated along a ridge created by an ancient thrust fault.

The Intervale is an incredible collection of land containing 360 acres of floodplain forests, historic agricultural land used for organic food production, community gardens, and historical sites.

Kieslich Park is a hub of activity. Home to the Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Conservation Team, community garden sites, new native plant gardens and more.

Leddy Park may be well known for its sports venues, but it also contains natural areas ranging from the beach on Lake Champlain to an upland forest. An informal network of trails allows explorers to hike through the less used and shadier portions of the park.

While MCRMW seemingly sits as an island in its New North End neighborhood, it’s part of a tapestry of other forest fragments.

North Beach is a popular spot for beach-goers but contains some intriguing natural features and activities. At the north-most point of Burlington Bay, North Beach is nestled into the arm of Rock Point, which is the peninsula which shelters this beach.

The northern half of Oakledge Park is all about the beaches, while the southern portion of the park is where forests grow, meadows are being restored as bird habitat, and spring ephemerals bloom.

Salmon Hole Park is a beautiful place to watch the waters cascade down the Winooski River. Look for wildlife such as ducks, otters, and beavers. Below the Lower Falls Dam, steelheads, walleye, and, in the fall, landlocked Atlantic salmon spawn.

Arthur Park is a hotspot for winter recreation and exploration. Once accessible for most of the year, the Sea Caves which were created by the Champlain Sea are now best explored when winter ice is safe to traverse.