Mount Philo State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Philo State Park
Panoramic of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain seen from the Mt. Philo summit overlook
Type	State park
Location	5425 Mount Philo Rd. Charlotte, Vermont
Area	237-acre (0.96 km2)
Created	1924 (1924)
Operated by	Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Open	Memorial Day weekend - Columbus Day weekend
Website	https://vtstateparks.com/philo.html

Mount Philo State Park is a beautiful state park located in Charlotte, Vermont. This 237-acre (0.96 km²) park protects the land around Mount Philo, which is 968 feet high. From the park, you can see amazing views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. You can also spot the Green Mountains to the east and south, including Camel's Hump in winter. You can reach the park by hiking trails or a steep, narrow road that is open seasonally.

What to Do at Mount Philo

Mount Philo State Park offers fun activities for visitors.

Hiking and Views

You can hike on trails that go from the bottom of Mount Philo all the way to its top. At the summit, there is a special picnic area. From here, you get incredible views of Lake Champlain, the valley below, and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. It's a perfect spot to enjoy nature's beauty.

Camping at the Park

The park also has a small camping area. There are 10 campsites in total, including 3 lean-tos. Campers can use restrooms and enjoy hot showers. It's a great place to spend a night under the stars.

History of Mount Philo State Park

Mount Philo has a long and interesting history.

Early Popularity

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mount Philo was a very popular spot. Guests from the nearby Mt. Philo Inn often visited. They would travel up the mountain on a carriage road. There was even a wooden tower at the top for better views.

Vermont's First State Park

In 1924, something special happened. Francies Humphreys, who owned the Mt. Philo Inn, gave the land to the State of Vermont. She wanted it to be used for fun outdoor activities. This generous gift created Vermont's very first state park!

Improvements by the CCC

A few years later, in 1929, the old carriage road was made better. A picnic area was also built at the summit. From 1935 to 1937, crews from the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) helped even more. They improved the road and picnic area. They also built a ranger cabin and new camping spots. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This was because of its important role in Vermont's outdoor recreation history and its CCC-built structures.

Wildlife and Birds

Mount Philo is a great place to see different animals, especially birds.

Bird Migration Viewing

From September to November, Mount Philo is an excellent spot to watch migrating birds of prey, also known as raptors. These powerful birds fly south for the winter. You can often see three main types of raptors.

• Falcons: These fast-flying birds include the kestrel and merlin.
• Accipiters: These forest hawks, like the cooper's hawk, have short, rounded wings.
• Buteos: These are large, broad-winged hawks, such as the red-tailed hawk.

Geology of Mount Philo

Mount Philo has a fascinating geological story.

Rock Formations

Mount Philo sits on top of a major geological feature called the Champlain Thrust fault. This fault formed a very long time ago. The mountain itself is made of strong, hard-to-break rocks called Cambrian Monkton Quartzites. These rocks were pushed over younger rocks during ancient mountain-building events.

Ancient Origins

The rocks that make up Mount Philo were originally formed during the Cambrian period. This was a time when the area was a warm, shallow sea. These rocks were later pushed westward during two major mountain-building events: the Taconic Orogeny (about 450 million years ago) and possibly the Acadian Orogeny (about 350 million years ago).

Images for kids

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  The entrance of Mount Philo State Park with the mountain in the background.