Nestled away in the forests of 3,500-acre Bomoseen State Park sits the quiet camping area of Half Moon Pond State Park. The park is located in the dense woods of a small, sheltered basin, surrounding Half Moon Pond.

A perfect place for campers seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the park offers a vast trail system including a short walk or, for the more ambitious, a full day’s hike. Hikers are likely to see a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer or an occasional moose.

Two small, sandy beaches provide locations for sunbathing and swimming. The pond also has excellent fishing, where anglers can catch panfish, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. Other exceptional fishing opportunities can be found at nearby Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen.

Half Moon Pond (23 acres) is a site for the Vermont LoonWatch annual survey. Birders are encouraged to volunteer as often and whenever they are able. See Join LoonWatch for details.

Bomoseen State Park, 3,576 acres, is located in the Taconic Mountains on the shores of Lake Bomoseen, the largest lake entirely within Vermont’s borders. The Taconics are the slate-producing region of Vermont, and the area’s history parallels the rise and fall of Vermont’s slate industry. The park contains several quarry holes and their adjacent colorful slate rubble piles as reminders of this period. These quarries provided slate for the West Castleton Railroad and Slate Company, a complex of 60 to 70 buildings that stood between Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen. Several slate buildings and foundations remain in the park. A self-guided Slate History Trail leads hikers through remnants of this bygone era.

Part of the area comprising the park was owned by the Lake Shore Slate Company, owned and operated by Samuel L. Hazard. When Mr. Hazard passed away in 1929 the remaining property was left to his stepdaughter, Martha Warren. Mrs. Warren lived there year-round, before making it her summer home. In 1959 she donated approximately 365 acres of land and included buildings to the State for recreational purposes and as a refuge and sanctuary for wildlife. A collection of historical objects is located in Mrs. Warren’s former home, which also includes the Park Ranger’s quarters.

First opened to the public in 1960, the park boundaries encompass more than 2,000 acres surrounding nearby Glen Lake and forested land comprising the camping area that is Half Moon State Park. Several hiking trails, including one to Half Moon, provide great hiking and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Boating, fishing, and swimming are popular in Lake Bomoseen and nearby Glen Lake.

The park has a beach for swimming and a picnic area. Several hiking trails, including one to Half Moon Pond State Park, provide great hiking opportunities. There is fishing in Lake Bomoseen, as well as in nearby Glen Lake.

State park entrance fees are in effect (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day). During the off-season, this (and all Vermont State Parks) are open for day use. Restrooms are available when the park is open. A port-a-potty is usually available from mid-October until spring. Additional port-a-potties are available at nearby (but not walking distance) at the Kehoe Fishing Access on the west side of the lake.