Surrounded by untouched nature and featuring two lakes for visitors to enjoy, North Springfield Lake is a fantastic location for a stopover on your next RV holiday. Located in Windsor County, the history of the area predates the construction of the lake by centuries, as it was known to be a culturally significant Native American burial site.
The lake was built in the late 1950s and completed in 1960 by the U.S Corps of Engineers as one of many flood control dams that are located on the Connecticut River. While the whole flood control project covers around 1,200 acres, the lake usually has around 100 acres of permanent water catchment. Despite being relatively small, there are still plenty of fun activities that you can enjoy on the lake, including swimming, motor-free boating, and fishing. There are two day-use areas for you to enjoy (Stoughton Pond Recreation Area and North Springfield Lake Recreation Area) that are superb for spending the day out in the sun. The picnic shelter at Stoughton Pond is very popular with large groups and can be reserved in advance if you would like to use it.
There are no RV friendly campgrounds within the lake area. However, to the east of Stoughton Pond is a private campground with RV sites. If you want another option, you could also head to Wilgus State Park, which is around 12.5 miles away. Peak season at North Springfield Lake runs from May to September.
Driving to and from North Springfield Lake is pretty straightforward since it is located in a rural area of Vermont near the New Hampshire border. You can access the lake and its recreation areas in two ways, and they are both are off the VT-106. To get to the south recreation area, you can turn off through Springfield, while for Stoughton Pond, you can head north of Springfield.
If you need to pick up any supplies or visit amenities before your trip, you can do some within Springfield (around nine miles away), Chester (around 13 miles away), and Ludlow (around 16.5 miles away). The closest major city to North Springfield Lake is Concord, which is located around 67 miles to the east.
Since there is no RV camping at North Springfield Lake, all vehicles will be looking to use a parking lot so they can get out and explore the area. There is a parking lot right near the bottom of the lake, as well as one near the swimming beach of Stoughton Pond. If you want to visit both areas of North Springfield Lake, we recommend that you drive to each.
On the eastern side of Stoughton Pond above the shores of the lake is a private RV campground that is suitable for your own or rented RV to call home during your trip.
Known as a family-friendly campground, there are over 120 sites for you to choose from, including some that have full hookups, water and electric only, or primitive sites. If you want to experience even more luxury, you can rent out a powered site that also comes with cable TV hookups! Other amenities within the campground include a swimming pond, mini-golf course, playground, showers, toilets, laundry facilities, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, and a dump station. Pets are not allowed, so if you are traveling with a furry friend, you will have to find a different campground.
This RV campground is open all year round; however, during the wintertime, only the primitive sites are available to be rented due to the freezing temperatures that occur in this area. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online or by calling the park office.
The campground at Wilgus State Park is a fantastic option for RV lovers who have rigs under 35 feet in length. Known as being a quiet and peaceful campground, most of the sites are on the Connecticut River, and they are also mostly shaded.
There are 15 sites available for you to choose from, all of which are primitive with no hookups. The campground road is quite skinny, so be cautious when driving to your chosen campsite. Other amenities within the Wilgus State Park Campground include showers, toilets, fire pits, water collection points, a boat launch, and a dump station. Pets are also allowed, and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Reservations are encouraged since the campground has a very limited number of sites and because it is quite popular. Wilgus State Park Campground is open from near the end of April until the beginning of October.
If you are interested in hitting the beach during your day out at North Springfield Lake, head to the Stoughton Pond Area. On the banks of the pond right near the main parking lot is a small sandy beach that you can use as the perfect entry point into the clear waters of the lake.
There is a drop off in depth of up to 15 feet once you start to wade out, so be cautious when getting into the water. There will be no lifeguards on duty at the beach, so swim to your abilities.
The Stoughton Pond area of North Springfield Lake is also the best place for boating out of the two areas thanks to the boat ramp on the edge of the water. Motorized boats are not allowed into any area of North Springfield Lake, so the most popular watercraft are small sailboats, canoes, and kayaks.
Since the waterway isn't too large, you won't be able to do any significant boating, but it can still be a fun family-friendly activity to get out on the water and splash about for an afternoon.
Making the most of the summer days is vital at North Springfield Lake, and a perfect way to do so is to pack a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors. Both of the main bodies of water have picnicking facilities and spots to chill out in the woods.
For visitors to the area with a large group, try using the picnic shelter at the Stoughton Pond Area. The shelter has grills available to use, and restrooms located close by. It can be reserved online, which is a good idea so you don't miss out!
There are no public transport options that will take you to and from North Springfield Lake.
If you love to fish, remember to pack your rod and reel before you begin your journey to North Springfield Lake. The waters are teeming with many different species of fish for you to catch, including bullhead, yellow perch, sunfish, and largemouth bass.
Fishing can be done from the lakeshore or via watercraft, but there will be no fishing gear rentals at the lake. Remember to get a Vermont fishing license if you don't already have one so that you legally try and get the catch of the day.
North Springfield Lake has some awesome trails that can be used for a variety of activities throughout the year. There are three main trails for you to explore that will take you through some of the 1200 acres that the lake project encompasses.
During the wintertime, there is a specific winter trail that is great for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. There will be no facilities available during the winter, so make sure you are prepared for all that mother nature can throw at you during the colder months.
Featuring views to North Springfield Lake, the Springweather Nature Area has 70 acres of wilderness that is ripe for wildlife viewing. Originally created in the 1970s in conjunction with the U.S Corps of Engineers, the Springweather Nature Area is a hotspot for many animals, including numerous bird species. If you like birding, there is a printable checklist available online that you can use to keep track of what you see in the area. Popular species include the wood duck, mallard, killdeer, and the American robin.
