Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship for The Other Paper
SOUTH BURLINGTON — As snow blankets the tall trees and covers the remnants of fall foliage, many Vermonters are preparing to bundle up indoors. However, fans of Red Rocks Park often remain loyal to the park as winter descends.
Known for its winding trails, scenic views of Shelburne Bay, beach access and dense woods, Red Rocks has established itself as a South Burlington staple. Vermonters, along with their dogs, come to Red Rocks Park all year for its natural beauty and sense of community.
The park spans over 100 acres. Trails winding through the property stay open year-round, including when snow blankets the woods, allowing visitors to snowshoe and cross-country ski. It’s a popular destination where nature is intentionally allowed to dominate the landscape. The park “kind of takes care of itself,” said South Burlington Park Foreman Dan Gregory.
Though the city only does around an hour and a half of work in Red Rocks each week, said Gregory, its popularity does not go unnoticed by the park staff.
“There’s the people that live (nearby) in Queen City, and a lot of them walk there every day,” Gregory said.
Along with regulars in the neighborhood, visitors come from the surrounding area.
“The parking lot is almost always full,” Gregory said, adding that while visits to other city parks slow down in the colder months, Red Rocks continues to draw people. “I think it’s about the only park that stays busy all the time,” Gregory said.
Fans of the park often take an interest in how it’s managed.
“I get a lot of questions and see a lot of people. This park is a good one for that,” Gregory said. “Anytime you turn on a chainsaw, somebody shows up and asks what I’m doing. A lot of people really care about keeping this park nice and natural. So I always have to explain why I’m cutting the tree, and that I’m doing a good thing.”
Red Rocks Park was purchased by the city in 1970 and has been used for recreation since. The park is home to the “wolf tree,” a historic and uniquely shaped tree that brings special intrigue to the park. Red Rocks is also home to the city’s only public beach access.
Tim Cusick is a regular at Red Rocks.
“There’s kind of a community of people that get to know each other and get to know each other’s dogs, so there’s like a social aspect to it. I think the people are a big part of it, too. You get to know the people, and you stop and chat with them, catch up and, yeah, it’s just a special place,” he said.
Referring to the small dog guiding him along the trail on a recent day, Cusick said, “he loves Red Rocks beach, so we end up going down there a lot.”
The park has an impressive range of animal life given its location, Cusick added.
“The wildlife here, for living in the city, you see owls and foxes and all this stuff that you don’t see in other places, and you can see them here,” he said. “It just never gets old. I just keep coming back. I go to other places, and then I go, no, I’m going back to Red Rocks Park. It’s just a magical place.”
He added: “The town keeps it in wonderful shape.”
Another walker that day, Rebecca Cole, has been coming to Red Rocks for five years and enjoys it year-round.
“When I first moved to Vermont, I moved to South Burlington, and I’ve been coming here since,” Cole said. “I just think it’s so gorgeous. I love the old wolf tree. You know, that giant one. When I first started coming here, I was immediately fascinated by that, and walking up and seeing the cliffs, it’s so gorgeous and just, the view of the lake is so gorgeous,” she said.
Cole said that she will continue to walk in the park as the weather gets cold.
“In every season, it feels like this park transforms. When I come out here in the deeper winter, and you can see, it almost feels like the tundra on the lake. It’s all cracked, and the ice is so gorgeous. And in the summer, of course, it explodes with life. I just love this place. It’s my favorite park around. I actually hate cold weather, which is funny, but I love this park regardless.”