Sweet Pond State Park was established in 1976. The park is named after Dr. Charles and Susan Sweet, who maintained a summer home on the property for a time prior to State acquisition.
Located in the southeastern Vermont town of Guilford, the park is less than one-half mile from the Massachusetts border, and is nine miles southwest of Brattleboro. The park includes all of the shoreline of 18-acre Sweet Pond. The pond is an artificial impoundment on Keats Brook; a dam was first established here in the mid 19th century to power a mill. The land was originally settled by the Franklin family, who farmed the land for more than 150 years beginning in 1777. The Franklin Cemetery lies within the park.
The park is undeveloped, except for the Sweet family home (privately rented), a public parking area and a foot trail. There are traces visible of historic farmsteads and roads on the property. The 1.3 miles Sweet Pond Trail circumnavigates the pond. It is a popular place for the easy hike and for paddling and swimming (though not currently as the pond has been drained).
