Waterbury Center State Park lies on the easterly trivium of Waterbury Reservoir, a quarter mile off VT Route 100. It is an integral recreation resource in Central Vermont and one of the newer park facilities within Mount Mansfield State Forest. The Reservoir is the ninth largest body of water in the state of Vermont and was created in the 1930's by the CCC as a flood control project to protect towns and villages along the Winooski River Valley. From late spring to early fall the Reservoir is maintained to a surface area of 850 acres and has a maximum depth of 100 feet. To prepare for normal spring snow melt and runoff, the surface area is reduced to between 415 - 610 acres throughout the winter. The designed flood control capacity of Waterbury Reservoir is approximately 9,000,000,000 gallons.

The park is located on a 90-acre peninsula with 22 picnic sites, tables, hibachis, swimming beach, nature trail, trailer boat ramp, boat rentals, concession area and restrooms.