HELLO
CHAMPLAIN
PADDLING AROUND BURLINGTON
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Look out any west-facing window in downtown Burlington, and you see the sometimes sparkling sometimes steely waters of Lake Champlain against a moody backdrop of the rolling Adirondack mountains. Roughly 120-miles long and 14-miles at its widest, the craggy shoreline of “the sixth Great Lake” provides an aquatic venue for exploring the farms, forests, and rocky coves of Vermont’s western shore.
Lake Champlain laps at the shores of downtown Burlington, where parks, public beaches, and boat launches provide easy put-ins for canoeists, kayakers, stand up paddleboarders, and dragon boaters. Venture north and 253-acre Burton Island, a Vermont State Park that’s boat-access only has paddler-only campsites perfect for kayak or canoe camping. Not to miss for committed paddlers: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail where it winds down the Missisquoi River, and through the Champlain Islands and Vermont’s Inland Sea before it crosses Lake Champlain and continues through the Adirondacks. The Vermont Paddler’s Trail guides human-powered craft through the entire Lake Champlain drainage For every acre of the Lake, there are nearly 18 acres of waters that feed in, much of it prime for exploration by paddlecraft.
To the southeast, the waters of Waterbury Reservoir warm earlier in the season than the open lake. It’s a peaceful place to explore and watch for herons skimming the reservoir surface in the early morning fog. Shelburne Pond is a quiet oasis with a boat launch a short drive from Burlington, and a serene spot to paddle, fish, and birdwatch. Choose any one of Vermont’s hundreds of boat launches—they all lead to extraordinary adventures that will leave you dreaming up your next outing.
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ALSO CHECK OUT
Vermont’s beaches and swimming holes are legendary, and as fun to discover as to jump, soak and dunk in. The Burlington waterfront on Lake Champlain is a mix of sandy beaches and redstone shoreline. At Oakledge Park, families frolic along the warm and shallow shoreline, where it feels like you can walk halfway to New York before you’re in deeper than your knees.
Vermont’s rock is predominantly green schist and limestone. Venture further. But whatever the geology, climbing in Vermont is thought provoking, featured, and technical with tricky crux sequences that will challenge you to master unique and dynamic body positions, and reward you panoramic views of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain from above the lush forest canopy.
An abundance of fresh air and the stunning diversity of terrain make Vermont a great place to run. In Burlington, cruise the rec path and watch ferry boats cross steely blue Lake Champlain against the backdrop of the million-acre Adirondack Park. Swap pavement for dirt and gravel on one of Vermont’s Green Mountain peaks.