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RUNNING IN BURLINGTON
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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 in forested Red Rocks. Gentle climbs and descents lead to beach vistas, cliff lookouts and you’ll find cool here in the heat of summer. South of Burlington, Shelburne Farm’s gravel roads, single, and double track trails will surprise and delight runners. There are surprises around every corner on this 1400-acre National Historic Landmark and working farm on the shores of Lake Champlain. The farm’s Brown Swiss Herd grazes in the meadows, historic barns house a petting zoo, bakery, and cheese making operations, and the stately Shelburne Inn is surrounded by its famous flower gardens.
Delve deeper into Vermont wilderness and get a glimpse of how things used to be running the History Hike at Little River State Park. The steep route passes crumbling stone foundations, old cemeteries, and remnants of sawmills, all part of Vermont's earliest settlement. Trails vary from carriage roads to single track with plenty of streams for a dip on a hot day. A favorite mountain loop for ultrarunners is up Vermont’s third highest peak, Camel’s Hump. Take the Burrows Trail to the summit, then descend Monroe, Dean, and Forest City trails. If you’re looking for company or motivation, weekly runs depart Burlington’s various outdoor stores, and during marathon season the Green Mountain Athletic Association holds weekly runs and workouts. The Long Trail Running Club always has a meetup on tap.
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Vermont is home to the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, the steep and rocky, 273-mile Long Trail. And for every heart-pounding mile of the Long Trail, Vermont has just as many nature walks, forest meanders, day hikes and overnights from family-friendly to sweaty and exposed.
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.
Roughly 120-miles long and 14 miles at its widest, the craggy shoreline of Lake Champlain holds adventures for every paddler. 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. Paddler’s trails crisscross the lake, and connect with other waterways for every length adventure.