Lake Champlain is a tremendous public resource, accessible to anyone. From fishing to boating to swimming you'll find a recreation that you love. This page offers some locations where you can enjoy Lake Champlain.
State Parks
Vermont
- Alburgh Dunes State Park, Alburgh - Day use site with a south facing sandy beach
- Burton Island State Park, St. Albans - 253 acre island with walking trails, campsites, and access via a passenger ferry
- Button Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh - Overnight and day use available
- D.A.R. State Park, Addison - Overnight and day use available
- Grand Isle State Park, Grand Isle - A full facility park
- Kill Kare State Park, St. Albans - Popular recreational day use area with swimming
- Kingsland Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh - Popular day use area
- Knight Island State Park, North Hero - Primitive camping on an 185-acre island
- Knight Point State Park, North Hero - Day use area with swimming beach and boat rentals
- North Hero State Park, North Hero - Thick woods and old pasture with over 100 camp sites
- Sand Bar State Park, Milton - Popular recreational day use site with a sandy beach
- Woods Island State Park, St. Albans - Primitive camping on an island in Inland Sea
New York
- Ausable Point Campground, Peru - Camping, hiking, and a natural sand beach
- Crown Point Campground, Crown Point - Visit the ruins of revolutionary era Fort St. Frederic
- Cumberland Bay State Park, Plattsburgh - Day use, camping and a natural sand beach
- Point Au Roche State Park, Beekmantown -large day-use area, a protected, sandy beach, picnic facilities and concession stand
Public Beaches
In addition to the recreation resources below, most of the state parks listed above have swimming areas. Many of the beaches charge a fee for day use. Fees may vary for residents and non-residents of the municipalities who run the beaches.
Vermont
- Bayside Beach, Colchester
- Charlotte Town Beach, Charlotte
- Cohen Beach, St. Albans
- Ferrisburgh Town Beach, Ferrisburgh
- Leddy Beach, Burlington
- Maquam Beach, Swanton
- North Beach, Burlington
- Oakledge/Blanchard Beach, Burlington
- Red Rocks Beach, South Burlington
- Shelburne Town Beach, Shelburne
- White's Beach, South Hero
New York
- Ballard Park Town Beach, Westport
- Plattsburgh Beach, Plattsburgh
- Port Douglas Beach, Chesterfield
- Port Henry Beach, Port Henry
Boat Launches
There are over 50 public boat launches with access to Lake Champlain. They can be found up and down the lake. Below we have listed shoreline counties along Lake Champlain and the number of public launches found in each. We have also provided links for more information about specific state run boat launches in Vermont, and Essex and Clinton Counties in New York.
Vermont
- Addison (11)
- Chittenden (13)
- Franklin (7)
- Grand Isle (15)
- Rutland (1)
- Washington (1)
New York
- Clinton (7)
- Essex (6)
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
Federal
There is one National Wildlife Refuge in the Champlain Basin located in the northeastern portion of the lake.
- Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton - 6,729 acres
Vermont
Maps and descriptions of Vermont's wildlife management areas can be found at the web site of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. The following WMAs are located on or very near Lake Champlain.
- Black Creek, St. Albans - 211 acres
- Dead Creek, Addison, Panton, Bridport - 2,858 acres
- East Creek, Orwell - 524 acres
- Halfmoon Cove, Colchester - 294 acres
- Little Otter Creek, Ferrisburgh - 1,416 acres
- Lower Lamoille River, Swanton - 234 acres
- Maquam, Swanton - 872 acres
- Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton - 6,729 acres
- Mud Creek, Alburgh - 1,151 acres
- Rock River, Highgate - 296 acres
- Sand Bar, Milton - 1,560 acres
- The Narrows, West Haven - 429 acres
- Whitney/Hospital Creek, Addison - 157 acres
New York
Substantial parts of the New York's Lake Champlain shoreline are within the Adirondack Park. In addition to the park, the following Wildlife Management Areas can be found on or very close to Lake Champlain.
- Ausable Marsh, Peru - 660 acres
- Kings Bay, Champlain - 683 acres
- Montys Bay, Beekmantown - 318 acres
- Putts Creek, Crown Point - 113 acres
- Wickham Marsh, Chesterfield - 862 acres