Burton Island and the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail

Car-free island camping on Lake Champlain’s Inland Sea.

Burton Island is a 253-acre state park you can reach only by boat, a short crossing from Kill Kare State Park on St. Albans Point. Paddle over or take the passenger ferry, camp in a lean-to or cabin and spend the days exploring the Inland Sea, or use it as one stop on the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail, which links more than 600 shoreline and island campsites in Vermont and New York. Champlain is big water, so check the recreational forecast before any crossing.

At a glance

Island park

253 acres, no cars

Camping

14 tent sites, 26 lean-tos, 4 remote sites, 3 cabins

Ferry

10 min from Kill Kare State Park

Paddlers’ Trail

40+ locations, 600+ campsites in VT and NY

Trail spacing

Aiming for a site every 8–10 miles

Good for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

What’s here

• Flatwater
• Multi-day trips
• Paddle-in camping
• Boat rentals
• Paddleboarding
• Swimming
• Fishing

Rentals, guides and shops

• Burton Island State Park

  Canoe, kayak, SUP and bike rentals on the island, plus a 100-slip marina and a small store and café.

• Lake Champlain Committee

  Nonprofit that runs the Paddlers’ Trail and cares for its remote sites; members get the annual online guidebook.

Where to stay

• cabinBurton Island cabins

  Three rental cabins on the island, a step up from the lean-tos; 7-night maximum stay.

  On the island
• innThe North Hero House Inn & Restaurant

  Inn and restaurant in the village of North Hero, in the Champlain Islands.

  40 min drive

Nearby

• Kill Kare State Park · 10 min ferry

  Day-use park at the ferry dock with a swimming beach, picnic area and boat ramp.

• Burton Island Farm Nature Trail · On the island

  Self-guided walk past old fence lines, stone piles and the barn foundation from the island’s farming days.

• Hero’s Welcome · 40 min drive

  Classic general store in North Hero with Vermont food and gifts.

Getting there

• Burlington International (BTV) · about 40 min drive
• Burlington · about 0.75 hr
• Montreal · about 1.25 hr
• Boston · about 4 hr

Directions in Google Maps