Lake Champlain Causeway — Attraction in South Hero

One of my favorite spots around Burlington. The Causeway at Malletts Bay is honestly something special. Every time I go there, I feel like I’m stepping into a painting. The views are breathtaking—especially around sunset when the sky reflects off the water and everything just feels calm and peaceful. Whether you’re biking, walking, or just out to clear your head, this place never disappoints.

If you’re planning to drive there, just a heads-up—the parking area isn’t huge. You might get space for around 10 to 12 vehicles, maybe a few more if it’s not busy, but definitely not a lot. So if you’re coming in a group or on a weekend, it’s better to get there a little early. That said, if you’re biking along the trail or doing the full causeway ride, it’s perfect. The whole path is well-maintained and the views along the water are unreal.

I’ve been here in different seasons, and each one has its own charm. The breeze off the lake, the sound of the waves, and that long stretch of trail surrounded by water on both sides—there’s just nothing like it. If you’re in Vermont and haven’t been, you’re really...

There was a time 23 years ago, when I was a college student in Japan, when I attended St. Michael's College in Vermont for a month. On weekends, I would take the bus downtown and rent a bike with a group of friends and we would just ride down this road. My friends turned around in the middle of the road, but I wanted to keep going and see where the road took me. I was very impressed when I eventually came to this road that runs between the lakes. I kept running to where the road ended, repeatedly bumping into little insects flying over the lake. There was a ferry boat at a dead end, but I knew it would be difficult to get back to my friends if I went further, so I mingled, chatted, took pictures, and turned back to the stranger tourists who were at that spot. It was a great memory. I wondered how the old man with the white beard who was willing to talk to a lone young man visiting from a small Asian country was doing now. It is a wonderful memory that will never fade...

You will find spectacular mountain views across the water, both east and west, with a variety of water craft in between; sailboats, cabin cruisers, motorboats, kayaks, and canoes . The well-maintained, light gravel surface of the path invites walkers and runners as well as cyclists. People often fish from the giant boulders that support the rail trail. The ferry that runs back and forth around the midlake gap where a turnstile railway bridge once stood provides access to the quiet lake shore roads of Grand Isle with its nearby inns, farms, restaurants, and vinyard. The ferry is supported by passenger donations. $10 is suggested for...