The Allen Point Access Area Trail provides a scenic route for accessing Lake Champlain in South Hero. The flat trail occupies part of the former corridor of the Rutland Railroad Island Line. The line was built in 1900 and this segment was a causeway that once linked with the Mallets Bay peninsula on the other side of the lake. There's a 200-foot gap in the causeway that can be linked during the warm season with a bike/pedestrian ferry. On the other side, you can pick up the
Island Line Rail Trail and continue south to Burlington.
On the Allen Point Trail, about 0.75 mile of the northern segment is shared with motor vehicles but the southern 0.5-mile section is for pedestrians and cyclists. The causeway is a favorite spot for anglers to drop a line, and it also offers stunning views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks.
From South Hero Village take South Street 2.5 miles to Martin Road; turn right and continue 0.3 mile to the access area on the left. You can park at Martin Road or another 0.7 mile farther along. If you're not fishing, park at the upper lot by Martin Road.