Island Line Rail Trail:
Vermont
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Description:
One of New England's most visited and spectacular rail-trails, the paved, 12-mile Island Line Trail (formerly known as the Burlington Bikeway) skirts the waterfront in the hip college town of Burlington, strings together a series of shoreline parks, and offers spectacular views of Lake Champlain and New York's Adirondack Mountains. Best of all, the relatively flat trail features a unique and scenic trip out over the lake on a marble causeway.
The trail's official start point is at the Oakledge Park trailhead on Flynn Street in south Burlington, which offers plenty of parking and amenities. The route leads north along the waterfront. At 2.1 miles, you'll reach the Union Station trailhead on King Street. (If you opt to begin here, bring extra change for the parking meters.)
Pause to admire lake views at the public North Beach Park trailhead at mile 3.4. A seasonal snack bar serves a variety of food and beverages.
At mile 5.1, you'll enter Leddy Park in Burlington's New North End. The city's largest park, Leddy provides full amenities, parking, a sandy beach, a picnic area with tables and grills, and more lakefront vistas.
A few miles north, you'll reach the Winooski River Bridge. This beautiful span-and the associated half-mile elevated boardwalk across the Delta Park floodplain-is the crucial link that united the Burlington Bikeway and Colchester Causeway rail-trails in 2004, after 15 years of planning.
The causeway itself lies farther north, just beyond Colchester's residential neighborhoods and Airport Park. Built in 1900 atop huge marble boulders, the 2.5-mile raised railbed slices across Lake Champlain for unparalleled views. As you sail along the crushed stone surface, you'll have a sense of skimming the water's surface. The causeway ends abruptly out on the lake, where a seasonal bike ferry connects with South Hero.
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Oakledge Park trailhead in Burlington, take Interstate 89 to Exit 13 and follow I-189 south to US 7. Turn right on US Route 7 north, then left on Flynn Avenue. Follow Flynn to its end and look for signs to Oakledge Park.
To reach the Airport Park trailhead in Colchester, take Interstate 89 to Exit 17 (US Route 2). Follow signs for US Route 2/US 7/Lake Champlain Islands/Colchester. Turn right onto Theodore Roosevelt Hwy./Route 2. Continue for 3 miles before turning right on Bay Road, and then take another right onto West Lakeshore Drive. West Lakeshore becomes Holy Cross Road and then Colchester Point Road. Trail parking is on the right at Airport Park on Colchester Point Road.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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I'd do it again, but...
By MFD32 on July 23, 2009
I just did most of the trail today. It's a nice ride, although the condition of the trail is wanting as you leave the Burlington waterfront area heading north. Lots of holes, lots of puddles (it rained). The signage sort of disappears once the trail drops you across the street from Colchester's Airport Park. (This is a beautiful park, with a snack stand!) Take a left at the stop sign and you will head through a residential area in order to continue toward the causeway. WARNING: You may not want to bring your roadie to the causeway. I was very much looking forward to this along-the-lake part of the path, but was disheartened when seeing it. I know the description says it's crushed gravel, however it's not a hard-packed gravel, and the locals I spoke with told me there have been many a flat tire when riders bring their road bikes down the causeway. I was also told that the gravel gets looser after a mile or so. I decided not to risk it, and was very disappointed. You won't have a problem with a hybrid or mountain bike.
just breathtaking!
By qzee24 on September 03, 2008
We rode the trail on a beautiful sunny day in late August -- unfortunately, it was a weekday so no ferry service available, but even without the crossing and the last bit of the trail, it was a totally worthwhile 24 mile ride (both ways). Even on a Wednesday, the trail was very busy. Started in Oakledge Park in South Burlington. Convenient parking and access to trailhead. Incredible views along the waterfront, and even more incredible lake views once out on the causeway. Trails is paved and very easy riding. Definitely one of the top ten best of all New England. Highly recommended!!!
New Favorite Ride
By Ken & Linda Parkany on September 25, 2006
"Tuesday, September 12, 2006:
We live in Connecticut but have ridden many rail-trails and bike paths in New England over the past four years. This one takes the cake - our new favorite. Started at Oakledge Park (south end) and rode the 12.5 miles to the end of Champlain Causeway round trip in 3 hrs. 20min, including one hour of stops to photograph and take in the breathtaking scenery (will post photos later). An awesome ride on a 67 degree sunny day. Thanks, Vermonters and Burlingtonites for making this ride possible. We'll be back. "
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