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Print Friendly MapLake Champlain virtually laps at your feet for long sections of the 13.4-mile Island Line Rail Trail. Rolling through waterfront parks in Burlington and Colchester, the trail crosses the lake on a spectacular 3-mile causeway that requires a ferry ride to cross a 200-foot gap to destinations on South Hero Island.
About the Route
The trail's northern endpoint is located at Martin Rd and starts off as a fishing access rd. for 0.8 miles before reaching the causeway, which many consider to be the highlight of the route.
Trail users can ride the causeway for 1 mile before reaching The Cut, which separates the two sections of trail in order to allow boats to pass the trail. Trail users can ride a bike ferry on weekends and holidays in the spring and fall and all week in the summer. (Find rates and hours at localmotion.org.)
South of The Cut, the scenic causeway continues for 2.7 miles before reaching the shores of the lake, giving users splendid views of both the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont. This section of trail is also often called the Colchester Bike Path and Causeway.
2.4 miles after the end of the Causeway, the trail crosses a 600-ft pedestrian bridge over the mouth of the Winooski River.
While the northern section of the trail is entirely hard-packed crushed limestone, and the remaining 8 miles of trail through Burlington are paved. Burlington's Section of the trail is often called the Burlington Greenway.
Along the route, you’ll pass some industrial sites and a rail yard for the Vermont Railway, a short line railroad. Just before passing the ferry docks on King Street, you’ll see Union Station, built from brick, limestone, and granite in 1916.
The southern terminus at Oakledge Park in Burlington has plentiful parking and restrooms. Along the sandy beach located within the park, you’ll get your first view of New York’s Adirondack Mountains across the lake. At the park’s north end, 14 granite boulders in Burlington’s Earth Clock create a calendar, clock, and compass—an example of this town’s artistic reputation.
Connections
9 miles from the northern endpoint, the Island Line Trail connects with the Arms Park Trail.
Trail History
The Rutland-Canadian Railroad built the Island Line in 1899 to connect coastal markets in New England with the Great Lakes, eventually reaching Lake Ontario. As rail transportation fell into decline, the railroad scratched its passenger service in 1955 and freight service in 1961. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the idea of a pedestrian trail took hold; now more than 150,000 visitors use the trail each year.
The Island Line Trail runs between 36 Martin Rd. (South Hero), where parking is available, and 72 Austin Dr. (Burlington)
Parking is also available at:
See TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Highly recommend. Parked at the south end, Oakledge Park. Made wrong turn to start so ended up downtown - there’s so many trails it’s hard to follow “bike path” signs and always be on the right one. Easily got back on near the harbor. Consider weekday if you can. It was pretty busy on a Friday so I imagine weekends are worse. After taking the ferry across ($10 donation requested, Venmo or cash), biked around 3 miles inland to farm stand for lunch at The Hive.
Enjoyed the trail on a sunny June day with temperatures in the low 60's! It does get crowded near the waterfront, but the trail is wide enough that it never became an issue. We loved the views of Lake Champlain and also some of the beautiful houses that are next to the trail. It's a very level ride. More riders than walkers on the day we were there. Every bit of this trail offers something new. One of the most entertaining trails I've ever ridden.
We rode out to the ferry on Sunday Sept 1, 2004, which was a very warm beautiful day. The causeway was too crowded to do anything other than ride single-file each way, with few opportunities to pass. User 'daniellefort' was correct about weekends but also correct about the nice little beach bar which we hit on the way back and that was wonderful on our hot day.
Wonderful trail to ride. Not hilly. We did it with ebikes and had a blast!! Gets busy in town but when you get farther out busy but not congested. Beautiful scenery the whole way. Some little parts through housing developments but still very open.
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