Overlooking
Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT. from Poke-O-Moonshine Mt., Adks, NY.
Dividing the states of New York and Vermont, Lake Champlain is the home to many different types of outdoor activities. One can enjoy a day out on the water sailing, power boating, kayaking, canoing, SCUBA diving, and more!
The southern end of Lake Champlain is narrow, and eventually ends at the town of Whitehall, which marks the beginning of the Champlain Canal. While out on the lake, be mindful the Champ, the elusive lake monster; keep your camera handy, just in case you spot him!
Lake Champlain Towns and Points of Interest
- Whitehall defines the southern terminus of the lake and the beginning of the Champlain Canal. The town offers all the amenities that one needs, including free docking including power and water.
- Ticonderoga is located just south of where the lake opens, this town had protected the country for many years in its day. Now the fort is a historical site which visitors can come an relive history.
- Crown Point is located here is another fort that once protected the country. It is a nice walk in the steps that makes one think that things were once very different on the lake.
- Port Henry is located just north of the Crown Point Bridge, this town offers a beach, campground, free state boat launch and free docking (no power/water) along one of the few canal walls that were built on Lake Champlain.
- Westport is a busy town just south of the Narrows. There is a free state boat launch as well as a marina with a respectable amount of supplies.
- The Narrows of Lake Champlain are lined with steep cliffs and small and large bays that offer magnificent anchorages for wind coming in any direction (Both NY and VT side.)
- Vergennes is home to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (Basin Harbor) and Otter Creek. The LCMM offers a glimpse into the history of the lake, while Otter Creek is navigable about 7 miles upstream into town, where there is a free city dock.
- Burlington is a great city offering things to do an see. It is protected from the lake by a break wall where there a slips for rent, or one can anchor and dingy in. There are many restaurants, supplies and recreational activities.
- Valcour Island is an Island on the NY side of the lake, it is a primitive island that is a very popular anchorage. Its coves on every side of the island can protect boats regardless of the wind or wave direction. Onshore there is a lighthouse and hiking trails, and many beaches line the coves. Come early, good spots go fast!
- Plattsburgh is the second largest city located on the lake, and offers many spots along the shore to explore, including the boat basin (protected harbor), Wilcox Dock (Semi-Protected Canal Terminal Wall), the Saranac River Outlet Area (no docking, dingy in) among others. There is a river walking trail as well as many historical site from the wars that formed this country.
- Point Au Roche offers a protected anchorage (fee for using moorings in larger bay, free in smaller bay where Boat Launch is located), and offers a beach, hiking trails and an historic building. A nice stop for those who enjoy scenic walks.
Lake Champlain Photos
| Storm brewing on southern Lake Champlain
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| Bridge separating South Lake Champlain from the 'River section' of Lake Champlain.
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| Annual Pro Bass Tournament held on Lake Champlain, based out of Plattsburgh.
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| Red sky at night, a sailor's delight. Clouds during a sunset on southern Lake Champlain.
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| Weed collection crew on southern Lake Champlain.
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| Weed disposal crew on southern Lake Champlain.
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| Vermont mountains on a windy day.
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| A storm over plattsburgh.
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| A nice morning at Valcour Island.
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| A crane on a point at Valcour Island.
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| Plattsburgh off in the distance from Valcour Island.
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| A pair of ferries near Cumberland Head. They move surprisingly quick.
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| Sunset while anchored in middle bay at Point Au Rouche State Park.
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| A lakeside farm in Chazy.
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| The Burlington Lighthouse on the north end of the break wall.
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| Clinton County Community College with Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondacks in the background.
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| A lighthouse just south of Westport.
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| A dock on the south end of Lake Champlain.
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| The view from Fort Ticonderoga from the south.
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