Canoe, Paddle, or Kayak Around Burlington, VT

Lake Champlain is a big part of why we live here, and it’s an integral part of the BTV lifestyle. It’s a 435-square mile playground for all kinds of lakeside activities. You could argue it’s a haven for those who like to canoe, paddle or kayak around Burlington, VT as the lake includes 71 islands and miles and miles of beach to explore.

From stand-up paddleboarding near downtown Burlington to ambitious multi-day canoe treks along the Lake Champlain Paddlers Trail, there are many options available for all levels of paddlers to get out on the water, and the Greater Burlington Area has plenty of convenient access points.

Lake Access Is Easy

Built on the edge of the lake, the historic Queen City was an important port along the St. Lawrence riverway, so modern-day Burlington is home to numerous parks and boat launches. For Burlington residents, getting on the water is pretty easy no matter where you live. For residents at Farrell Properties, lakeside launches are within a quick two-mile drive.

• Cambrian Rise: The lake is right next door of this large new development going up on the former site of Burlington College in the city’s Old North End. The property adjoins a new 12-acre lakeside park.
• Thayer Commons: It’s less than half a mile across Leddy Park to reach Leddy Beach and the lake from Thayer Commons in Burlington’s New North End. In addition to lake access at the beach, the city park boasts an ice arena, tennis courts, and fields for soccer and softball.
• Bacon Street Lofts and Olympiad: Located in South Burlington, just off of Shelburne Road, each of these amenity-rich apartment buildings is slightly further from the lakeshore. But they’re still only a five-minute drive from lake access at Oakledge Park or Red Rock Park on Shelburne Bay. These South Burlington apartments are conveniently located near Interstate 89, facilitating adventures on other local lakes and bodies of water, like Lake Willoughby, and the Waterbury Reservoir.

Spend More Time Outside When You Live at a Farrell Property

We’re a local Burlington-based company, so we know firsthand how important getting out onto the lake to canoe, paddle or kayak is, even if you don’t have a house or lakefront real estate of your own. That’s why we provide storage for our residents, most sized to accommodate a kayak or paddleboard, so it’s easier for you to load up your car and get out on the water.

Snag an apartment with lake-friendly and pet-friendly amenities and apply to join us as a resident at a Farrell Property.

Learn More About Lakeside Pasttimes

Want to learn more about boating opportunities near Burlington? Check out these other local resources to make the most of your time out on the water:

• The Burlington-based Lake Champlain Committee publishes an annual guidebook to paddling and camping along the length of Lake Champlain. The organization is working to establish a Lake Champlain Paddler’s Trail, a route along the length with places for boaters to camp a day’s journey apart. The idea was inspired by a nine-day adventure along the length of the lake undertaken in 1988.
• The Lake Champlain Land Trust, another Burlington-based conservation group, has additional ideas for boating trips and hiking trips for all kinds of adventures around the lake basin.
• Want to try stand-up paddleboarding but don’t have a board? Check out PaddleSurf Champlain, which offers rentals and rentals at Oakridge Park, near both Bacon Street Loft and Olympiad.
• Prefer to rent a kayak? Umiak Outdoor Outfitters has a lakeside outpost location at North Beach Park, near both Thayer Commons and Cambrian Rise.
• For tons of beach and water activities, be sure to check out the Burlington Surf Club, located off the Burlington Bike Path near Lakeside Avenue in the South End.