Island Line Trail : Colchester - South Hero Section

Island Line Trail - Colchester - South Hero Trail Description

The Island Line Trail, is comprised of two distinct sections. The 7 mile paved Burlington Waterfront Bike Path to the south, connects to the 5 mile unpaved Colchester-South Hero Causeway section to the north via a new trail bridge spanning the Winooski River. Dedicated in 2004, the Burlington & Colchester Trail Bridge replaced the Winooski River bike ferry linking the two trails to create a continuous 13.5-mile Vermont regional recreation path.

We arrived in August, 2007 to enjoy a summer bike ride on the Colchester section of the Island Line Trail. We chose Airport Park on Colchester Point Road for our base of operations. There is ample parking, modern restroom facilities, drinking water, a picnic area, playground, ballfields and more. It also provides easy access to both the Colchester Causeway Trail and the northern end of the Burlington Bike Path.

Although The Causeway Trail, best suited for mountain bikes, begins at the northern part of Airport Park adjacent to Airport Road, we wanted to check out the new ½-mile long, elevated, wood-decked bike trail bridge located just a block to the south. It's is a popular stop to rest, lunch, fish, boat watch and take in the river views.

Pedalling north from the park, the Colchester Causeway Section of the Island Line passes through the 200 acre Colchester bog, owned and managed by the University of Vermont. The spongy, poorly drained soil, rife with water lillies, grasses and other plant life provdes a rich wetland habitat favored by many bird species. We stopped to admire several snowy egrets wading in the marsh. Their long, pencil thin necks punctuated the landscape like exclamation points.

The trail then passes the 56 acre Porter Natural Area. This land has been recently acquired by the Lake Champlain Trust and transferred to the Town to serve as conservation land. Continuing north, the trail extends into the middle of Lake Champlain with Malletts Bay on one side and Law Island on the other, along a marble causeway built by the Rutland Railroad in 1899. This 3 mile stretch provides spectacular views of the lake, the Green Mountains, the Adirondack peaks in New York State, and of course, the stunning sunsets.

The trail comes to an abrupt end at “the Cut”, a 200 foot open water gap in the causeway that allows large boats to pass through. A temporary bike ferry runs continuously on weekends during the summer in August, enabling trail users to reach the Champlain Island of South Hero. At any other time of the year, this is the turn around point for the 4 mile return trip back to Airport Park. Advocates are working toward establishing permanent service.

So whether you are planning a day trip or an extended vacation exploring northern Vermont, South Hero and the Champlain Islands, once at South Hero, miles of additional cycling can be found on a network of paved and unpaved, quiet back roads, including a 363-mile principal cycling route around the entire Lake, known as the Champlain Bikeway. Interconnecting "Theme Loop Rides" intersect the bikeway and lead to many interesting destinations such as Vermont's longest sand beach, Vermont's largest campground, State Parks, fish hatcheries, orchards, Black Spruce bogs and wetlands ideal for wildlife viewing, Revolutionary War villages and many other historical, local and geological points of interest.

The Lake Champlain Region Bikeways Road Map and Guide featuring the 363-mile Champlain Bikeway and its network of connecting theme loops can be found at The Local Motion Trailside Center, located on the Burlington Waterfront Bike Path or downloaded from their website (see for more information below)

Mayes Landing:
Mayes Landing is one of 40 properties saved by the Lake Champlain Land Trust and managed by the Winooski Valley Park District. Located at the north end of the Burlington Bike Path at the base of the bridge, it is only accessible via the bike path or by boating up the Winooski River, just past the northern terminus of the Burlington Bike Path. There are no faciities but it's a great place for a picnic lunch. Use leave no trace ethics and carry out what you carry in.

Colchester Reef Lighthouse
This lighthouse warned ships of dangerous reefs from 1871-1933. It was moved to the Shelburne Museum in 1952 and it remains there on display. The base of the lighthouse can be seen from the Causeway. This off-site link details the history off the light house and its keepers.

Allen Point Ferry:
Ferry service takes bicyclists across the cut in the Colchester/South Hero causeway to South Hero.

Other Activities:
Canoeing / Kayaking : The Champlain Paddlers Trail runs parallel to Causeway Park for about 2 miles.)

Historical Note:

In 1899 the 2.5 mile causeway was built by the Rutland-Canada Railroad to connect the New England seacoast with the Great Lakes region crossing this stretch of Lake Champlain. The line included 41 miles of track, six miles of marble causeways and trestles, and four drawbridges. Operations ceased by 1961 and over the next 30 years the causeway deteriorated.

For More Information:

Local Motion's Trailside Center

(On the Burlington Bike Path)

7 Lake St.
Suite 201
St. Albans, VT 05478

Phone: (802) 652-2453
Website: Local Motion Trailside Center

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