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Island Line Trail - Colchester - South Hero Trail Description There are two sections to the Island Line Trail. The 7 mile paved Burlington Waterfront Bike Path, to the south, meets the 5 mile unpaved Colchester-South Hero Causeway section to the north. A new trail bridge (Burlington & Colchester Trail Bridge), dedicated in 2004, replaced the Winooski River bike ferry linking the two trail sections. From Airport Park, the Colchester Causeway Section of the Island Line passes through the 200 acre Colchester bog, owned and managed by the University of Vermont. This typical bog is composed of spongy, poorly drained soil that is rich in plant life and a habitat for many bird species. Traveling 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 section provides spectacular views of the lake, the Adirondack peaks in New York, and of course, stunning sunsets. The bridge is a popular stop to lunch, fish, boat watch or just rest and take in the views. The trail comes to an abrupt end at “the Cut”, a 200 foot open water gap in the causeway. A temporary bike ferry runs continuously on weekends during the summer in August, enabling trail users to reach the Champlain Island of South Hero. Advocates are working toward establishing permanent service. Be prepared for cooler temps and rapidly changing weather out on the lake. So whether you are planning a day trip or an extended vacation exploring 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)
Historical Note: In 1899 the causeway was built by the Rutland-Canadian Railroad to connect the New England seacoast with the Great Lakes region. 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. Phone: (802) 652-2453
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