Lake Champlain Causeway

One of my favorite spots around Burlington. The Causeway at Malletts Bay is honestly something special. Every time I go there, I feel like I’m stepping into a painting. The views are breathtaking—especially around sunset when the sky reflects off the water and everything just feels calm and peaceful. Whether you’re biking, walking, or just out to clear your head, this place never disappoints. If you’re planning to drive there, just a heads-up—the parking area isn’t huge. You might get space for around 10 to 12 vehicles, maybe a few more if it’s not busy, but definitely not a lot. So if you’re coming in a group or on a weekend, it’s better to get there a little early. That said, if you’re biking along the trail or doing the full causeway ride, it’s perfect. The whole path is well-maintained and the views along the water are unreal. I’ve been here in different seasons, and each one has its own charm. The breeze off the lake, the sound of the waves, and that long stretch of trail surrounded by water on both sides—there’s just nothing like it. If you’re in Vermont and haven’t been, you’re really missing out.

Most scenic bike trail that I’ve ridden. We had a very short wait (less than 5 minutes) to take the bike ferry at the cut, but be sure to figure in time for the ferry depending on how busy the day is. We continued onto the trail into Burlington and had lunch near the marina. A beautiful day and a 24 mile round trip ride.

We went outside of a ferry hours, but that in no way ruined our experience. We passed lost of people fishing and other bikers and walkers. Loved it being surrounded by water- beautiful scenery!!

Beautiful bike ride on the causeway. Such a unique biking experience! The views of the water and nearby mountains are amazing!

Rode our bikes. Very comfortable ride considering the small crushed gravel surface. Beautiful views

🚲 The Burlington Causeway is a stunning ride with incredible lake views on both sides. 🌊 The experience is hard to beat, but the gravel sections could use some maintenance—some washouts make it a bit rough in spots. Coordinating with the ferry to cross the ~200-meter gap can be tricky, especially if you’re riding out of season. Still, the scenery makes it worth the effort, and on a calm day, it’s a ride you won’t forget. 🚴‍♂️

Rented e-bikes from Local Motion and rode the 10 miles out to the bike ferry. Fantastic scenery. Path is not all that wide but luckily it was not too busy. Probably my favorite thing we did in Burlington.

I’ll certainly never forget my experience here, as I got to witness my first total solar eclipse on this beautiful causeway in the middle of Lake Champlain. Even without an extraordinary astrological event, this is a stunning place to go for a walk or bike ride. It’s very easily accessible from the Burlington area, and was in great shape even in mud season. Hope to come back again, this time taking the bike ferry to Grand Isle!