Outdoor Adventures in Burlington, VT

Burlington’s location along Lake Champlain would be good enough to make it a great adventure destination—add in the Green Mountains, miles of open forests, and the entire wilderness of the Northeast Kingdom, and it becomes one of the crown jewels of northern New England. Hikers, mountain bikers, and backpackers have access to Vermont’s finest less than an hour away: Mount Mansfield (the state highpoint), Camel’s Hump and the Long Trail are all great places to get lost and find yourself. In the winter, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ice climbing take over. And of course, there is paddling on Lake Champlain—or any of the other excellent lakes and rivers in the region. Keep an eye out for Champ, the fabled lake monster who is said to reside in the lake!

Road cyclists also have some of the most beautiful paved roads in the country in their backyards in Burlington. A long ride to Craftsbury Common on a crisp autumn day is pure New England: covered bridges, old town churches, and quiet farmland. Nearby Waterbury is also home to Ben and Jerry’s, some of the best ice cream on the planet!

Burlington is away from the hustle and bustle of big cities and that’s just fine for local Vermonters. The wealth of wilderness, laid back spirit and endless adventure potential suit them just fine.