The largest lake in the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and New York’s Adirondack Coast host many communities and a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities. Extending south from Canada to near Lake George, Lake Champlain has shoreline in both New York and Vermont. Surrounded by the Adirondack and Green mountains and rich with wild natural and history, there is no shortage of things to do on Lake Champlain.
Whether you are lucky enough to call this area home, visiting the area or looking for property to invest in your own Lake Champlain retreat, getting familiar with the diverse activities on and around the lake will help you make the most of your time here. ADKPP’s guide is a great place to start planning your next day off or vacation!
7 Amazing Things To Do on Lake Champlain
1. Explore by Boat
Lake Champlain’s sheer size and picturesque setting offers unforgettable boating for all kinds and sizes of crafts. Public and private marinas, public access put ins and private docks dot the shores of Lake Champlain at fairly regular intervals. Finding a place to suit your situation and put your boat in is definitely doable, but may require some planning and research.
Whether you prefer motorboats, sailboats or smaller human powered vessels like canoe, kayak or SUP, Lake Champlain offers a variety of boating experience from deep open water to secluded and sheltered bays and tributaries. Sticking close to Adirondack Coast shores is ideal for canoeing and kayaking and smaller crafts, especially on calm water days.
However, be aware that the weather on Lake Champlain can change pretty quickly. Winds can pick up on a dime and cause small craft advisories to be issued. Watch the weather and keep an eye on forecasts and maritime reports to stay safe during your boating adventures.
Sailboats and motorboats are very common on Lake Champlain with some captains extending their adventures up to the St. Lawrence or down the Hudson. Check out the Lake Champlain Waterway Guide to plan your trip.
2. Throw in a Line
Lake Champlain offers some of the best fishing in the region. With 93 species of fish found in the Lake, 78 have been identified as native and 15 non-native. Of the 93 total species, Lake Champlain is host to 20 very sought after fish for anglers. Some of these species include Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Atlantic Salmon, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch.
A testament to Lake Champlain’s fishing notoriety, a Professional Bass Master Series event is held annually in the Plattsburgh region. Last year it occurred on the first weekend of August attracting professional bass anglers hoping to catch some of the monstrous large mouth bass in the lake and take home the prize. Whether you are a professional or a novice angler, a day fishing on Lake Champlain is always a great day out on the lake.
3. Go Birdwatching
Lake Champlain is also host to over 250 species of birds that come and go through all seasons. The birding is so notable along Lake Champlain that the birdwatching community has mapped out a 300-mile loop that includes 88 birding sites along the coast. This trail was ranked as one of the top six destinations to watch birds by Audubon Magazine.
Some of birds to keep an eye out for are:
- Eagles & Falcons -Bald and Golden Eagles. American Kestral, Gyrfalcon, Merlin and Pergine.
- Duck – Over 30 variations including Wood, Tufted, Mallard, Long-Tailed(Rare), Common Eider(Rare), and Barrow’s Goldeneye
- Hawks – Red Shouldered, Red-tailed, Sharp Shinned
- Herons – Great Blue, Green, & Tricolored
- Owls – Barn, Barred, Boreal, Great Gray, Great Horned & Snowy Owl
- Sparrow – American Tree, Chipping, Fox, House, Song, Vesper & White-crowned
- Warbler – Blue-winged, Canada, Golden-winged, Hooded, Pine, Tennessee & Orange-crowned.
The Lake Champlain Basin program has a full list of birds that have been recorded throughout the Lake Champlain area.
4. Take A Ferry Ride
There are two ferries on the coast of Lake Champlain that offer fun day trips to Vermont. The Plattsburgh ferry departs from Cumberland Head and brings you to Grand Isle, Vermont located a half hour north of Burlington. This ferry runs 24 hours year round and has frequent departures. The Essex, NY connects to Charlotte, VT located 30 minutes south of Burlington, Vermont. This ferry has less frequent departures and schedule varies throughout the year.
The Essex Ferry brings you close to the Shelburne Museum and the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, two popular attractions just south of Burlington. Shelburne Museum offers fun events throughout the year from historical education with changing collections and exhibitions to a summer concert series that brings in notable musicians.
5. Take A Road Trip
If you are looking to really explore the region and discover hidden gems, taking a road trip is a wonderful way to chance upon new Adirondack Coast locations, restaurants and activities on the coast of Lake Champlain. If you are looking to explore New York’s coastline, there are a few route options to choose from. If you have a pre-determined location in mind, taking I-87 will most likely be the quickest option to get there. Other nearby route options include Route 9N & Route 9 that follows much of the Adirondack Coast. These smaller routes travel through many notable communities including Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Port Henry, and Essex on 9N and Keeseville, Plattsburgh, Chazy and Champlain and Rouses Point on Route 9.
Additionally, if you want to explore Vermont by driving, there are two bridges that cross over from New York. One is just north of Plattsburgh in Rouses Point and one is south in Crown Point. The Rouses Point bridge is a one mile, two lane bridge that connects to Alburgh, Vermont. This bridge offers a wonderful view of Fort Montgomery and easy access to the northern part of Vermont offering a fun road trip over the lake. The Crown Point Bridge, also known as the Lake Champlain Bridge, connects New York to Chimney Point, Vermont which is the approximate mid-point of Vermont.
6. Discover Historic Sites
Lake Champlain has a storied history spanning over 400 years including significant events of Native Americans, the Revolutionary War and current times. Some of the most notable events on and around the lake happened before and during the Revolutionary War. Many communities on the shores of Lake Champlain feature a history museum to showcase the rich history of this area. The most notable historical sites on Lake Champlain are Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
Both of these locations were strongholds in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. Explore the ruins of the forts, learn about the sites and the times in the museums and attend military reenactments and demonstrations at these popular historical sites.
While Camp Ticonderoga and Crown Point are the most notable historic sites, many communities along Lake Champlain were building up around the same time frame and have rich stories to share as well. Stopping in to local museums will give you even more insight into the storied past of this area. The Lake Champlain Region website offers a great resource on the various historic sites and museums found on or near the Adirondack Coast.
7. Take A Tour
A few of the local communities offer boat tours to learn about the history of the lake while and visit some unique locations. These boat tours can be found on both sides of the lake. The most notable tour on the New York side of the lake is at Fort Ticonderoga. This boat tour is a 75-minute ride offering gorgeous vistas of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks. Sonar readings allow you to see underwater shipwrecks and historical features around Fort Ticonderoga.
If you head across the lake into Vermont, there are multiple boat tours including sailing and larger motor boat rides that focus on sightseeing as well as historical tours. Available Lake Champlain Vermont departure tour options include a cruise ship, schooner and a unique nautipaddle boat.
Lake Champlain is a wonderful place to live, work and visit. If you are interested in booking a vacation in the area, contact our office to explore available vacation rentals. To begin a search to purchase your own property in the area, meeting with an experienced agent at Adirondack Premier Properties is an excellent first step. Call us today at 518-523-3333 to get started.