Flat, and framed by water
If Vermont’s mountain gaps sound brutal, the Champlain Islands Bikeway is the gentle antidote. Stretching about 76 miles through Grand Isle County, it links the island chain of South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero and Isle La Motte by flat roads and causeways, with the Green Mountains to the east and New York’s Adirondacks to the west. It is one of the most beautiful — and most beginner-friendly — rides in the Northeast, and it’s perfect for e-bikes and families.
You can ride the whole route over a day or two, or break it into gentle 15-to-25-mile island loops from any base.
The Colchester Causeway & bike ferry
The signature experience starts at Burlington’s waterfront on the Island Line Trail, which runs north and then out onto the Colchester Causeway — a narrow, three-mile former railway bed of stone laid across open Lake Champlain in 1900. Riding it feels like biking straight across the water, mountains on both horizons.
At 'the Cut', a 200-foot gap where steamships once passed, a seasonal bike ferry pontoon carries you across to South Hero — turning a dead end into the gateway to the islands.
Island by island
From South Hero the route rolls north through orchard and farm country, over the drawbridge to North Hero, and on toward the quiet loops of Isle La Motte. Traffic is light, the grades barely register, and the lake is never far from view. Bridges and causeways stitch the islands together, so you can ride as far as your legs (or battery) allow and turn back whenever you like.
Stops along the way
The islands are dotted with reasons to pause.
Hero’s Welcome (North Hero) — a classic general store, deli and dock.
Hackett’s Orchard (South Hero) — apples, cider and warm donuts.
Snow Farm Vineyard (South Hero) — Vermont’s first winery, with summer concerts.
Isle La Motte — the 480-million-year-old Chazy fossil reef and St. Anne’s Shrine.
Beaches, sunsets & wildlife
The Bikeway strings together several state-park beaches — Sand Bar, Knight Point and Alburgh Dunes — for a mid-ride swim, and the west-facing shores serve up some of Vermont’s finest sunsets over the Adirondacks. In spring and fall the causeway is a birding hotspot, and the mild island climate means the riding season stretches long.
Planning your ride
Rent bikes on the Burlington waterfront, and check the bike-ferry schedule before you go — it runs seasonally (roughly late spring through fall) on set hours, and without it the causeway is an out-and-back. The route is well signed but carry water and a snack, as services thin out toward Isle La Motte. Wind off the open lake can be the only real effort, so check the forecast and, if you can, ride with it at your back on the return.
Good to know
How long is the Champlain Islands Bikeway?+
About 76 miles through Grand Isle County, easily broken into flat 15–25-mile island loops.
What is the bike ferry?+
A seasonal pontoon that carries cyclists across 'the Cut', a 200-foot gap in the Colchester Causeway, onto South Hero.
Is it good for families or e-bikes?+
Yes — it’s flat and low-traffic, one of the most beginner- and e-bike-friendly routes in the Northeast.
Where do I rent a bike?+
On the Burlington waterfront, where the Island Line Trail begins.
When does the bike ferry run?+
Seasonally, roughly late spring through fall on set hours — confirm before you go, as it’s essential to complete the causeway crossing.