Lake Champlain, New York, Vermont & Canada

Lake Champlain, straddling New York and Vermont in the USA, and Quebec in Canada, is a natural freshwater lake seated 96 feet above sea level. Briefly designated a Great Lake by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Lake Champlain reaches a maximum depth of 400 feet, covers an impressive 435 square miles, stretches more than 100 miles in length, and boasts a width of 12 miles at its…
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    • All About Lake Champlain

    Lake Locations: Canada - Quebec, Canada - USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - New York - Adirondacks Region, NY - US New England Region - Vermont - Lake Champlain Valley Region, VT -

    Lake Champlain, straddling New York and Vermont in the USA, and Quebec in Canada, is a natural freshwater lake seated 96 feet above sea level. Briefly designated a Great Lake by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Lake Champlain reaches a maximum depth of 400 feet, covers an impressive 435 square miles, stretches more than 100 miles in length, and boasts a width of 12 miles at its widest point. Collectively, Lake Champlain comprises 271,000 acres, with a relatively modest 587-mile shoreline. The lake is accented by 71 islands, including an entire Vermont county.

    Lake Champlain’s great expanse flows north from Whitehall, New York to the Richelieu River in Quebec. Due to its irregular shape, Lake Champlain consists of five segments with unique physical characteristics:

    – The Main (or Broad) section of Lake Champlain is the deepest and widest area, holding most of the lake’s water volume.

    – South Lake Champlain is narrow and shallow, similar to a river.

    – The Inland Sea (or Northeast Arm) of Lake Champlain lies east of the Champlain Islands.

    – Missisquoi Bay at the northernmost section of Lake Champlain extends into Quebec. The bay’s water flows south to the Inland Sea.

    – Mallet’s Bay, on the east side of Lake Champlain, is separated from the Main Lake by a railroad causeway.

    The Lake Champlain Region of Burlington, Vermont is a year-round living and vacation destination that caters to all types of vacation and residential diversions. Voted by USA Weekday Magazine as “One of Four Outstanding Get-Away Locations in the Northeast,” by Outdoor Explorer Magazine as the “Number One Place for Families that Love Outdoor Sports,” by Reader’s Digest as the “Sixth Best Family Friendly Place in the Nation,” and by Zero Population Growth as the “Number One Child Friendly City in America,” Burlington and the surrounding Champlain Lake valley have much to offer.

    The Vermont part of Lake Champlain is dotted with excellent state parks. Start at Kamp Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans Bay, a 17-acre day park that boasts a picnic area, two public swimming areas (one with a beach and a sandy lake bottom), and a convenient access point to the Burton Island Ferry.

    For a small fee, the ferry will take you on a scenic tour across the lake as you keep your eyes open for a glance at Lake Champlain’s legendary lake monster, named “Champ.” Before the arrival of Europeans, Iroquois Nation legends described a horned serpent lurking beneath the deep, cold waters of Lake Champlain. Since then, there have been more than 300 sightings of Champ, dating back to Samuel de Champlain in 1609. Champ is a friendly monster, reportedly shy and easily scared off by disturbances in the water. A 1977 photo, featured in Time Magazine and the New York Times, is the best evidence of Champ’s existence.

    North Hero State Park is another must-see, which some consider the crown jewel of the area’s state parks. Clocking in at over 399 acres, North Hero State Park offers private campsites, picnic areas, hot showers, a rocky beach, and a public boat launch.

    The summer months beckon visitors to drive and bike the evergreen mountains, explore the rivers, and hike the forests. Anglers, prepare yourselves: The EPA estimates that there are 90 species of fish in the lake and its tributaries. Lake Champlain’s crystal blue waters teem with smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout, Atlantic salmon, pike, walleye, crappie, perch, catfish, and panfish. Tournaments target world-class bass. Boating along the beautiful waters is another summer pastime; you will enjoy plenty of space for that.

    Lake Champlain will delight those who love wildlife viewing. There are bald eagles, migrating snow geese, nesting loons, map turtles and spiny softshell turtles, snowy owls, moose, 21 species of amphibians and 17 of reptiles, 300 species of birds, and more.

    Winter months at Lake Champlain are packed with downhill skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, ice climbing, and, of course, snowball fights. Locals recommend that all winter activities be immediately followed up by a cup of hot chocolate, preferably in front of the orange flames of a freshly-built fire in a fireplace near the lakefront.

    Vacation rentals are plentiful in the Lake Champlain Valley, whether you prefer the privacy of a lakefront home, the convenience of a condominium, or the coziness of a cottage or cabin. So, book your family vacation or romantic weekend getaway today to experience the majesty of Lake Champlain.

    Things to Do at Lake Champlain

    These are some activities in the Lake Champlain area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Ice Climbing
    • Biking
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Champlain?

    Lake Champlain has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Lake Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Salmon
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Champlain

    If you’re considering a Lake Champlain lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Champlain Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Champlain lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Champlain Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 271,000 acres

    Shoreline Length: 587 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 96 feet

    Average Depth: 64 feet

    Maximum Depth: 400 feet

    Water Volume: 20,916,400 acre-feet

    Water Residence Time: 3.3 years

    Drainage Area: 8,232 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Lake Champlain Map

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