Burlington Waterfront and Bike Path

Burlington's waterfront is the city's front yard, and you do not need a ticket to enjoy it. A string of parks, piers and lawns runs along Lake Champlain, anchored by Waterfront Park and the boat docks, and a paved multi-use path follows the shore for miles. On a summer day the scene is easy to read: families on the lawns, cyclists gliding past, kayakers launching from the beach, ice cream cones in hand and sailboats heading out. The sunset is the main event, with the Adirondack Mountains framing the western sky across the water. The shoreline path links to a longer trail network that, in season, continues north along a causeway into the lake, so you can walk, jog or bike as far as your energy lasts. Rental shops in town provide bikes and e-bikes, and the flat terrain suits beginners. It is a plain, wonderful pleasure: open air, big water and mountains in the distance, with cafes and the city only a short walk away. For many visitors, this stretch is the single best free thing to do in Burlington.

The path is part of a regional trail system, and the most popular stretch for visitors begins near the downtown waterfront and heads north along the shore. On the way you pass beaches, boat launches, parks and viewpoints, and in season you can reach the Colchester causeway, a former rail bed that stretches out into the lake and, when operating, connects across a gap by a seasonal bike ferry.

Check the operating schedule of that ferry before you plan a loop, since it runs only in warmer months. The riding is easy, but weekends can be busy, so ring a bell, keep right and watch for pedestrians.

Look for more than the path itself. The waterfront offers a splash area for children in warm weather, public art, picnic tables, a community boathouse that supports rowing and paddling and a lakeside cafe scene that lets you take a drink to the grass. The nearby science center, with its aquarium, anchors a family-friendly cluster.

In winter the shoreline turns quieter and starker, and bundled walkers enjoy the cold clear light, though the wind off the lake is sharp. In autumn the trees along the route turn color, and in spring the first warm days bring everyone outdoors.

Dogs are common on the path, so keep a respectful distance, and be careful on narrower sections near the water. Parking can be tight on summer weekends, so walk or bike from downtown if you can, which is easy because the waterfront is only a few blocks from Church Street.

For a longer plan, pair the path with a stop at a downtown market for picnic food, rent bikes for a few hours and ride until you find a quiet beach or grassy bluff. Families can treat the route as a series of short playground stops, and photographers should aim for the hour before sunset, when the light turns the lake copper and the mountains soften into layers of blue.