If you look at a map of Vermont, or skim through the mountains(haha) of travel guides on Vermont, you might see Burton Island State Park listed or identified as just another Vermont State Park. You’d imagine some gate where you pay to get in, a parking area, a beach maybe, a picnic area, a few hibachi grills and some restrooms strewn about. Your initial image may be somewhat correct, YES Burton Island State Park is part of the Vermont State Park system. It does have all of the normal amenities you’d find in state parks in Vermont. But for sure, it’s also unlike ANY other state park here that I’ve ever been to. If you’ve never been before, here’s what to expect: 1. The only access to the park is by lake ferry or personal boat craft. Yes Burton ISLAND is an island! It also does not allow motor vehicles(it’s a passenger ferry only). For those of you without your own boat, you can catch the ferry at Kilkare State Park in St. Albans. 2. You will be charged $ 4 per person to ride the ferry. If you are a hardcore outdoor camper, you can also drop off your gear near the ferry dock and the ferry crew will help you load it aboard. You can even load bikes aboard or dogs but don’t expect to bring your kayak, canoe or such. you’ll be expected to paddle those things over to the island yourself! 3. The ferry ride is only about 10 – 15 minutes across a small channel of Lake Champlain separating Hathaway Point and the island. The ferry docks on the North Eastern side of the island near the marina and store. 4. If you’ve reserved a campsite, you can check in right off the ferry dock and arrange gear delivery to your site via a tractor hitched flatbed for $ 10.If you’re traveling light, you can also just pick up a wheeled cart to cart your stuff over yourself for free. 5. Around the marina is the day use picnic areas and docks. All are also great for fishing(well stocked with hungry fish). There is also a public beach off the marina area with a wooden raft set up you can swim to and get some rays on. 6. The store near the marina has all of the things you can think of for camping gear and kid fun stuff. It also has beverages, wine, food stuffs, cubed ice and meats fine for grilling. The store also doubles as a great little Bistro that sells sandwiches and breakfasts. The food is excellent and Juanita at the helm uses only fresh ingredients for all of the things I’ve tasted there(breakfast sandwiches, salads, deli sandwiches). The food and items sold here may be a bit pricey, but where else are you going to go? 7. The campsites come in 3 – 4 flavors: regular tentsite areas, lean-to areas, lakefront lean-to areas and paddler sites. The paddler sites sit on the eastern coast and can only be reserved by folks taking their own canoes or kayaks to the sites. All sites have a fire pit with fold over grills, good ground to pitch a tent or two on and all within short walking distance of potable water spigots strewn about the island. 8. The island has all kinds of wide roads to access sites along with hiking trails. The trails can get you to nice out of the way bays to swim in on rocky beaches. There is also a nature center that has daily events and learning activities for kids and adults too. 9. There are two large restroom areas that also have shower facilities(coin-op hot water). Generally they are kept clean and in good working order. The paddler sites also have in closer proximity some more archaic type outhouses but they are also kept in clean shape. There are also waste/recycling bins to get rid of your camp waste before the raccoons get into it! The staff that work here seem to love what they do. Everything is well cared for and they seem to really work hard to keep campers happy. The quiet hours after 10pm appear to be more heavily enforced than at other parks. The ranger will drive the roads and sit in spots to hear for noisy campers after hours. I really appreciate a quiet camping night’s sleep! Dogs are required to be on leashes and I also know that they try to enforce that rule as well. There is a dog area on the Northeastern tip of the island where you can let dogs run leash free. I love everything about camping at this beautiful park! My only complaint is the lack of a cancellation process. Lean-to reservations are hard to come by and it appears many people don’t show up for their reserved days so sites just sit empty. There’s no enforcement of cancellations so reservations just are wasted on people who don’t come out to the sites. I’d like to see this change in the future. If you LOVE camping and the outdoors, I say give Burton Island a try. It’s a fun, relaxing«get away» for State Park prices!
T B.
Place rating: 5 St. Albans, VT
Awesome place to camp. Since it’s an island, it doesn’t have the animal scavenger problem typical of campgrounds. No cars means the noise of civilization is cut down & kids can ride bikes without worry. Only downside is that the store on the island is privately owned & if you’re there outside of late June or July, the store hours are completely random.
