Paddling
Central Vermont offers gorgeous lakes for paddling, canoes, and kayaks
Our picks
Chittenden, VT
Mountain Top Resort
195 Mountain Top Road 802-483-2311Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding among the lake-centric activities at mountain resort
Summer at the Mountain Top Resort centers around the pristine lake and its private, golden-sands beach. Borrow one of the resort’s kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddle boards and explore the picturesque lake. Watch for birds and other wildlife on the shore as you glide along. (Or pick up the pace, and get your daily cardio exercise in.) When you get back to the resort, consider a soak in the four-season outdoor hot tub, or take a dip in the in-ground heated pool. Treat yourself to a massage or facial at the luxurious on-sise spa. Or just grab a lounge chair and relax on the beach. Other lake-centric activities include pontoon boat rides and fishing excursions. Summer really is a celebration at this mountain resort.
Waterbury Center, VT
Waterbury Center State Park
177 Reservoir Road 802-244-1226One of VT’s top five parks for paddling and boating; also, swimming, fishing; no pets
Waterbury Center State Park lies on a 90-acre peninsula on Waterbury Reservoir. Visitors may use the reservoir for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, motor boating, jet skis, and water skiing. There is a 5 mph/no-wake zones. Open : Memorial Day-Labor Day; day use hours, 10 a.m.-sunset - Waterbury Reservoir Boating Guidelines (PDF)
Brandon, VT
Branbury State Park
3570 Lake Dunmore Road (Route 53) 888-409-7579Popular for hiking and swimming; pets allowed in some areas
Branbury State Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore. The park has a long sand beach on Lake Dunmore and the large open meadows. The park is popular for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and boating. Rowboats, canoes, and paddle boats are available for rent. Pets are not allowed on the beach.
Open: mid-May thru Columbus Day, 10am - Sunset.
Springfield, VT
Wilgus State Park
3985 CT River Road (Route 5) 802-674-5422On Connecticut River; popular for paddling, canoeing, kayaking; campsites; cabins with WiFi
On the Connecticut River, this park is popular with boaters, canoeists, and kayakers. This park provides day use access to the Connecticut River and the Pinnacle Trail hike provides a scenic vista of the Connecticut River Valley.
Castleton, VT
Bomoseen State Park
22 Cedar Mountain Road 802-265-4242Good for camping, swimming, fishing, boating w/ rentals; pets allowed in campground
The park has a beach for swimming and boating. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats are available for rent.
Ludlow, VT
Camp Plymouth State Park
2008 Scout Camp Road 802-228-2025One of Vermont’s top parks for paddling; beach; boat rentals; horse camping; walking trails
On the north side of the brook there are a large picnic area, play area, sandy beach, horseshoe pits, concession, and boat rentals.
Open: Memorial Day thru Labor Day, 10am - Sunset.
Poultney, VT
Lake St. Catherine State Park
3034 VT Route 30 South 802-287-9158Lake side camping; beach; boating, fishing; boat rentals; pets allowed except in day use area
Located on Lake St. Catherine, this park has a campground, picnic and swimming areas, a playground. The snack bar concession rents out with canoes, kayaks, rowboats and pedal boat rentals.
Hubbardton, VT
Half Moon Pond State Park
1621 Black Pond Road 802-273-2848Camping park has a pond; boats for rent; no motor boats allowed
There are two sandy beaches on the pond for swimming and sunning; rowboats, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats are available for rent (no motor boats allowed). The pond also has excellent fishing for largemouth bass, panfish, and perch. More fishing is at nearby Glen Lake and Lake Bomoseen.
Vergennes, VT
Button Bay State Park
118 Button Bay State Park Road 802-475-2377Camping on Lake Champlain; great views; guarded pool; trails; nature center
Canoes, kayaks, and rowboats are available to rent at this park, elevated above Lake Champlain.