Vermont Guides
Sheltered Lake Champlain beaches, calm paddling water, and the Island Line Trail's causeway — 15 minutes north of Shelburne.
Burlington's waterfront gets most of the attention, and deservedly — it's a fine stretch of lake with a lot going on. But Mallett's Bay in Colchester, ten minutes north of Burlington, offers a different Lake Champlain experience: calmer water, sandy beaches, fewer crowds, and the feeling of being on the lake rather than at an event on its edge. The bay is sheltered by the peninsula that forms its eastern boundary and by the Champlain Islands to the west, which takes the open-water fetch out of the equation and makes it genuinely calm on days when the main lake is not.
From Heart of the Village Inn in Shelburne, Mallett's Bay is approximately 15–20 minutes north via US-7 North and Route 2A West into Colchester — making it one of the closest Lake Champlain beach options to the inn and a practical option for an afternoon swim or a morning paddle without a long drive.
Bayside Park — on the southern shore of the bay in Colchester — is a town-managed beach and park with swimming, picnic facilities, and a boat launch. The beach is sandy, the water is calm by Lake Champlain standards, and the park is far less crowded than Burlington's North Beach on summer weekends. It's the most straightforward lake access point in the area for guests who want to swim or sit on the water without committing to a full Burlington day. Confirm current parking fees and swimming conditions with Colchester Parks and Recreation before visiting.
Mallett's Bay's sheltered character makes it well-suited to kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding — the protected water is manageable for intermediate paddlers who might find the open lake intimidating. The bay's perimeter — heading north toward Colchester Point or south along the eastern shore — offers 3–5 miles of paddling with views across the bay to the Adirondacks. Local outfitters in the Burlington area offer kayak and SUP rentals; the boat launch at Bayside Park handles car-top boats.
Colchester Point Road, at the northern end of the bay, leads to the point where the Island Line Trail leaves the mainland and crosses Lake Champlain on a 3.3-mile former rail causeway. The causeway walk or ride offers some of the most dramatic open-water views available from the Vermont shore — lake on both sides, the Champlain Islands to the north and west, and the Green Mountains behind you to the east. The Island Line Trail is covered in more detail in the separate cycling guide; the Colchester Point access is the best place to experience the causeway on a shorter outing.
Mallett's Bay faces southwest across the lake to the Adirondacks — which makes it one of the best sunset-watching locations in the Burlington area. The Adirondacks' High Peaks catch the last light in a way that the Burlington waterfront's harbor configuration doesn't quite match. On clear evenings in summer, the light across the bay from Bayside Park or from the Colchester Point area is genuinely striking.
Mallett's Bay pairs naturally with a Burlington waterfront morning — start on Church Street and the Greenway, then head north to the bay for an afternoon swim before returning to the inn. It also works as a standalone destination for guests who want a low-key lake day without the activity level of the Burlington waterfront.
The drive back south from Colchester to Shelburne on US-7 passes through Williston's farm stand country and the edge of the Champlain Valley farmland — worth slowing down for in summer and fall. Shelburne Orchards (Harrington Rd, off US-7 south of the village) is worth a stop in apple season.
A sheltered bay on the northeastern side of Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vermont — calmer water, sandy beaches, and fewer crowds than Burlington's waterfront. Bayside Park is the main public access point.
On the southern shore of Mallett's Bay in Colchester — town beach with swimming, picnic areas, and a boat launch. Confirm current hours and parking fees with Colchester Parks and Recreation before visiting.
Yes — the Island Line Trail's 3.3-mile Lake Champlain causeway begins at Colchester Point, accessible via Colchester Point Road. The causeway is open to cyclists and walkers; the seasonal bike ferry connects to South Hero on the far side.
Approximately 15–20 minutes north via US-7 North and Route 2A West into Colchester.
Heart of the Village Inn is Vermont's only adults-only (21+) B&B in Shelburne Village — 15–20 minutes from Mallett's Bay. Made-from-scratch breakfast, free on-site parking, and a quiet Vermont village as your base for the lake.
Book Now ↗14.4 miles from Burlington to South Hero via a 3.3-mile Lake Champlain causeway — the Island Line begins at Colchester Point.
Pair a Mallett's Bay afternoon with a Burlington waterfront morning — cycling, lake cruises, and Church Street dining.
Private and shared sailing charters from Shelburne Bay, 5 minutes from the inn.