Burton Island State Park - St. Albans Bay, Vermont

Burton Island State Park - St. Albans Bay, Vermont

Open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend this park is accessible only by boat but it is certainly worth the trip.  Burton Island sits on 253 acres just off the southwestern tip of St. Albans Point in Lake Champlain's "Inland Sea".  There is a state passenger ferry that makes the 10 minute trip from Kill Kare State Park for those that don't come on their own boat and use one of the islands marina and one of their 100 slips.

The islands use as a farming site can still be seen in the fence lines and stone piles, rusted farm implements and the foundation of the old barn left over from as early as the 1840's.  It was used as pasture land for cows, pigs, sheep and pigs over its history.

In 1902 Sidney Burton built a hunting and fishing camp on the island.  In the 1950's the island was sold to Randall Dimon who used the summer cottage for many years and then sold the island to the state of Vermont in 1962.

Burton Island State Park was opened for the public in 1964.  By design it has been kept free of cars.  The marina was built to accommodate boats and the ferry was implemented in the 1980's.  Obviously it is a great location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and all the cars on the highways and just enjoy the peace and quite of the island.

Kill Kare State Park provides support facilities for Burton Island, including parking lots, a boat ramp and the ferry dock and breakwater. Kill Kare is a day use park with a swimming beach, picnic area and group shelter. Renovated in 1982, the 1870’s-era railroad resort hotel on the grounds now includes staff housing and public rest rooms. The lobby first floor lobby includes historic photos of both parks.

Burton Island State Park has 17 tent sites and 26 lean-to sites plus 15 boat moorings and the 100 slip marina with Wi-Fi (so you aren't totally without communication ability in this peaceful setting).  There is dockside electricity, fuel service, and a marine holding=tank pump out facility.  Rest rooms on the island have running water and hot showers (for a fee).

Kick back and enjoy the three miles of shoreline, the hiking trails, a nature center/museum, the park store and food service and the typical things to rent such as rowboats, canoes and enjoy the places to swim and picnic in peace.

Burton Island camping reservations:

Unlike other parks, reservations for Burton Island campsites open up eleven months in advance on the 15th of the month or the first business day thereafter. They do this so that they can devote all their energies to serving Burton customers on these busy days.

Address:  Burton Island
Box 123
St. Albans Bay, VT 05481 

Phone(s):  (802) 524-6353 Business (voice)
 
Contact(s):  Rochelle Skinner
 
Email:  parks@state.vt.us 

Directions:
From St. Albans Bay: Go 3-1/2 mi SW on Town Road, Lake Road and Point Road to Kill Kare State Park. Passenger Ferry to Burton Island which is accessible only by boat; no vehicles. Ferry runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($)

N44 46.353 W73 12.289