Wow! Just wow! This is by far the coolest trail I've ever ridden! The Island Line trail is a 14 mile out and back, (28 miles total) mixed surface rails-to-trails path around and across Lake Champlain.
The trail originates in downtown Burlington, which I thought might be problematic, but finding a parking spot was actually super easy. I chose to park in the paid lot near the ECHO Science Center, but street parking was also available. (My van is big and I tend to avoid parallel parking at all cost.) There are restrooms near the trailhead and a variety of shops and restaurants scattered about. If you've never been to Burlington, definitely check it out. The area around Lake Champlain is absolutely beautiful.
The first 7 miles of the trail are paved and maintained by the city of Burlington. This section parallels the lake and takes you through several beautiful neighborhoods. There are numerous places to stop and a variety of look out points with benches available. I felt completely safe at all points along this trail. On a beautiful weekday in June, I past about 20-25 people (most clustered around downtown Burlington or the causeway - the middle of the trail was comfortably empty.)
Even after reading numerous reviews before heading out, I was surprised to find that not only is this trail managed by two different organizations - the two sides are not actually connected. Getting from the paved portion of the Burlington Bike Path to the gravel rail trail across the Colchester Causeway requires some neighborhood navigation. A fact which as a dyslexic person with zero sense of direction, terrifies me. (I'm seriously someone who can get lost in my hometown grocery store.). Though it's only a few turns on quiet neighborhood roads (I encountered no cars on my journey), I was still surprised that no one seemed to mention this. I did manage to navigate from side to side, but mostly because I was able to spot another cyclist making the return trip.
The second portion of the trail starts from the parking lot at Airport Park. (A large park, playground, boat launch area. Restrooms , picnic tables, and water are available) The remainder of the trail is gravel and meanders briefly thru fields and bogs before reaching the Causeway. The Causeway itself is approximately 3 miles of Wow!
The Causeway trail comes to an abrupt end at "The Cut" - an open water section allowing boats to pass. There is a ferry service available, which for a small fee will usher you and your bike across the water, but I chose not to extend my ride.
Know before you go: Once out on the Causeway - the wind definitely picks up! Depending on the day, this might be a welcome relief or a real problem. I swear at times I felt like I was about to be blown off the trail! (on the plus side - even in mid-June, there were absolutely NO flying insects out there!)
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