Grand Isle State Park
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Vermont — On the shores of Lake Champlain with panoramic views of the Adirondack Mountains across the water — Grand Isle is part of a chain of islands connected by causeways. The park offers some of Vermont’s best sunset views over the lake, plus excellent lake trout and walleye fishing!
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Vermont |
About Grand Isle
Grand Isle State Park on South Hero Island in Lake Champlain provides lakefront camping with views of the Green Mountains (east) and Adirondacks (west). The Champlain Islands — a chain of islands in the 120-mile-long lake — were settled by French Canadians in the late 1700s. The park features a 1783 log cabin — the oldest in Vermont — built by Revolutionary War veteran Jedediah Hyde Sr.
Things to Do
Camping with mountain views, swimming, fishing for landlocked salmon and bass, visiting the 1783 Hyde Log Cabin (oldest in Vermont), boating on Lake Champlain, and biking the Island Line Trail.
Plan Your Visit
Grand Isle offers 117 campsites, a day-use beach, and boat access to Lake Champlain. The 1783 Hyde Log Cabin — oldest in Vermont — is on the park grounds. The Island Line Trail connects the Champlain Islands by bike. South Hero Winery, Snow Farm Vineyard, and multiple orchards make the islands a culinary destination. The Lake Champlain Ferries connect to New York’s Adirondacks. Open May through October; reserve campsites early for summer.
Nature & Wildlife
Lake Champlain supports over 80 fish species including landlocked Atlantic salmon, lake trout, and walleye. The “Champ” legend — a reported lake monster — has been part of regional lore since 1609 when Samuel de Champlain allegedly reported a strange creature. The Champlain Islands are a major stopover on the Atlantic Flyway — warblers, vireos, and thrushes pass through in enormous numbers during May migration.
Insider Tips
Lake Champlain islands: Grand Isle sits in the Lake Champlain Islands — connected to the mainland by bridges and causeways. Pro tip: The Hyde Log Cabin on Grand Isle (1783) is one of the oldest log cabins in the US. Apple orchards: The Champlain Islands have a unique microclimate (lake-moderated) that supports apple orchards unusual for this latitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Lake Champlain special?
Lake Champlain is 120 miles long, up to 400 feet deep, and straddles VT-NY-Quebec — it was a critical military corridor from the French and Indian Wars through the War of 1812. Benedict Arnold’s 1776 naval battle at Valcour Island delayed a British invasion by a year — possibly saving the Revolution. The lake supports 80+ fish species and its own legendary monster, “Champ.” The Champlain Valley’s fertile farmland contrasts with Vermont’s mountain terrain.
