Signal Lost, Adventure Found: A 3-Day Guide to Summer in Northern Vermont
Updated: 2 days ago
This majestic corner of New England offers a rare chance to disconnect from life's digital distractions and fully reconnect with the wild. Over three days, this itinerary guides you through stunning landscapes, from serene lakeshores to mountain summits and hidden waterfalls. Whether you want to hike, kayak, or simply soak in the Vermont views, this guide helps you trade screen time for unforgettable memories.
Day 1: Lake Champlain
Start your morning at this legendary downtown Burlington staple that has been fueling locals, college students, and late-night crowds since 1989. Kountry Kart Deli or as its known to the locals "KKD" is located right on Main Street, it is famous for its fast, friendly service and heavy-hitting comfort food. While it serves up great deli sandwiches and burgers, KKD is truly iconic for its breakfast menu—most notably the "Shiner" sandwich series, piled high with eggs, hashbrowns, cheese, and your choice of meat on a roll or local bagel.
Fuel up and take a ten minute stroll towards the waterfront to Local Motion Bike Rentals. I highly recommend grabbing an E-bike. The trail isnt hard, but it is quite long. It typically takes 2 to 3 hours on a standard bike, or about 1.5 hours on an e-bike. You don't have to navigate busy downtown traffic or cross major roads; you simply grab your gear, step outside, and immediately start pedaling down the The Island Line Trail. Heading north, you'll pass beautiful public beaches and nature reserves. These lead to the Colchester Causeway, a spectacular 3-mile trail that extends into the middle of Lake Champlain. It offers panoramic views of Vermont's Green Mountains and New York's Adirondacks
Drop your bike off and jump in the car for a quick 7 minute drive to Citizen Cider's Press House Pub a fantastic lunchtime destination for food lovers, even if you are skipping the drinks entirely. They have a mouthwatering menu of elevated comfort food that you won’t find at a standard burger joint. The kitchen shines by infusing local apples and ciders directly into the food, resulting in incredible dishes like their signature apple smash burgers, and crispy cider-brined wings tossed in apple buffalo sauce.
After lunch, stroll down the road 2 minutes you'll find Oakledge Park. This park offers beach access where you can rent a kayak and paddle along the lake’s shoreline. PaddleSurf Champlain manages the watercraft rentals directly at the beachfront. As you paddle out of the cove, you get wide, unobstructed views of Lake Champlain and the dramatic Adirondack Mountains rising across the water.
When you return to shore make sure to not miss out on Oakledge Parks hidden gem. Tucked into a shaded grove just steps from the bike path and kayak rentals, lies the Forever Young Treehouse. Looking out through the branches, you get a beautiful birds-eye view of Oakledge Park’s sprawling green lawns.
As evening approaches, make your way to Church Street Marketplace. This four-block open-air pedestrian mall located in the heart of downtown Burlington was named the #1 Best Public Square in America. In the evenings Church Street shifts from a sunny shopping hub into a lively, glowing nightlife district. The historic brick buildings light up, and the energy moves toward outdoor dining, craft cocktails, and live music, its the perfect stroll before dinner.
For dinner, drive or walk over to the Burlington waterfront dock and dine at Spot on the Dock serving up surf-inspired plates and tropical cocktails. It is widely considered the ultimate destination for catching the sunset over Lake Champlain and it's the perfect spot to finish off your first day.
Day 2: Waterfalls and Whales
Wake up early, grab a quick breakfast and jump in the car for a 45 minute drive out to Bartlett Falls. The waterfall sits directly off Lincoln Road. You simply park your vehicle on the side of the road and take a 1-to-2-minute walk down a short, steep dirt path directly to the water's edge. In the early morning, light filters softly through the dense tree canopy. It often creates a misty, ethereal glow and morning rainbows in the rising river mist.
Continue your waterfall adventures at Warren Falls. A 25 minute drive and you'll reach the gorge. The path is exceptionally easy, requiring a flat, five-minute walk along a 0.1-mile path right off Route 100. It is a legendary summer destination, Its the perfect spot to spend the rest of the morning swimming, sun bathing, or just relaxing in the shade.
When you start feeling hungry head 3 minutes up the road to the Warren Store. Famous for its massive, gourmet sandwiches, house-made soups, and fresh salads, making it the ultimate pitstop to pack a picnic for nearby Blueberry Lake only 10 minutes away. The water is super calm and clear, making it act like a giant mirror for the Green Mountains. In the summer, you get bright green lily pads and blue berries lining the shore, and by fall, the whole place explodes with red and orange leaves.
After your picnic lunch lets move 15 minutes north and visit The Mad River Green a prominent, mixed-use commercial shopping center and community hub located in Waitsfield. Serving as a central gathering place for the Mad River Valley community, the complex features distinct red grain silos and hosts more than 15 local storefronts, professional offices, and a grocery store. From May through October, the green truly comes alive on Saturdays as it plays host to the renowned Waitsfield Farmers' Market.
Lets get back on the water, continue 30 minutes to the Waterbury State Park, Only a $5 entrance fee and then you can rent a kayak to explore the area. Umiak Outdoor Outfitters operates an on-site rental outpost right at the state park beach. For $15 you'll get an hour to paddle out onto the perfectly serene lake, a perfect low-stress late afternoon activity.
Since were already in Waterbury lets move downtown for some dinner at The Reservoir, a down-to-earth restaurant and premier craft beer destination. The kitchen delivers high-quality, scratch-made comfort food that elevates classic pub fare by highlighting fresh, locally sourced Vermont ingredients. They balance pub staples with creative entrées like a dry-rubbed ribeye with fresh chimichurri, homestyle meatloaf in a savory sage gravy, and unique handhelds like a hot honey chicken sandwich.
On the way back to Burlington make sure to not miss watching the sunset at the Reverence (Whales Tails) sculpture offering a stunning backdrop of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. A massive public art sculpture that shows two giant whale tails "diving" into a grassy hillside. It seems weird for landlocked Vermont, but thousands of years ago, the area was actually covered by the prehistoric Champlain Sea, and real whale fossils have been found nearby. Catching them at sunset is a must because the sun drops right behind the tails to the west, silhouetting the granite against the colorful sky.
Day 3: Lake Willoughby
On your final day, prepare for a road trip northeast to Westmore, a remote area near Vermont’s border. This drive takes you a little less then 2-hours but takes you through quiet country roads and scenic views, setting the tone for a day of exploration.
Along the way make a stop at Einstein Bros. Bagels only 15 minutes away and it'll keep you from starving on the drive to Westmore. While it offers their signature national menu of classic bagels, shmears, and hot breakfast sandwiches. The main draw is their selection of Signature Egg Sandwiches, which use two cage-free eggs layered with thick-cut bacon or sausage, melted cheese, and unique spreads.
Continue on to Westmore and spend the afternoon at Lake Willoughby, known for its dramatic cliffs and deep glacial waters. It is renowned for its crystal-clear, exceptionally clean waters and dramatic landscape. You can relax on the sandy beaches at either, The North: A wide, a quarter-mile-long sandy beach that is highly popular for families, sunbathing, building sandcastles, and photography. The South: Tucked inside a forest cove, this beach offers stunning views. A portion of the southwest cove is locally recognized as a clothing-optional nudist beach.
Go ahead and visit White Caps Campground on the South End, they provide single kayak rentals directly across the street from Lake Willoughby's South Beach for $35 for three hours with all necessary paddles, life jackets, and they haul the kayak to the beach for you!
Now that you've got your kayak you can paddle out to the East side of the Lake to Devils Rock. It features a distinct red painting of a devil on the rock face. Historical records show it has been mentioned since the 1800s, though its original painter remains a mystery. When the water is completely still, its reflection is said to look like a skull lying on its side.
Paddling close to the base of Mount Hor on the west side and Mount Pisgah on the east. From here you can look straight up at 1,000-foot vertical granite cliffs. From your kayak, you can see massive slopes and giant boulder fields that have broken off the cliffs over thousands of years and tumbled right down into the water.
Keep an eye out for local wildlife; the lake is famous for its resident loons, but local folklore insists on a lake monster named "Willy".
Before you start your way back to Burlington grab something small to eat at The Willoughby Lake Store it functions as a classic Vermont country kitchen, preparing a variety of made-to-order comfort foods daily on their house-baked signature rolls. During the peak summer season, the options expand to include traditional Vermont maple creemees from the ice cream window.
Make sure to leave enough time to get to your last activity, you'll want to leave Lake Willoughby by 3-3:30 so you can have enough time to make it back to board the Spirit of Ethan Allen in Burlington for a 2-hour sunset cruise, Most of the cruises are departing around 6-6:30pm but ask you arrive a half hour early to board. For around $70 you can take in the views of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, and the Adirondacks as the sunset dances across the sky reflecting in the lake below.
Things to Remember:
Prepare for Dead Zones: Cell service can drop out completely in mountainous areas
Swimming: Willoughby stays cold — 60s even in August. Champlain’s bays are 70s. Swimming holes can be chilly!
Parking: Small lots at trailheads fill by 10am on summer weekends.
Layer Your Clothing: While summer days are warm and pleasant, evening mountain temperatures drop quickly. Always pack a light sweater or fleece jacket for outdoor night events.
Bring Bug/Sunscreen: Despite the northern location and high tree canopy coverage, Vermont surprisingly has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the country. Apply high SPF regularly. Same thing goes for Bug spray, if you're in the woods put it on.
Order a Creemee: Do not call it soft serve. Vermont’s signature maple creemees. Grab one at a roadside stand or farm store.
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