Lake Champlain Islands Complex

General information on boating includes safety tips with links to rules and regulations and lists of DEC boat launches by county.

The islands can be accessed by boat from one of four DEC boat launches or from any of the numerous municipal and private boat launches and marinas.

Peru Dock Boat Launch has a macadam surface approach which is large enough to accommodate large car and trailer units. The ramp extends 50 feet and is outfitted with aluminum floating docks with accessibility features. Additionally, there is a boat pump out for boats equipped with sanitary facilities.

Port Douglas Boat Launch has a modern two-lane concrete launch ramp with aluminum floating docks with accessibility features.

Willsboro Bay Boat Launch has a launch apron wide enough for large boats and vehicles to turn around. The concrete ramp is a twin, two-lane launch with aluminum floating docks with accessibility features. This spacious site has parking space for 100 cars and trailers. Additionally, there is a boat pump out for boats equipped with sanitary facilities.

Westport Boat Launch has a modern two-lane concrete ramp with aluminum floating docks with accessibility features. The parking area can accommodate 30 cars with trailers and has 6 car-only lanes.

Docks are removed from DEC boat launches each year in late October.

Valcour Island has only one usable dock at this time which is located at the Seton House near the southern end of the island. Most campsites and picnic areas can be directly accessed by small boats. Do not tie off to trees.

Small boats can access Valcour Island on the shores of Bulhead Bay, North Bay, Butterfly Bay (including the "picnic area"), and in the vicinity of campsites 21 and 22 on the eastern shore.

Valcour Island, Schuyler Island and Cole Island are popular anchorages for cabin cruisers and other large boats.

General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The islands can be accessed by boat from one of four DEC boat launches or from any of the numerous municipal and private boat launches and marinas. The DEC boat launches are Peru Dock, across from the Valcour Island Lighthouse; Port Douglas, southwest of Schuyler Island; Willsboro Bay, seven miles south of Port Douglas; and Westport, 5 miles north of Cole Island.

Valcour Island has only one usable dock at this time which is located at the Seton House near the southern end of the island. Paddlers can access Valcour Island on the shores of Bulhead Bay, North Bay, Butterfly Bay (including the "picnic area"), and in the vicinity of campsites 21 and 22 on the eastern shore.

Valcour Island and Schuyler Island are part of the Lake Champlain Paddlers Trail (leaves DEC website).

Lake Champlain is part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (leaves DEC website).

Lake Champlain is used by motor boats of all sizes. Waves can be extremely big when it is windy especially if the wind is out of the north or the south. Paddlers should use caution - paddle during the morning when winds are low and stick close to shore as much as possible.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations. You can ensure of continued good fishing opportunities in the future by fishing responsibly. If you have never been fishing but want to try, it's easy to learn how to fish.

Anglers may use the same hand launches as paddlers, the same boat launches as boaters and the same campsites as campers to access and fish Lake Champlain.

Lake Champlain is a popular fishing location for a number of gamefish species. The populations of landlocked Atlantic salmon and lake trout continue to improve as does the size of the fish being caught thanks to the efforts to control sea lamprey populations in the lake.

The lake is also popular with bass anglers - a number of tournaments are held on the lake annually. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found in bays, on shoals and along the shorelines, particularly around the islands.

Lake Champlain also contains northern pike, pickerel, carp, bullhead, sucker, and panfish such as yellow perch, black crappie, white crappie, white perch, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish and smelt.

Exotic species such as bowfin, burbot (ling), sheepshead (freshwater drum), and longnose gar also are found in the lake.

Guides and charters are available for fishing in Lake Champlain and can be found through Fishing Lake Champlain (leaves DEC website) or Lake Champlain Region (leaves DEC website).

Special fishing regulations (leaving DEC website to official Fishing Regulations Guide vendor website) apply and ice fishing is allowed. Willsboro Bay Boat Launch is commonly used to access the ice on Willsboro Bay in the winter and the municipal boat launch in Port Henry provides access to Bulwagga Bay for ice anglers.

A reciprocal licensing agreement allows anglers with either a New York or Vermont fishing license in much of the Lake. Check to be sure which part of the lake is included or excluded from the reciprocal license agreement.

General information on Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing provides information on fishing in the Adirondacks and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The 12 miles of hiking trails on Valcour Island are the only designated trails on any of the islands. The trail system extends from the southern end, looping around the circumference, and includes two bisector trails that cut through the center of the island. The trails around the island provide for an excellent natural experience and offer great scenic vistas.

Valcour Island has only one usable dock at this time which is located at the Seton House near the southern end of the island. Paddlers and small boats can access the island on the shores of Bulhead Bay, North Bay, Butterfly Bay (including the "picnic area"), and in the vicinity of campsites 21 and 22 on the eastern shore.

Valcour Island Lighthouse Loop Trail is a 0.6-mile trail that circles around Bluff Point Lighthouse.

Valcour Island Perimeter Trail is a 9.2-mile trail around the perimeter of the island, mostly in sight of the water. There are three scenic overlooks from the top of the cliffs on the eastern shore of the island. The trail connects with the Valcour Island Lighthouse Loop and passes the Seton House where it can be accessed from the docks. All of the campsites and picnic areas connect to the trail either directly or via spur trails.

Royal Savage Trail extends 1.4 miles in an arc between the eastern and western sections of the Valcour Island Perimeter Trail in the northern portion of the island.

Nomad Trail extends 1.2 miles between the eastern and western sections of the Valcour Island Perimeter Trail near the center of the island.

Campsite Connector Trail extends 0.2 mile from the perimeter trails to Campsites 13 and 14 on the eastern shore of the island.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Valcour Island has 29 designated primitive tent camping sites on its shores. Campsites contain pit privies and fire rings. Some campsites also have picnic tables.  

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day campsites are restricted to camping by permit only, available on a first come - first served basis. Sites are marked with a yellow "Camp Here" disc and a site number. All sites require a free permit, which are not reservable. Campers can set up at any vacant, designated campsite and the DEC Valcour Island caretaker will visit your campsite to provide a permit during their regular site visit. Permits are not obtainable unless you are already at the campsite.

For questions about camping permits, contact the Caretaker at (518) 561-0570.

For additional questions, please call 518-897-1200.

Valcour Island campsites are very popular. Give yourself plenty of time for a return trip as it is possible all sites may already be occupied. Most, but not all, tent sites can be accessed directly from the water. Paddlers and small boats can access the island on the shores of Bullhead Bay, North Bay, Butterfly Bay (including the "picnic area"), and in the vicinity of tent sites 21 and 22 on the eastern shore and use the Valcour Island Perimeter Trail and other trails to access the tent sites.

Schuyler Island has three campsites on its western shore which are connected by a 0.3-mile trail. Paddlers and small boats can access the island near the campsites.

Campers who prefer more amenities may camp at the nearby Ausable Point Campground and Crown Point Campground and boat or paddle to the islands.

General Information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules & regulations.

Hunting is allowed on all of the islands. Hunters may use the parking areas and trails used by hikers; the hand launches used by paddlers and the boat launches used by boaters to access the lands and waters.

Valcour Island and Schuyler Island both have resident white-tailed deer populations. Deer hunting is encouraged on the islands to protect native vegetation from over browsing.

Waterfowl hunting is popular on and around the islands.

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trapping is allowed on all of the islands. Trappers may use the parking areas and trails used by hikers; the hand launches used by paddlers and the boat launches used by boaters to access the lands and waters.