Paddling/Boat Access

Paddling Vermont

Long before European trappers and settlers set foot in what is now Vermont, the area’s rivers carried Mohawk and Abenaki across mountains and meadows. The landscape has changed – beaver-filled wetlands are now farm fields, towering forests are now woodlots – but many of Vermont’s rivers still welcome paddlers three-seasons a year. Popular rivers include the wide Connecticut and the wild Nulhegan, the meandering Missisquoi or Lamoille, and the rocky White.

Vermont River Conservancy has worked to protect access to dozens of places to launch a canoe or kayak, and maintains steps and portage trails around dams and falls. Many of these sites are part our work to create opportunities for day and overnight paddling trips, giving people a range of opportunities to experience Vermont’s waterways. Our conservation efforts make several paddlers’ trails possible:  Lamoille Paddlers’ Trail, Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail, and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

The Future

From end to end, every one of Vermont’s many rivers flow almost entirely through private land. Without action to permanently protect public access, paddlers could easily be cut-off from the river any time land changes hands.

This is exactly why Vermont River Conservancy works to secure access to rivers. Our conservation easements make sure kids and families generations from now will still have access to the places we love. Plus, we build stairs, ramps, and trails to make access even easier. Discover Vermont’s canoe and kayak sites, then invest in the future of the places you love with a gift today.