Lake Champlain Byway

The Lake Champlain Byway is located in the northwest portion of the state. From north to south, the formal route is 184 miles long and consists of U.S. Route 2 through Grand Isle County, U.S. Route 7 through Chittenden County and then south to into Addison County. It is comprised of 22 communities along this route and more than 200 intrinsic resource sites (parks, boat launches, trails, natural areas, museums, etc.) managed by government entities and non-profits. Plan your visit to the Byway at www.lakechamplainbyway.com. The Byway is managed by the Lake Champlain Byway Council with a 12-member board consisting of representatives from the region’s three Regional Planning Commissions, its two Chambers, Lake Champlain Bikeways, the Lake Champlain Basin Program and five at-large members.

Chittenden County hosts eight Byway communities: Milton, Colchester, Winooski, Essex Junction, Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne and Charlotte.

Details on attractions/sites in these eight communities can be found in this interactive online map or a standard paper map.

If you live in the United States and would like the paper map mailed to you, please send an email to dalbrecht@crpcvt.org with your name and address.

Lastly be sure to check out our mobile story map which features audio stories focused on the history and environment in our eight Byway towns. Also, please be sure to visit the website of our 2021 Season sponsor, Hello Burlington at www.helloburlington.com to learn about other things to do, shopping, lodging, and dining in northwestern Vermont.

management of the byway

The Byway is managed by the Lake Champlain Byway Council with a 12-member board consisting of representatives from the region’s three Regional Planning Commissions, its two Chambers, Lake Champlain Bikeways, the Lake Champlain Basin Program and five at-large members. Management and development of the Byway is informed by its three respective Corridor Management Plans for each of the three counties (Grand Isle, Chittenden and Addison) traversed by the route of the Byway. The purpose of these Plans is to outline protection and enhancement of the byway’s intrinsic qualities and character.

The 2017 Lake Champlain Byway Chittenden County Corridor Management Plan sets forth three broad objectives:

  1. Transportation Improvements
    To enhance transportation infrastructure and develop programs and projects that improve all travel modes, improve safety and enhance the traveler experience.
  1. Intrinsic Resources & Partnerships
    To create and support educational and recreational opportunities for visitors through strong partnerships with organizations, businesses, nonprofit groups and agencies that have an interest in the intrinsic resources of the Byway.
  1. Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development:
    To promote and enhance tourism opportunities for the region through sustainable economic development and conservation of intrinsic resources.

To learn more: