Juniper Island and Odziozo (Rock Dunder) 

Located on the western edge of Burlington Bay, Juniper Island is a dominant feature of the lakeview from Burlington. Home of a working lighthouse station since 1826, Juniper has been a guiding light for generations of boaters on Lake Champlain. Juniper's little neighboring island to the south has a big story. The rocky outcropping is called Odziozo by the Abenaki, the first people of the eastern Champlain Valley. Odziozo is believed to be the creator of the lake and land. Europeans renamed the rocky island Rock Dunder after a case of mistaken identity during  the French & Indian War (1754-1763).

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Red Rock and Shelburne Points

Forming the entrance to Shelburne Bay, these two points of land are a remarkable juxtaposition of geology. Red Rock Point gets its name from the Monkton Quartzite (Red rock) cliffs that jut out of the water. Just across the lake to the west is the low shale shoreline of Shelburne Point. Shelburne Point is home to the Shelburne Shipyard. The SSY has been in operation since 1826. It has produced steamships (including the Ticonderoga in 1903), PT-Boats during World War Two and continues to be home to the Lake Champlain Transportation Company's marine railway, used to haul ferry boats out the water for maintenance.

 

North Beach and Lone Rock Point

Lone Rock Point dominates the view to the north from the Burlington Waterfront. Tucked just inside the rocky point is Burlington's North Beach, a municipal beach and campground. Lone Rock Point is home to one of the region's geological highlights, the Champlain Thrust Fault. This dramatic horizontal fault line of dolostone atop shale is clearly visible on the western side of the point. 

 

Burlington Bay Shipwreck Tour

Lake Champlain has over 300 documented shipwrecks. Several of them are designated as Underwater Historic Preserves. Four of those dive sites are located in Burlington Bay. While this tour will not provide an opportunity for scuba diving, you will get to hear the stories of dramatic sinkings and daring rescues. 
 

Willsboro Bay (Extended Charter) 

Located on the New York side of the lake, Willsboro Bay evokes the fjords of Scandinavia. Here the Adirondack Mountains dive straight down into deep clear water. After crossing the broad lake, a cruise along the Willsboro shoreline will bring you below an active train trestle, past a crystal clear mountain stream and if time allows, perhaps a stop for ice cream at the Willsboro Bay Marina.

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Basin Harbor Club/Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (Extended Charter)

Located in the narrows of the lake, the historic Basin Harbor Club (since 1886) has been welcoming guest to its idyllic grounds, air strip and golf course for generations. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum abuts the Basin Harbor Club. The museum's campus contains the well curated and maintained collection of Lake Champlain artifacts and is home to two full-sized, sailing replicas, the Revolutionary War era Philadelphia II and the sailing canal schooner, Lois McClure. 

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Shelburne Farms (Extended Charter)

A tour along the west side of Shelburne Point affords views of the Adirondack mountains and a variety of pastoral landscapes and rugged shoreline of the point. The highlight of the trip is the Inn at Shelburne Farms. Built at the turn of the 20th century as the summer estate of the Webb family, the Inn today remains atop the bluff overlooking Saxon Point.

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Malletts Bay/Island Line Trail/Carleton's Prize (Extended Charter)

Malletts Bay's outer bay is hemmed in by a railroad causeway. The causeway, built in the late 1890s is now Local Motion's Island Line bike trail.  In addition to the thrill of riding on the narrow bike trail there is the Island Line Bike Ferry bringing cyclists across the 100 foot "cut" in the causeway.  Just to the west of the ferry crossing is Carleton's Prize. This small island owes its name to an incident in the aftermath of Revolutionary War era Battle of Valcour Island (October 1776).

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