Swimming near the Mt. Philo Inn

Stay in one of our peaceful well-appointed 3 bedroom suites at a state park with great lake views. The inn is close to many of Lake Champlain’s best beaches

Miles of coastline with great swimming

  • Charlotte Town beach: 4 mi

  • Thompson's Point: 3 locations. Ask innkeepers for directions: 3 mi

  • Kingsland Bay State Park: 10 mi

  • Button Bay State Park: 15 mi

  • North Beach: 17 mi

  • Lake Iroquios: 15 mi

  • Oakledge Park: 12 mi

  • Twin Oaks club: 12 mi

  • YMCA: 15 mi

  • Huntington Gorge: 16 mi

  • Bartlett Falls: 18 mi

Esquire Magazine rated Charlotte Town Beach as one of New Englands 5 best in 2009:  "Charlotte beach ain't dotted with cabanas or lapped by azure waters. The shoreline is several centuries from becoming sand, and the water is the dark 120 mile-long Lake Champlain, known for its whipping winds. But after a long northeast winter, you'd think it was the Riviera. Stop at the Old Brick Store for grub and watch the sun warm the Adirondacks across the lake". On Lake Road at the Holmes Covered Bridge

Thompsons point map2.png

The old dock at the end of Thompsons Point, 1908

Thompson's Point:  The town of Charlotte owns picturesque Thompson's Point, leasing lots to summer guests for 100 years.  There are 4 great public, quiet swimming locations:

  • Thompson's Point: The old concrete dock at the very end of the point, Fantastic views of the broad lake.

  • Deer Point, on the northeast side toward the back of Converse Bay, at the ferry landing for Garden Island. A concrete pier

  • Point Bay Marina A boat launch. Enter the marina and bear left in the parking area

  • Whiskey Bay, my favorite, at the end of Town Way on the southwest. Please stay on the public north side of the beach

Kingsland Bay, Ferrisburgh:  An amazing protected bay with great swimming from a concrete dock, with several grassy acres with enormous trees to stretch out on your blanket,  Visitors can enjoy the picnic areas and historic buildings of the park, or rent a canoe/kayak for an easy paddle around.

Much of the 264 acres, along the shores of Lake Champlain, remains as a natural area. The historic Hawley House (1790) is part of the complex. No dogs

All dogs agree that neighboring Ferrisburgh Town Beach, in Ferrisburgh, is a better choice for them. Use the beach right at the parking area at the end of the bay. Walk down the dirt road, then go right on the trail along the water for a series of secluded locations, with some great 6 foot jumps into the gorgeous water  

 

Huntington Gorge, Huntington is as famous for its multiple swimming holes as it is for its frightening death toll racked up in the last half-century. Two dozen tragedies over the last sixty years.

There are many wonderful swimming holes around the gorge with no danger whatsoever.  Choose one of them! Don't be stupid.  Have a great time.  

Oakledge Park, Burlington: Located at the end of Flynn Avenue in Burlington's South End,  features 2400' of waterfront, Oakledge includes a swimming beach with a rocky shore and spectacular sunsets. Purchased by the City in 1970, Oakledge Park was created on the site of the last of the Webb family farm barns and Oakledge Manor, which were bulldozed to make way for the park's construction. Park facilities include a playground, three tennis courts, two softball fields, a multi-use field, volleyball courts, walking trails and two picnic shelters with restrooms, picnic tables and grills. Oakledge marks the southern end of the Burlington Bike Path, which cuts through the park. Note, there is no lifeguard coverage at Oakledge Park.