About Causeway Island Line Rail Trail

The Island Line Trail, also known as the Colchester Causeway, is a 13.4-mile rail trail located in Vermont. It follows the route of the Island Line railroad, which was built in 1901 by the Rutland Railroad. The trail runs through Burlington, Colchester, and South Hero and includes a 200-foot gap that allows boat traffic to pass through. In the summer months, a donation-based ferry operates to transport trail users across the gap.

Getting there

History of the Island Line Railroad

The Island Line railroad provided passenger service until 1953, when a strike by employees caused the service to end. The railroad closed completely in 1961 after two more strikes. In 1963, the state of Vermont purchased the abandoned railroad lines, except for the Island Line, and leased them to the Vermont Railway and the Green Mountain Railroad for freight service.

Restoring service on the Island Line would have required extensive rebuilding, including renovations of the three swing bridges along the route. Ultimately, the swing bridges were removed, but the roadbed on the causeway was preserved.

Alignment along the shores of Lake Champlain was converted into the Burlington Bike Path, which later took on the Island Line name when the causeway was reopened along with a seasonal bike ferry.

Our Visit to The Rail Trail

It was a beautiful day in Vermont when we decided to visit the Island Line Rail Trail. We had heard so much about this scenic biking trail that we couldn’t wait to see it for ourselves. We were camping locally in Colchester and the rail trail is nearby to where we were staying.

We arrived at the entrance in South Hero and parked our car. As we geared up and prepared to hit the trail, we were filled with excitement and anticipation.

We started our ride across the causeway, taking in the stunning views of the lake on either side. The sun was shining and the sky was a bright, clear blue and the wind was welcomed to help keep us cool. It was the perfect day for a bike ride.

As we rode along, we saw all sorts of wildlife. Otters were playing on the trail, and we stopped to watch them for a while. They were so cute and playful, running back and forth on the trail and in between and over the rocks that are on either side of the trail.

We also saw lots of different birds along the way. As we biked past the various islands, we spotted seagulls and ducks, and even a hawk perched on a tree branch. It was amazing to see so much wildlife in such a beautiful setting.

Eventually, we reached the gap that required us to take the bike ferry. We stopped here and had a small snack. We did not cross over to the other side during this visit, but plan to on our next.

As the day came to a close, we were tired but happy. It had been an incredible experience to visit the Island Line Rail Trail, and we were already planning our next trip back.

We have been to this rail trail on three separate occasions already and absolutely love it. It is a must see place every time we are in northern Vermont.

Pictures of the Island Line Rail Trail Going Over Lake Champlain