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TRAILS & LAND

 An unspoiled wilderness within the City of Burlington, Rock Point is one of the most significant rare plant sites in Vermont. It contains rare and fragile plant species, upland wetland and cliff habitats for wildlife, and one of the most visible exposure of a dolomite thrust fault in North America. It is critically important that all visitors serve as responsible stewards of this land. We welcome community members and ask you to respect the guidelines below, which will keep this unique natural area protected for others to enjoy.

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Our trails are free and open to the public. To help our conservation efforts, please obtain a trail pass before arriving (see information below). Groups of more than 10 persons are requested to contact Rock Point Commons in advance of your arrival. 

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Please consider a voluntary contribution to support conservation efforts and Rock Point's mission to cultivate an inclusive, place-based community for education, spirituality, and environmental stewardship.

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Parking 

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We welcome visitors, but parking on Rock Point is very limited. The best way to access our trails by car  is by parking at Leddy Park and walking south on the bike path about 0.5 miles to the Holy Trinity Trail trailhead. 

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We offer limited trail parking at 5 Rock Point Road from dawn until dusk. Parking after dusk, and parking on the grass or along Rock Point Road is not permitted. Parking rules are strictly enforced and violators may be towed. 

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  • For additional overflow parking, we suggest parking at the following off-site locations: 

    • Leddy Beach parking lot is very close to the Holy Trinity trail head and a great place to start your hike

    • The parking lot at Institute Road and North Avenue

    • North Beach parking lot is very close to Lone Rock and Marsh Beach Trail (May-September only)

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Parking: To access, please drive down Rock Point Road and turn left after the bridge crossing. Continue driving down the path until you see signs for ADA parking.  Please note that access to this parking lot is unfortunately closed for much of the winter while the gravel road is covered in snow and ice. 

 

Trails

 

Rock Point offers over two miles of accessibly walking and hiking trails on 130 acres of privately owned and conserved land along the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington.  Our trails are available for public use thanks to a partnership with the Lake Champlain Land Trust and the City of Burlington (see guidelines). 

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Winter Trails

Nordic Skiing

 

With the help of super-volunteer David Lustgarten and the Burlington High School Nordic Ski Team, Rock Point maintains nearly 2 miles of groomed ski trails that connect with un-groomed trails in Arms Forest.  The groomed trails are open for walking as well, but please do not walk in the ski tracks.

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Winter Hiking Safety

 

Our hiking trails are open year-round, but please be aware that some areas become icy and dangerous in sections near 60ft cliff edges.  Wearing micro-spikes in these conditions is strongly recommended.  Stick to trails that you feel comfortable on, and turn around if you can't maintain stable footing.  This sign, posted at our kiosks, will help you choose the best trails for you.

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Donate to Support our Trails

 

There is no charge to visit Rock Point. Please consider a donation to support pour conseravtion efforts and our mission . Donations can be made through our website or you may also mail a check to Rock Point Commons, 5 Rock Point Road, Burlington, VT 50408.

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Suggested Donations:

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We appreciate your help to keep Rock Point a special place.

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Parking

Beach & Lake

 

While routes to the beach and lake can be found on our Trail Map, swimming at Rock Point is limited to those who are participating in Rock Point programs or staying at Rock Point Center.  Depending on the time of year, you may walk along the waterfront at certain locations, but we ask that you ALWAYS remain on designated trails and do not climb down the rocks; this is for your own safety and to protect our fragile shoreline ecosystem. Please respect the guidance of Rock Point Volunteers and staff if access to the beach and lake are not permitted during your visit. As a reminder, if you are planning to visit Rock Point, you must obtain a Property Pass. Be sure to read our Visitor Guidelines and download our Trail Map in advance of your journey.

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Rock Climbing at Lone Rock Point

(Advanced Climbers Only)

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Lone Rock Point is a spectacular and unique limestone crag less than 1 mile from downtown Burlington, VT.  It offers an amazing setting with difficult sport routes and magnificent views on the shores of Lake Champlain. Lone Rock Point Cliff is currently open to climbing under a special use agreement signed between CRAG-VT and the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. Access will only be maintained through strict adherence to the rules outlined below. Not following the property requirements may result in loss of access to the cliff.

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Lone Rock Point Cliff Use Guidelines

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  • All climbers must get a Rock Point Property Pass. We strongly suggest making a donation to the Rock Point Center as part of the process. It will help to mitigate costs incurred by CRAG-VT to ensure access and allow the Rock Point Center to continue to offer this unique property to the general public.

  • Every time that climbers access Lone Rock Point, they must sign in at the kiosk located at the Diocesan Offices parking lot and utilize the marked trail to reach the cliff. Please sign out when leaving.

  • Climbers must abide by closures as indicated on the calendar at the kiosk. CRAG-VT will try to keep climbers updated via their website at https://cragvt.org, however the Diocese reserves the right to close the property at any time.

  • The number of climbers is limited to 8 at any given time. Please check in with the register at the kiosk to ensure that there is adequate capacity.

  • Lone Rock Point is open during daylight hours for climbing. No camping or fires are permitted.

  • Practice "leave-no-trace" ethics and keep the area cleaner than you found it.

  • Stay on established trails and do not trample vegetation.

  • CRAG-VT and the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont are not responsible for any fixed anchors found at Lone Rock Point. We make no guarantees about the integrity of any hardware found at Lone Rock Point.

  • Climbing is restricted to currently established routes. In the future, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will consider opening more of the cliff to climbing provided that we have good compliance with the guidelines described here. Please do not add any additional fixed gear to the cliff without prior authorization from the Rock Point Management Committee.

  • Any issues with the process or the property may be directed to info@cragvt.org or the Rock Point liaison, Peter Clark.

 

Thank you for respecting the rules and please consider a donation of time or money to Rock Point and/or CRAG-VT to help keep Lone Rock Point open!

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