Explore Burlington's Wild Places

Derway Island is actually not an island, but a peninsula! The park is a nature preserve acquired with help from The Nature Conservancy. Nearby Mayes Landing is a popular location for fishing and birding right at the mouth of the Winooski.

The Intervale is an incredible collection of land containing 360 acres of floodplain forests, historic agricultural land used for organic food production, community gardens, and historical sites.

Leddy Park may be well known for its sports venues, but it also contains natural areas ranging from the beach on Lake Champlain to an upland forest. An informal network of trails allows explorers to hike through the less used and shadier portions of the park.

North Beach is a popular spot for beach-goers but contains some intriguing natural features and activities. At the north-most point of Burlington Bay, North Beach is nestled into the arm of Rock Point, which is the peninsula which shelters this beach.

A delightful change from the crowded, groomed beaches farther south, the North Shore Natural Area is a wild place, offering a more peaceful place for watching shorebirds and sunsets on the shores of Lake Champlain.

The northern half of Oakledge Park is all about the beaches, while the southern portion of the park is where forests grow, meadows are being restored as bird habitat, and spring ephemerals bloom.

Salmon Hole Park is a beautiful place to watch the waters cascade down the Winooski River. Look for wildlife such as ducks, otters, and beavers. Below the Lower Falls Dam, steelheads, walleye, and, in the fall, landlocked Atlantic salmon spawn.

Arthur Park is a hotspot for winter recreation and exploration. Once accessible for most of the year, the Sea Caves which were created by the Champlain Sea are now best explored when winter ice is safe to traverse.

Not long ago, the Urban Reserve was an industrial complex on Burlington’s waterfront. Today the Reserve is one of the most scenic spots to stop along the Burlington Greenway.

Travel across 9 miles of the Burlington Wildways trail and explore the Wild Places network of public trails, parks, and natural areas.