/-73.2946667,44.77165,8,0/280x280?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiYXNwaXJhLW1hcHMiLCJhIjoiY2tlYmxiaWt3MDMwcTJ5cDN5bGwzZTUwNCJ9.IK2OEvl3EWmVLXYD9Rnedw "Find other facilities on map")
This day use park on North Hero Island opened as a state park in 1978, but its history goes back much further. John Knight, the point's first resident, began ferry service between the islands in 1785. His family operated a ferry until the first bridge opened in 1892. The historic Knight Point house is a parks staff residence. The wooden frame wing is a reconstruction of the Knight Tavern, an inn built in 1790 for travelers crossing between the islands. The brick section of the building, added to the tavern in 1845, has an unusual two-story porch. The park is known for it's vast expanses of lawn and interesting specimen trees and is a quiet place to enjoy Lake Champlain.
Expansive lawns are the center of this 54-acre day use park. The lawn becomes meadow west of the developed area, where the forest along the lakeside is a substantial natural feature. Besides stands of mature, windswept oak and maple on the point, hickory and hop hornbeam are found further inland. Tight clusters of cedar trees enhance the beauty and wildlife cover of the area. The cobbled shoreline, west of the swimming beach and extending around the point, is a State Natural Area. It's the largest undisturbed example of this type of natural community on Lake Champlain, and is home to an unusually diverse group of rare plant species. The land you can see south of Knight Point is Grand Isle. The channel between the islands is known as "The Gut" and is one of only three navigable routes between the main body of Lake Champlain, and the lake's "inland sea", east of the drawbridge. It's the only one suitable for sailboats and large cruisers. There is usually plenty of boat traffic to watch, right from the beach.
Excellent swimming, boating, fishing, easy hiking and picnicking. Canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards are available to rent.
There is a large picnic pavilion that can seat up to 100 people and has electricity grills, picnic tables and restrooms nearby. There is a sandy swimming beach and shaded and open picnic areas.
Hackett's Orchard, Isle La Motte, Lake Champlain Ferries, Snowfarm Vineyard, Church Street Marketplace.
Park Address: 44 Knight Point RD, North Hero, VT 05474
