Sunday, Feb. 19 Trek to Knight Island State Park! Plus, Other Fun Events This Weekend and Next!

February 7, 2012

The bike on ice race begins!
(Frozen Regatta scheduled for Feb. 18)

The only time of year when skiing, walking, skating, and sledding can be done on Lake Champlain is now! As part of the Great Ice in Grand Isle celebration, Vermont State Parks is encouraging folks to get out on the ice by hosting a 'Trek to Knight Island' on Sunday, Feb. 19th from 11:00AM - 4:00PM.

Grab your skates, skis, snowshoes or sleds and make the trek to Knight Island State Park – which is only accessible by boat during the summer.

The hike to Knight Island is about 4 miles round trip leaving from North Hero’s welcome dock. Once there, you can also explore the island's trails before warming up at the rustic ranger station where you can enjoy hot beverages and island lore, compliments of Park Ranger Jim Putnam.

A family trekking across the ice to Knight Island State Park
(scheduled for Feb. 19)

Knight Island, acquired by the state in 1990, is one of three neighboring island parks in Lake Champlain’s “inland sea.” The others are Burton and Woods Island State Parks. This 185-acre island is a mile long and nearly a half-mile wide. The park includes all but 10-plus acres of private land on the island's southern tip. There’s no power on the island, so everything runs on wood or propane.

In addition to the 'Trek', check out the other celebration activities including a chili cook-off, a bonfire, hockey, dancing, skating, films, ice-golf, dog sledding and more! For a full listing of the details for this weekend and next, visit /events.htm.

View from Grand Isle across Lake Champlain to NY

The Great Ice in Grand Isle's schedule is weather dependent. For updates call the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce at 802-372-8400 or Hero’s Welcome General Store at 802-372-4161. You can also visit http://www.champlainislands.com/, http://www.heroswelcome.com/, http://www.northherohouse.com/. Also, there's free parking in North Hero Village.

See you there this weekend!