Knight Island
Knight Island – Lake Champlain Islands
Knight Island – located in northern Lake Champlain) can only reached by boat. This 185-acre island is a mile long and nearly a half mile wide.
It is one of three neighboring islands in Lake Champlain’s “inland sea” just east of North Hero, Vermont that are part of the Vermont State Park system. The other two are Burton and Woods Island State Parks.
Knight Island State Park includes all but 10+ acres of private land on the island’s southern tip. When on Knight Island, please respect the rights of the park neighbor and keep off the southern end.
You must make your own arrangements to get to and from the island.
About Knight Island State Park:
Historically the island was farmed, then was uninhabited for many years. It was a privately operated primitive campground through the 1980’s. The owner lived year-round on the island and began a timber management program to supplement the camping operation.
Knight Island was acquired by the State of Vermont in 1990. Under Vermont state ownership, remote area camping is being continued on seven sites dotted around the island. Land management activities are those which will keep the island unique and unspoiled.
Knight Island is a “remote area” campground. Remote area campsites, while beautiful, are not for everybody. There are composting outhouses and is no potable water supply. The island’s seven campsites, six of them with rustic log lean-to’s, are situated approximately equidistant around the 2 ½- mile shoreline, and are connected by a trail system. This gives you great privacy, but it also means you’re going to have to walk. From the State dock, it’s anywhere from 1/3 of mile to a mile to the campsites, and while your water taxi operator may be able to get you closer, you shouldn’t bring anything you’re not prepared to carry in and carry out.
Camping is by reservation only on designated sites. A permit may be obtained at the caretaker’s residence on the west shore, and is necessary before setting up. Reservations (2-night minimum unless traveling by paddle-craft) made within two weeks of your proposed stay are handled through Burton Island State Park. Maximum eight (8) persons per site; fourteen (14) night maximum stay.
Fires are permitted in designated fire rings.
Getting to Knight Island State Park:
Knight Island is 2 miles east of North Hero village, and 5.5 miles northwest of Burton Island/Kill Kare State Parks. If you do not have a boat of your own, you will need to arrange water taxi service. Driftwood Tours, (802-373-0022) features a USCG-licensed captain and operates from Grand Isle County, Vermont. Rates vary by group size and pickup location.
If you have your own boat, be advised, there are no docks, so you’ll need to either beach it (it’s fairly rocky) or anchor off. Visitors should also be aware that weather conditions do occur which can make travel on Lake Champlain hazardous. Delays in getting to and from the Island are not uncommon.
Options for Knight Island parking include Knight Point State Park in North Hero (a three-mile crossing) or Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans (a five-mile crossing), where there is no parking fee for Knight Island campers.
If launching a power boat, Kill Kare is your best option. Knight Point is fine for kayaks and canoes. The closest access (2 miles) is from North Hero village, where you may arrange private parking ($) through Hero’s Welcome General Store: 802-372-4161. If traveling to Knight Island via water taxi, you should make your own parking and pickup arrangements through your water taxi operator.
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