Alburg Dunes State Park in Vermont, USA - map and visitor information

Alburgh Dunes State Park protects a sandy Lake Champlain shore in northwestern Vermont. Its beach faces south, with dunes and wetlands behind it. Visit for a swim, a walk beside the lake or a picnic, while keeping clear of the fragile dune vegetation.

Beach and wetland highlights

• A long sandy shoreline. The Lake Champlain beach is the focus of a summer visit, with room to walk as well as swim.
• Two sides of the landscape. A path between the dunes and wetland lets you combine a beach walk with a different return route.
• A black spruce wetland. Behind the sand lies an unusual habitat for the relatively warm Champlain Valley. Look for wildlife from visitor routes.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

Bring drinking water: the park has no public drinking-water supply. Before swimming, check the state’s beach water results and closure notices. Follow any posted restriction at the beach rather than assuming that a planned swim will be possible.

Visit responsibly

Stay outside the dune fences. They protect plants such as Champlain beach grass and beach-pea, as well as sand that can erode when visitors make new paths. Pets are not permitted at this park. Fires are allowed only in the picnic grills at the west end of the beach. Use the beach and the designated path to explore without crossing protected vegetation.

Reservations and permits

Camping is not allowed at Alburgh Dunes. For the free beach access wheelchair, call the park in advance to check that it will be available for your visit. Without prior arrangements, use depends on whether another visitor is already using it. Confirm boat or paddleboard rental availability with park staff before making it central to your plans.

Maps, location, and access

The park is in Alburgh, Vermont, on Lake Champlain. From US 2 in South Alburgh, take Route 129 west for one mile. Turn left onto Route 129 Extension, then left onto Palmer’s Sand Beach Road. Continue about 1.5 miles to the entrance. The operator’s park page provides a Map and Guide for planning the visit. Use these entrance directions when navigating to the beach.

Nearby parks

• Knight Point State Park. In North Hero, this is another lakeside stop along the US 2 route through the Champlain Islands.
• Grand Isle State Park. Continue along the islands’ US 2 corridor toward Grand Isle for a second state park option. Check its seasonal access before adding it to the same day.

Things to do

• Walk a beach-and-path loop. Follow the shore toward the east end and return on the bicycle and pedestrian path, or reverse the order. The park describes this outing as about 1.25 miles.
• Swim in Lake Champlain. Plan around the beach’s operating season and current water notices.
• Paddle or fish. Boats are welcome, and the park lists boat and stand-up paddleboard rentals. Confirm equipment availability and applicable fishing requirements before the trip.
• Bring a picnic. Use the day-use field and picnic tables, then leave time for a short shoreline walk.

Facilities and accessibility

The west-end picnic area has parking, restrooms and a natural play area. Pack your own drinking water. A beach access wheelchair is available without a rental charge, but there is no beach mat across the sand. Call ahead to discuss the route to the water and whether the equipment will suit your needs. The beach road supports both walking and cycling between the dunes and wetland.

About this park

History

Alburgh Dunes became a state park in 1996. Its landscape has a much longer history: material left by glaciers supplied sand that lake currents and wind moved into the beach and dunes. Earlier sand removal, tree cutting and foot traffic damaged the dunes. Protective fencing now helps limit further disturbance.

Wildlife and habitat

The wetlands include Grand Isle County’s largest black spruce bog. Deer, wild turkeys and other birds use the area, while rare shoreline plants occupy the dunes. Keep wildlife observation on the designated routes; entering the fenced sand is not necessary to see how beach, dunes and wetland fit together.

Contact

Call 802-796-4170 for park information and beach-wheelchair arrangements. The entrance is on Palmer’s Sand Beach Road, Alburgh, VT 05440. Use the Alburgh Dunes State Park website for maps, visitor rules and seasonal information.