Recreation in Franklin County

Recreation in Franklin County is woven into daily life. Trails, water, and open space are close by, easy to access, and shared by the community. Some people use them for fitness and routine. Others for quiet, time outside, or weekends with family.

Most of it is informal rather than organized, and free or low-cost more often than not. You don't have to go far to get outside, and you don't have to make a day of it unless you want to.

Trails and Biking

Franklin County offers a growing network of trails used for walking, biking, running, and seasonal recreation. The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail is a major regional asset, running through multiple towns and connecting village centers, farmland, and natural areas, and it's used year-round for biking, walking, and winter activities.

In Swanton, the Swanton Recreation Path provides a paved, accessible route for walking, biking, and community use, connecting neighborhoods and public spaces within town. The path also serves as a trailhead for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT), a multi-use trail that stretches all the way to St. Johnsbury. In St. Albans, the Town Forest on French Hill adds over four miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and skiing, one of several local networks maintained by towns and volunteer groups across the county.

Hiking and Open Space

Hiking in Franklin County is generally local, approachable, and uncrowded. Trails range from short walks to longer outings, with access points spread across towns and rural areas.

Residents frequently use:

Town forests and conserved land
State-managed natural areas
Informal trail networks supported by local groups

These spaces are used throughout the year and are part of how people stay active and connected to the landscape.

Lake Champlain and Water Recreation

Lake Champlain plays a central role in recreation across Franklin County, supporting boating and kayaking, fishing, swimming and lakeside access, and paddleboarding throughout the warmer months.

Public access points, boat launches, St. Albans Bay Marina, and parks make the lake part of everyday life in Franklin County rather than a special destination.

Wildlife and Conservation Areas

Franklin County is home to protected areas that support quieter, low-impact recreation.

The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge spans thousands of acres along the Missisquoi River and Lake Champlain, with walking trails, birdwatching, and seasonal wildlife viewing
Additional conservation lands throughout the county, often maintained by municipalities, volunteer groups, and local organizations

These areas are valued for conservation, habitat protection, and environmental education as much as for recreation itself.

Hard’ack Recreation Area

Hard'ack Recreation Area is a year-round community recreation space serving residents across Franklin County.

Walking and hiking
Mountain biking
Disc golf
Swimming
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding in winter

Hard'ack is widely used by people of all ages and remains one of the most accessible and regularly visited outdoor recreation areas in the region.

Winter Recreation

Winter remains an active season in Franklin County, and recreation shifts with it rather than stopping.

Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Ice fishing
Walking on maintained winter paths

In addition to Hard'ack and county trail systems, these activities carry through the colder months as a natural extension of how residents already stay active.

Community-Based Recreation

Recreation in Franklin County is also shaped by local organizing, not just open space.

Local recreation departments
Town programs and leagues
Community-led outdoor initiatives

Youth sports, adult leagues, and informal groups all play a role in how people stay active and connected here.

Vermont State Parks in Franklin County

Franklin County is home to four Vermont state parks, all managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, ranging from the state's largest lakeside campground to a boat-access-only island retreat.

Lake Carmi State Park

Franklin The largest state park campground in Vermont, with camping across two areas on the shores of Lake Carmi. Sandy swimming beaches, a boat launch with canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals, hiking trails, and a nature center with seasonal interpretive programs. Lake Carmi is also known for warm-water fishing, including walleye, bass, and northern pike.

Burton Island State Park

St. Albans Bay A 253-acre island on Lake Champlain, reachable only by the state-operated passenger ferry from Kill Kare State Park, a 10-minute ride with no cars involved. The island offers tent sites, lean-tos, and cabins, a marina, a nature center, rental watercraft, and a shoreline loop trail for hiking or biking.

Kill Kare State Park

St. Albans Bay A day-use park on St. Albans Point, serving as the mainland base for the Burton Island ferry. Features a swimming beach, public boat launch, kayak and canoe rentals, and the Rocky Point House museum, a restored 1870s building with exhibits on the site's history as a resort and boys' summer camp.

Woods Island State Park

St. Albans An undeveloped, boat-access-only island a short distance from Burton Island, offering a more remote camping experience. Five primitive tent sites connect via a roughly 2-mile loop trail. There's no dock, no ferry, and no potable water, so it's best suited to visitors prepared for backcountry-style camping.

Plan a Park Visit

Local Recreation Departments

Recreation programs and events are organized at the town level. Visit the links below to explore current activities, youth programs, leagues, and seasonal opportunities in each community.

Enosburgh Recreation

Fairfax Parks & Recreation

Franklin Recreation Department

St. Albans Recreation Department

Swanton Recreation Department