vermont boat tour

Spirit of Ethan Allen

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Daily Cruises

Daily lake champlain cruise schedule, book your 2024 cruise now.

Have a question? Call (802)862-8300 .

Prices include taxes and fees. Appetizers, beverages and gratuity are additional. Our buffets are designed as a Single Trip Buffet, and not all you can eat.

Prices include taxes and fees. appetizers, beverages and gratuity are additional. our buffets are designed as a single trip buffet , and not all you can eat..

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Scenic Lake Cruises

Nowhere else in New England can you experience an international lake cruise as beautiful and interesting as here on Lake Memphremagog…

Take A Virtual Tour of The Northern Star

More information about the northern star.

About the Boat

With her design inspired by the plumb stem canal cruisers of the Roaring Twenties, she’s sure to leave a rich legacy in her wake as she graces the international waters of Lake Memphremagog. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll feel like you’ve come home to your own private yacht. You’ll be greeted by the warm smiles of the captain and crew as if you are longtime acquaintances. Built in 2002, she is 65 feet long and is USCG inspected for 49 passengers. There are restrooms on board that are handicapped accessible. The main deck is climate controlled. Our Pub room is located on the lower deck and fantastic views can be had from the upper deck which is semi-enclosed. She cruises at approximately 10 knots and because of her hull design offers incredibly smooth sailing. And be sure to visit the cozy and large Pilot House where you can visit with the Captain and learn about beautiful Lake Memphremagog region.

Peruse the vast collection of images from the Northern Star. We will continue to update this section as we sail this summer season.

Partial Funding Provided by North Country Federal Credit Union

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Join us aboard buttercup for a tour of lake champlain

Enjoy an outing on the water while hearing stories about lake champlain and its history.

You can hop aboard one of our regular cruises or reserve a private charter! We depart from the Burlington Community Boathouse.

To read about the types of cruises we offer, check out the Your Experience page.

THE 10 BEST Vermont Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in vermont.

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1. Whistling Man Schooner Company

2. Spirit of Ethan Allen

3. Umiak Outdoor Outfitters

4. Appalachian Trail Adventures

5. Northern Star Lake Cruises

6. Let's Go Sailing Private Cruises

7. Sailing Vessel Friend Ship

8. 3rd Alarm Charters & Guide Service

9. Vermont Canoe & Kayak

10. Clyde River Recreation

11. Vermont River Runners

12. Sail Vermont

13. ActiveVT - Day Trips

14. The Fly Rod Shop Fly Fishing Tours

15. High Country Marine

16. Stay Bent Fishing Tours

17. Vermont River Tubing

18. Woodard Marine

19. Sure Strike Charters

20. Champlain Classic Charters

21. Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center

22. Uncle Jammer's Guide Service

23. Kayak King

24. Hanover Adventure Tours

25. Sail Arioso

26. Vermont Canoe Touring Center

27. Big Big on the Battenkill

28. Tweed River Tubing

29. Mega Bass Charters

30. Youngs Fly Fishing- Day Tour

What travellers are saying

Leaf-peeping from the water: 4 scenic boat rides you can book in Vermont this fall

What can be more enchanting than viewing the vibrant fall foliage in Vermont? Seeing the autumnal colors doubled, reflected on the surface of a body of water.

You might consider taking in the colorful Vermont fall scenery from the water this year. The state has a variety of lakes surrounded by trees or mountains that can make for breathtaking sights, enveloping the beholder with 360 degree views.

Tour operators are running cruises or can ferry you around the perimeter of some of the Green Mountain State's most scenic locales well into the fall, allowing you to just show up and enjoy.

Cruise or sail Lake Champlain in the fall

The Spirit of the Ethan Allen departs each day at 4 p.m. for a one-hour cruise of Lake Champlain during the fall season. The schedule on the website says it operates Oct. 1 through Oct. 17, however, a calendar was accepting reservations through Oct. 23 for the 2022 season.

The cruise features open and enclosed spaces from which to take in the view, narration from a tour guide and a variety of food and beverage items that can be purchased from the cafe on board.

Passengers should arrive 15 minutes early for boarding. Prices are $25 for adults, $12.50 for children 3 to 11 and $3 for lap children ages two and younger. More information is available at https://soea.com/ or by calling 802-862-8300.

Another way to take in the fall colors of Lake Champlain is to set sail with Whistlingman Schooner Company . The operator can accommodate individuals to small groups in a public sail, or small to large groups for a private sail. There are two vessels — Wild Rose can host six guests while the larger Friend Ship can accommodate up to twelve guests. A licensed captain and a deckhand sail the boat so passengers can relax.

Guests should bring their own food and drinks, if desired. Serveware and a chiller are provided, but finger foods are recommended so silverware isn't needed.

Whistlingman sails through Oct. 11, every day of the week, multiple times per day. Public cruise adult tickets are $58, and children 5 to 12 are $45. There are age restrictions for children on public cruises, depending upon the time of day they would be sailing.

During the fall season, private chartered tours are $330 for up to six guests, $550 for up to 12 and $775 for groups with as many as 18 people who want to use both boats for a tandem sail. Prices run as much as $50 higher for sunset cruises.

More information can be found at www.whistlingman.com , by emailing [email protected] or by calling 802-825-7245.

More ideas for Vermont fall adventures:

• Four ways to see Vermont fall foliage from the tree canopy, including zip lines and treetop walks
• View from the top: How to see Vermont's fall foliage colors from above
• Vermont fall foliage: Take this leaf-peeping tour through Central Vermont

Guided rowboat tour for two on the Waterbury Reservoir

You don't have to go to Venice for you and a loved one to be ferried across the water. The Fly Rod Shop offers private drift boat tours to take in the fall foliage scenery from the Waterbury Reservoir. The five-mile body of water resides between two mountains offering extraordinary views of the fall colors.

A guide will do the rowing from the center of the stable rowboat, accommodating up to two guests — one seated in front and one in back. The trip can take up to three hours. Guests are allowed to bring snacks and drinks.

Got your own boat? A guide to kayak and canoe access points near Burlington

Four boats head out each day, departing at two different times: 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tours will be offered between Sept. 15 and Oct. 19 during the 2022 season. Cost is $380 for a boat ride (one or two people). Those interested should call (802) 253-7346 to book. More information at flyrodshop.com/guided-trips/fall-foliage-scenic-boat-charters/ .

Cruise Lake Memphremagog

The Northern Star offers cruises from Newport into Quebec, Canada on Lake Memphremagog.

During the fall season, there are a variety of daytime tours running the lake to take in the surrounding fall colors. A shoreline trip takes passengers along the eastern edge of the lake up to the border with Quebec and then along the western edge on the way back.

Trips are two hours long and narrated. There are outdoor viewing areas as well as climate-controlled indoor spaces. Food and beverages are available for purchase from a portside snack bar. For about $10 more per person, you could choose the Sunday Brunch Cruise and get a full American breakfast.

Cruises run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 8 or 9, depending upon the tour chosen. Daytime departure times are 11 a.m or 2 p.m. on most days. General tickets for the afternoon and shoreline cruises are $31.95 for adults, $16.95 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for those 3 and under.

Reservations are required and can be booked at northernstarcruises.com/cruises/ .

If you want to get some exercise while you take in the changing leaves, there are lots of outfitters offering boat, canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals this fall for temporary use to take with you or at specific bodies of water across Vermont.

Contact reporter   April Barton at [email protected] or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.

Haunted Vermont, Folklore & much more…

Enjoy A Fascinating Lake Memphremagog Cruise

Lake Memphremagog Cruises are back!

by Scott Wheeler or Vermont's Northland Journal

The captain and the first mate for the Northern Star have arrived in Newport, and they are ready to bring tour boat service back to the U.S. end of Lake Memphremagog .

The Northern Star

Rick Desrochers: Working to Bring Boat Tours and Life Back to Newport

Rick Desrochers is working to bring boat tours back to the Vermont side of Lake Memphremagog, and renewed life to Newport’s downtown and beyond.

Rick Desrochers, the man behind bringing new life to the boat, invited me down to the boat yesterday to give Captain Cannon and first mate, Lucy, a briefing on the history of Newport and the greater Lake Mempremagog basin. They are very enthusiastic to begin this new chapter of their lives.

Tours will begin with a Friday night dinner dinner cruise on May 28, featuring food by Hoagies. Then Saturday night will be a pirate themed dinner cruise, with the T-Bar offering up food from their menu.

In earlier chapters of its history, Lake Memphremagog has been home to several tour boats, among them the Mountain Maid, Lady of the Lake, and the Anthemis. People flocked to the region by horse and buggy, train, and later by automobile, to enjoy the beauty of the lake.

Today Rick Desrochers is leading the charge to bring tour boat service back to the Newport end of the lake. In 2020 Desrochers accepted a job as the executive director of Memphremagog Community Maritime (MCM), a 501c3 organization, which includes ownership of the Northern Star, a 49-passenger, three-level cruise boat.

“I believe that the Northern Star will be a destination, not only for Newport but for the entire Northeast Kingdom, from scenic cruises to serving as a floating classroom. It’ll serve as a springboard into the wonders this area has to offer.”

A Newport Center farm boy by birth, the son of Richard “Joe” Desrochers and Jan Degre, his work ethic and his love of nature and photography were developed on the farm. As much as he loved his Kingdom, after graduating from North Country Union High School in 1988, he decided to spread his wings, living and working in the South and Midwest.

After experiencing the world, and with a deep yearning for the land of his birth, Desrochers didn’t just move home in 2013, he brought with him new, innovative ideas to improve life in Newport and the greater Kingdom. Since his return, he has worked to transform many of his ideas, through a collaborative community effort, into action, change, and progress. He is also the owner of Northern Dreams Photography. Using his camera, he captures the beauty of the region and its changing landscape.

Although he lives in Derby Line with his partner, Tricia, and her son, Jacob, a piece of Desrocher’s heart resides in Newport. He is not blind to the fact that the last few years have not been good to Newport, but having lived, worked, and experienced other parts of the country, he sees so much promise in the lakeside community and the Kingdom as a whole. He views the Northern Star as an integral part of bringing life back to the region, particularly downtown Newport. “We have endless possibilities here.”

The Northern Star arrived in Lake Memphremagog with great fanfare in 2012. However, the EB5 debacle and poor weather contributed to financial shortfalls, putting the future of the boat on the lake in jeopardy. Cruises came to an end in 2017, and for the next three years, it remained tethered to the city dock. Although, as of the fall of 2020, cruises had yet to restart, a group of area business people has purchased the Northern Star through the generosity of North Country Federal Credit Union Foundation and local donors who transformed it into a creative nonprofit business.

When Desrochers was hired as executive director of MCM in 2020, he and the rest of the members of MCM had big plans for the boat, including for the summer of 2020. They envisioned providing tours of the lake, including scenic, history, and dinner tours. And they planned to use the boat as a floating classroom and research facility for area students. Many of the group’s plans were scuttled for the summer when COVID-19 brought with it a worldwide pandemic, at least temporarily changing the group’s plans and how we live our lives.

Unable to set sail in 2020, Desrochers didn’t let the pandemic discourage him. He will use the extra year to create community partnerships with area businesses and organizations—valuable players in the future of passenger boat service and progress in the region. Because he understands the history of Newport, he knows the economic downturn of recent years is simply an evolutionary bump in the road of progress, like those experienced in past generations. For that matter, he said in the year or two before COVID-19, he was already seeing positive change coming to the city. Much of that change was coming as the result of area residents, business owners, and civic organizations. He said he is particularly heartened by the interest a growing number of young people are bringing to the table. They bring with them new ideas and youthful energy and enthusiasm.

“New groups are forming and activities involving music and art are happening,” Desrochers said. “New restaurants are opening. We have a beautiful lake, we have a beautiful area, and people with this new way of thinking will make this area that much more special. Let’s show the people of the world what the Northeast Kingdom is all about.”

Desrochers’ belief in Newport, and the rest of the Northeast Kingdom, is truly contagious. May more people catch his enthusiasm.

Another view of the Northern Star, with Lake Memphremagog serving as the backdrop. The rounded mountain in the distance is Owl’s Head, which is located in Quebec.

Throughout the history of Newport, several tour boats have provided tours on the lake. The last big one was the Anthemis. This steamer, designed to carry upwards of 300 people, was built in 1909. World War II changed and reshaped the world, including Newport. The Anthemis disappeared from the lake within a few years after the end of the war in 1945.

A colorized image of the Steamer Anthemis

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Vermont's new wakeboat rule now in effect - what boaters should know

Correction: The wakeboat rule does not apply to Lake Champlain, Wallace Pond, Lake Memphremagog and Connecticut River Reservoirs. That point was unclear in an earlier version of the story.

As the summer season approaches, boaters should be aware of a new wakeboat rule in effect. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has published the rule regulating wakeboats and wakesports under  Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules.

The rule went into effect April 15, 2024, and came about as a response to a petition filed by Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes that wanted to "keep wake surfing off our smallest lakes, and on the larger lakes restrict the surfing to the deep water far from shore."

What this means is that a wakeboat − a motorboat that has one or more ballast tanks, bags or other devices used to increase wake size − may operate in "wakesports" mode in designated zones in all of Vermont's lakes, ponds and reservoirs. A wakesport zone is "an area of at least 50 acres over 20 feet deep, at least 200 feet wide, and over 500 feet from shore," according to DEC.

Thirty of Vermont's inland lakes fall under this new rule. It does not apply to Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog and the Connecticut River reservoirs and Wallace Pond.

Environmental impact of strong wakes

Strong wakes close to shore have been known to have negative environmental effects. The strong currents can erode vulnerable shoreline if the distance is not adequate to dissipate the wakes. It can also stir up sediments in shallower waters. Protecting these natural resources and environments will ensure a healthier ecosystem.

This will also benefit common shallow water activities, including swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing. In certain instances, a strong wave can be dangerous for those participants.

“The wakeboat rule – developed with significant input from the Vermont public – is science-based and reflective of Vermonters’ shared interests in environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation,” DEC Commissioner Jason Batchelder said.

Wakeboats will also be required to decontaminate or clean their ballast tanks when moving between lakes. More wakeboat information can be found on Vermont General Assembly website under laws .

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at  [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont's new wakeboat rule now in effect - what boaters should know

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Vermont’s 1st-ever wake boats rule is now in effect, but some are pushing for further restrictions 

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Wake boats traversing Vermont waterways this summer will have to abide by strict new regulations. The state’s first-ever rule managing wakesports on lakes and ponds took effect April 15 after a two-year-long, citizen-led push.

Though the state’s new rule has been in place for less than a month, some are already pushing to further restrict the activity of such boats. 

The creation of the rule was a notable victory for Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes, a citizen group that formed in 2021 and petitioned the natural resources agency to restrict wake boats to sharply defined areas.

Members of the group and environmentalists have argued that large wakes can disrupt the sensitive ecology of lake shorelines, such as loon nesting areas. And sudden waves can topple paddle boarders and kayakers nearer to shore. 

Up until a month ago, wakesports were allowed anywhere a motor boat could travel more than 5 mph. Under the new rule, wake boats can only create wakes in ‘wake sports zones’, defined as 50 contiguous acres of lake, 500 feet away from the shoreline on all sides, and in water at least 20 feet deep. 

The new parameters cut the number of lakes and ponds Vermonters can wakeboard in from 73 down to 30. The rules do not apply to waters that share borders with other states and countries, such as Lake Champlain, Wallace Pond, Lake Memphremagog, and the Connecticut River reservoirs.

Laura Dlugolecki, lake and shoreland permitting analyst at the Agency of Natural Resources, has called the rule the “most protective wake sport regulation in the country to date.”

But for Jack Widness, one of the leaders of Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes, the rule does not go far enough. 

“We’re glad to have anything,” said Widness. “But we interpret the science differently.” 

The organization advocated for allowing wake boats to operate only in areas with 60 contiguous acres and 1,000 feet from the shoreline. This would have reduced the eligible wakeboarding lakes to 15. 

Dlugolecki said the agency’s review of scientific literature did not “support an increase in the distance from shore to achieve the regulatory objectives for a statewide rule.” 

“We’re extremely disappointed the ANR didn’t listen to the respondents,” Widness said, referencing 750 public comments that were submitted to the agency, 82% of which favored stricter rules. 

Nevertheless, Widness said his group supported the rule because they felt it was urgent to secure its “Home Lakes” provision. 

This provision states that, during the summer boating season, a wake boat cannot leave the same lake — its “home lake” — unless it is decontaminated by a service provider certified by the Agency of Natural Resources. Wake boats’ ballast systems — used to create larger wakes — threaten to transmit invasive species from one lake to another if left unchecked. 

The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, a panel of legislators charged with approving executive branch regulations, approved the rule on Feb. 14. 

Now, the fight to further restrict wake boats has passed to local lake organizations. Forty-eight of these volunteer-run groups are part of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds, a nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of the state’s lakes. 

As of Friday, petitions from five of these organizations have been filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation, asking the state to prohibit wakesports in six more lakes. 

Widness said that, although his organization was not directly responsible for the additional petitions, some members were helping advise the local lakes organization.

“We’re not the ones driving that train, but we’re helping, we’re supporting,” he said. 

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THE 10 BEST Burlington Boat Tours

Boat tours in burlington.

• Gear Rentals
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