USA Today 10Best: Lake Champlain, Connecticut River up for national recognition

Megan Stewart, Burlington Free Press
·1 min read

The Green Mountain State is famous for its natural beauty, from exquisite fall foliage to shimmering snow-kissed peaks in the winter.

But did you know Vermont’s rivers and lakes are exemplary, too?

Two bodies of water in Vermont – Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River – are up for national recognition this summer as part of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Lake Champlain is in the running for best lake overall and best lake for water sports, while the Connecticut River, which runs through Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, as well as Vermont, is competing for the recognition of best river for fly fishing.

Experts in their respective fields, along with USA Today 10best editors, selected 20 finalists for each cotegory, altogether representing over 30 states.

The northern lights brought vibrant colors to the sky and Lake Champlain, as seen from the Colchester Causeway around 11 p.m. on May 10, 2024. The area got a rare glimpse of the aurora borealis.
The northern lights brought vibrant colors to the sky and Lake Champlain, as seen from the Colchester Causeway around 11 p.m. on May 10, 2024. The area got a rare glimpse of the aurora borealis.

Contest judges lauded Lake Champlain for its proximity to Burlington, which they described as a “charming” city ripe for “urban exploration” and water activities such as kayaking, boating, water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. The Connecticut River – New England’s largest river at over 400 miles – received praise for its plentiful trout and salmon populations.

Award winners will be chosen via popular vote, which ends at noon on Wednesday, June 12. Readers are allowed to vote once every 24 hours.

How is Vermont holding up in the polls so far?

Right now, Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River are in desperate need of votes.

As of May 14, Lake Champlain ranks 7th for best lakes overall and 12th for best lakes for water sports. The Connecticut River ranks 18th for fly fishing.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Lake Champlain, Connecticut river among best bodies of water in Vermont