Is Champlain Islands Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

The Champlain Islands, located in Lake Champlain in northwestern Vermont, offer a unique blend of natural beauty, rural charm, and rich history.

Comprised of five towns spread across four islands and a peninsula, this area was first inhabited by Native American tribes before European settlement in the 18th century.

The islands and towns include:

• South Hero: Known for its rural character, South Hero offers scenic landscapes, orchards, and farms. It’s a great place for outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and visiting local farms.
• Grand Isle: (Part of South Hero Island) This is the largest island in Lake Champlain and is known for its state parks, including Grand Isle State Park and Knight Point State Park. It’s a popular destination for camping, fishing, and boating.
• North Hero: Like South Hero, North Hero offers beautiful views of Lake Champlain and is known for its rural charm. It’s a great spot for birdwatching, kayaking, and enjoying the local cuisine.
• Isle La Motte: Known for its historic sites and natural beauty, Isle La Motte is home to the Chazy Fossil Reef, which is one of the oldest reef fossils in the world. Visitors can explore the island’s history and enjoy hiking and biking trails.
• Alburgh: Located on the mainland adjacent to the Champlain Islands, Alburgh is known for its agricultural heritage and access to Lake Champlain. It’s a peaceful area with opportunities for fishing, boating, and exploring local farms.

Visitors to the Champlain Islands can expect a tranquil, scenic escape.

The area is renowned for its stunning views of Lake Champlain between the Adirondack and the Green Mountains.

Samuel de Champlain first saw the lake in 1609 and quickly named it after himself.

Some credit Champlain with also spotting a legendary water creature now known as Champ, but I’ll let you learn more about the legitimacy of this “serpent” in the water.

Champ’s notoriety is up there with the Loch Ness Monster.

While Lake Champlain is a great lake, it’s not one of the Great Lakes, a topic that stews much debate among locals and visitors.

A trip to the Champlain Islands also gives you a chance to cross over into Canada, as the lake is shared with our neighbors to the north.

Warnings & Dangers in Champlain Islands

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here, with low crime rates and a rather remote area. For some, it might not be all that exciting, but if you want to get away to quaint nature, this is a great place.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Look at the Green Mountain Transit website to see the options around the islands, but I can tell you right now that it is not that robust. Taxis and rideshares will be sparingly hard to come by, so a rental car is your best bet.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

No pickpockets or purse snatchings have been reported in the past few years. Most thefts fall into the category of "other," which means things like items stolen from a yard or construction site.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The Champlain Islands face some natural disaster risks, primarily flooding and erosion, due to their location in Lake Champlain. Spring floods and winter ice jams can cause property damage. Severe storms, including occasional hurricanes or tropical storms, may impact the area. Wind damage and power outages are also potential hazards during storms.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

This is a low risk, with no recent mugging reports that I can find. You should still use common sense and basic security steps, but this isn't one of the things to be overly concerned about.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The terrorism risk in the Champlain Islands is generally considered very low. This rural, sparsely populated area doesn't have high-profile targets typically associated with terrorism. However, its proximity to the Canadian border means there's some focus on border security. Local law enforcement and border patrol maintain vigilance, but day-to-day life is largely unaffected by terrorism concerns.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Check local law enforcement social media sites for the latest scams. Most scams here will target residents, but you can keep the risk low by knowing the common tactics and avoiding anything that involves writing money or purchasing gift cards. It's also worth noting that law enforcement will never call you and demand money.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The Champlain Islands are generally considered safe for women travelers. As with any destination, basic precautions are advisable. The area is rural and close-knit, with low crime rates. However, solo travelers should be aware of their surroundings, especially in isolated areas or at night. Local businesses and residents are typically helpful and welcoming.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The U.S. has strict standards for tap water per the Safe Water Drinking Act. Communities are required to provide a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) once a year by July 1. The latest report for the Champlain Island communities shows no violations and full compliance.

Safest Places to Visit in Champlain Islands

One of the best tourism resources I found when researching the Champlain Islands is the Champlain Islands Byway website.

While the route starts about 100 miles south near Orwell, the site can be broken down into regions.

The Champlain Islands towns are in the islands and farms region.

It’s worth noting that there is a website for the “Lake Champlain Region,” but it is for the New York side of the lake and doesn’t include the Vermont side, nor does it include the island we’re talking about in this article.

Burlington, Vermont’s tourism site (helloburlingtonvt.com), includes some activities on the islands.

We’ve hand-picked a few of the best places to visit in Vermont’s Champlain Islands.

We’re going to start in South Hero and work our way to the Canadian border.

Sand Bar State Park in Vermont is a picturesque destination featuring a long sandy beach along Lake Champlain.

You’ll find this on the mainland side before you cross over to South Hero.

It’s perfect for swimming, picnicking, and kayaking, offering scenic views of the surrounding mountains.

The park’s shallow waters make it ideal for families.

The South Hero Bicentennial Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history.

Housed in a charming historic building, it showcases artifacts, photographs, and exhibits highlighting local culture, agriculture, and notable figures.

Tracey Woods Community Trail is just outside of downtown South Hero, with an easy mile-long look through the woods and along the shore.

Even with less than 150 feet of elevation gain, you get great views of the lake and the mountains.

Next is Grand Isle State Park.

The park’s nature center offers engaging programs, interactive exhibits, and guided walks, highlighting the area’s diverse wildlife and ecosystems.

Throughout the park, you can find a beach, kayak/SUP rentals, campsites, hiking trails, and fishing spots.

Across the bridge in North Hero, Knight Point State Park offers another beach, boat rentals, and picnic areas with more wonderful water views.

This is a great place to watch boats go by or take an easy mile-long hike around the point.

This is separate from Knight Island State Park.

As the name suggests, the island is a remote location, only accessible by boat.

Water taxis are available from Grand Isle.

The same goes for Woods Island State Park and Burton Island State Park.

Check the schedule at Island Arts, which hosts classes and concerts throughout the summer for visitors of all ages.

You can even try an activity via Zoom before you arrive to see if this is the type of place you want to visit.

Alburgh Dunes State Park in Vermont features rare freshwater sand dunes along Lake Champlain.

These dunes formed from wind and wave action over millennia, creating unique habitats.

Visitors can enjoy swimming, hiking, and birdwatching in this natural wonder.

This is a day-use area only. 

North Hero State Park is unique for its secluded and tranquil atmosphere, offering a less crowded escape compared to other parks on Lake Champlain.

Its diverse habitats, including wetlands and woodlands, provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Arguably, one of the coolest reasons to visit the Champlain Islands is to see Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve, located on Isle La Motte.

The preserve features a 480-million-year-old Chazy Reef, the world’s oldest coral reef.

The preserve’s interpretive center helps explain the geology, while trails lead to the fossils of early marine life embedded in the rock.

Places to Avoid in Champlain Islands

There aren’t dangerous parts of the islands or towns, so don’t worry about booking a visit to an unsafe area.

I will punctuate the smaller islands with state parks (the islands within the islands’ region), which are remote with no resources beyond a campsite or lean-to.

You won’t even find potable water there.

Some campsites could be up to a mile’s walk from the dock.

That means you should be able to carry anything you bring.

Check the Vermont Agency of Transportation social media pages (@VTransontheroad/Facebook) to see if there are any delays, flooding, or construction on the islands’ roads.

There aren’t many ways to get on and off the island, so knowing where potential bottlenecks would be can help you plan.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Champlain Islands

So... How Safe Is Champlain Islands Really?

All the Champlain Islands and related towns are part of Grand Island County, which is served by only the Grand Island Sheriff’s Office.

This offers a much easier way to track crime statistics.

Looking back at 22 years of crime data, the county has only seen two years with more than five crimes twice – in 2020 (12 crimes) and 2006 (7 crimes).

That rate is low even for a community of 7,300 people, but even more so when you figure in the thousands of people who visit each year.

Theft rates are 70% lower than the national average, with a raw number of 33 thefts reported in 2022.

As with most cities, car break-ins make up about 25% of all thefts, a risk that can be lowered immediately by locking your car and removing personal items.

While there’s no reason to question if the Champlain Islands are safe, some of the headlines recently are somewhat shocking.

In one instance, a repeat drug offender was sentenced to probation for fentanyl trafficking and selling heroin at a time when the overdose crisis was crippling the nation.

In another, a middle school basketball game turned into a brawl among adults, and one of the men involved died of a heart attack on the way home.

In a third, two pride flags were burned, and the neighborhood was vandalized, one of several incidents involving anti-LGTBQ acts by an unknown person or people.

In that last incident, we got about as good of a safety statement as we can get from the sheriff.

“I don’t think there’s any place that’s 100% safe.

I wish we had an endless budget and endless staff.

But it’s not there,” Sheriff Ray Allen said.

Vermont State Police and U.S. Border Patrol and Customs also help police the area when needed.

How Does Champlain Islands Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

All international visitors need either a visa defining the purpose of the trip (tourist, work, school, etc.) or a visa waiver. Start the process using the Visa Wizard module on the U.S. State Department website. You can check the Canadian border crossing rules at the Canadian Border Services Agency website. Also, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least six months after our trip, or you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar (USD) is accepted in the United States. The Canadian Dollar is accepted north of the border. Your home bank offers the lowest fees for currency exchange services. For those using credit cards, check to see if there’s a foreign transaction fee before you start incurring charges and ensure your card will work in the U.S. and Canada.

Weather

You'll face long, cold winters and shorter, mild summers with highs in the upper 70s. Fall is brilliant in this part of the country, with stunning foliage on the lake and in the nearby mountains. You'll want warm layers of clothing throughout the year, as even summer lows can get into the 40s or 50s. Bring bug spray and sunscreen.

Airports

At the furthest, you'll be an hour from Burlington International Airport. You can fly out of the much larger Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, about an hour north of the Champlain Islands.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive insurance offers the best protection and peace of mind. It's especially important if you're visiting Canada and the U.S. to ensure your policy covers both countries for cancelations, delays, theft, health emergencies, and rental car roadside assistance.

Champlain Islands Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Vermont - Safety by City