The 12 Biggest Lakes in Vermont

Vermont is recognized for its breathtaking natural sceneries. The state has something for everyone among the woods and gorgeous mountains. Vermont, a New England state in the northeast region of the United States, is the sixth smallest state. With the Green Mountains covering a considerable chunk of its terrain, it is also among the country’s safest and most peaceful states.

You’re in luck if you love spending time on the water. Whether you want to sunbathe on the shore or spend the day on a boat, Vermont has some spectacular lakes to explore. Vermont is New England’s only landlocked state, even though Lake Champlain runs along half of its western border and even reaches into Canada. In the Green Mountain State Park, there are numerous additional lakes of various sizes and elevations. Below, we will explore the 15 biggest lakes in Vermont and other facts.

The 12 Biggest Lakes in Vermont

12. Caspian Lake

Caspian Lake has long been a popular summer resort due to its picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities. The lovely lake is nestled in the northern reaches of the Green Mountains, with a coastline lined with year-round homes and summer cottages, which are mostly available for rent. The 757.8-acre lake is a spectacular view in the vicinity with a public boat launch and town beach for water skiing. Caspian Lake’s crystal clear blue water is exceptionally tranquil, which its locals take pride in.

11. Maidstone Lake

Maidstone Lake is a secluded lake formed about 12,000 years ago by glacial melt. The picturesque 796-acre (322 ha) lake is a great location to visit for peaceful recreational activities. There is also excellent fishing, with plentiful salmon and lake trout. Kayaking, swimming, canoeing, and boating are all available at Maidstone State Park, located on the lake’s eastern coastline. It is among the most remote parks in the state, offering public access to the glacial Maidstone Lake. The area is primarily untouched and consists of a diverse northern hardwood forest. The site is home to various wildlife, including moose, bears, and deer.

10. Lake Saint Catherine

The gorgeous shoreline of this 930-acre lake in Vermont makes it a popular relaxation place country-wide. Lake Saint Catherine is also a stunningly clean lake, making it an excellent site to spend a few days enjoying its recreational opportunities. Snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, boating, swimming, and land-based sports like hiking, cycling, and bird viewing are all available. At the northern part of the lake, Lake St. Catherine State Park offers two beautiful beaches, a picnic area, and a boat launch.

9. Lake Dunmore

Lake Dunmore is a freshwater lake in Vermont’s Addison County encompassing 985 acres of surface water and straddles the towns of Salisbury and Leicester. The 399-hectare lake is a natural glacial lake that is now controlled by a modest dam. Sucker Brook, which springs in the adjacent Moosalamoo National Recreation Area of the Green Mountain National Forest, is its principal source of water.

Leicester River, which feeds into Lake Champlain, drains the lake. Branbury State Park is a 69-acre (28-hectare) park on the eastern border of the lake with a sandy beach, canoe rentals, and campgrounds.

8. Lake Carmi

This large, beautiful lake is located near the Canadian border, just east of Lake Champlain. Lake Carmi is a shallow lake, making it a perfect site for freshwater fish fishing. Lake Carmi is the fourth biggest natural lake fully within Vermont, with a surface size of 1,375 acres. It is 7.5 miles in circumference and is 33 feet deep at its deepest point. Northern pike, walleye, and other warm-water species can be found in the lake. Lake Carmi State Park, located on the southeast side of the 556-hectare lake, is the main attraction for visitors. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and cycling are available to visitors. 

7. Lake Willoughby

Lake Willoughby is perfect for those who enjoy beautiful scenery, as the Willoughby State Forest surrounds the whole south end of the lake. Lake Willoughby is 1,687-acre wide, 184-feet deep, and situated at 1,171 feet above sea level. As a result, it is extraordinarily clean and freezes considerably later in the year than other lakes in the vicinity. Swimming, camping, hiking, and fishing are all available at this lake. It is also considered among the best in Vermont and New England.

Around the lake, birds such as hummingbirds, jays, warblers, finches, loons, herons, and gulls have been observed. Rainbow trout, lake trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, yellow perch, longnose sucker, white sucker, lake chub, and round whitefish, a native species with a minimal range in Vermont, can all be found in Willoughby.

6. Lake Seymour 

Seymour Lake sits in the town of Morgan in Orleans County, Vermont. The freshwater lake covers 1,769 acres and is 3 miles long and 2 miles broad, with a maximum depth of 167 feet. It has the shape of a large number “7.” Many consider Seymour Lake to be “the cleanest lake in the state” because of its perfect clarity. Swimming, fishing, boating, and ice fishing are popular activities on this lake. Families with children and pets will enjoy the shallow and sandy shorelines that surround the majority of the lake. The public beach stretches the length of the lake’s north end along the road.

5. Harriman Reservoir

Harriman Dam, a hydroelectric dam located in Windham County, creates a reservoir, the Harriman Reservoir, with a water surface area of 2,039 acres. The reservoir is 180 feet deep at its deepest point and can hold a gross storage capacity of 117,300 acre-feet. It was purchased from TransCanada Corporation in 2017 and is now owned and managed by Great River Hydro LLC. Swimming and canoeing are possible in the man-made lake, which boasts crystal-clear waters. 

4. Lake Bomoseen

Lake Bomoseen is near the New York border in central Vermont, directly off Vermont Route 4. It’s the ideal place to eat, stay, play, and celebrate, with 2,400 acres of beautiful water and a backdrop of tree-covered hills. Lake Bomoseen is the largest lake fully within Vermont, at 960 hectares.

Water skiing, swimming, and boating are just a few of the water sports available on Lake Bomoseen. Nearby, there are also numerous hiking opportunities. Bomoseen State Park in Castleton provides hiking paths as well as camping areas. The lake has several recreational amenities, including a public beach, public boat launches, marinas, and the state park.

3. Moore Reservoir

Moore Reservoir is a Connecticut River impoundment that spans the towns of Littleton and Dalton in New Hampshire and Waterford and Concord in Vermont. It covers a total of 3,181 acres (14.12 km2). The reservoir is known for its enormous northern pike population when it comes to fishing. Brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bullpout, northern pike, and rock bass have all been seen in the lake, which is famed for both cold and warm water fishing. Swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, sunbathing, and other sports are shared here. There are numerous spots along the almost 30-mile waterfront where you can fish from the bank. If you’re searching for a fun outdoor excursion or walk, a mountain biking route is also nearby.

2. Lake Memphremagog

Lake Memphremagog, a long finger lake that traverses the US–Canadian border, is located 5 miles north of Newport, Vermont. The lake boasts a surface area of 25,200 acres, with three-quarters of it in Quebec and one-quarter in Vermont. Lake Memphremagog serves as a source of drinking water for approximately 175,000 Canadians and is used for various human activities, including boating, swimming, and fishing, attracting many visitors and inhabitants. These uses, however, are being limited by the rising nutrient levels in the lake and the cyanobacteria and blooms.

1. Lake Champlain

The boundary separating Canada and the United States runs via Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain is the largest freshwater lake in Vermont, the entire New England, and New York, with a surface area of 278,400 acres (435 square miles) and an entire shoreline length of 587 miles. This wonderful location is beautiful, and it also contains a diverse range of fish species. It harbors over 80 species and boasts a depth of up to 400 feet.

With over 500 miles of shoreline, this large lake provides visitors with unlimited things to keep them happy and entertained. At an elevation of 95 to 100 feet, it is one of the USA’s lowest lakes. Because of its proximity to the St. Lawrence Seaway, Lake Champlain is frequently referred to as “The Sixth Great Lake.”

Summary of the 12 Biggest Lakes in Vermont

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