Seasons on Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is a spectacular place to explore in all seasons. Browse through the slideshows below made up of photos from our members and friends.

LCC is always seeking year-round lake photos for use in print and online media. Do you have photos to share? We'd love to see them! Fill out the Photo Submission Form to send in your photos, and contact lcc@ lakechamplaincommittee.org with any questions.

Thank you for getting involved!

Ice on Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain's waters take on many forms throughout the winter, as freezing temperatures, wind, rain, and temporary thaws work their magic on the ice. The frozen surface of the lake invites exploration, whether it's by foot, skate, kite sail, ski, or snowshoe. Explore LCC's gallery of ice photos taken around the Lake Champlain Basin below, and learn some ice vocabulary!

Ice, twigs and leaves form beautiful art in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Ice bubbles resemble a lava lamp. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Detailed ice crystals accumulate between Milton and Savage Island. Photo by Phyl Newbeck..
Jigsaw pieces of pancake ice freeze in the Inland Sea. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Lake Champlain ice sparkles near Converse Bay. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Ice sheets flex in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
A thick coating of ice has built up on the grass along the shore, near Burlington. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Cracks develop in black ice in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Trapped bubbles show in ice between Charlotte and Westport. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
A nordic skater stands on black ice at the mouth of the Winooski. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Deep cracks reveal thick ice forming in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Ice covered in snow resembles wool near the Milton/Georgia border. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Ice volcanoes usually develop in shallow water at the edge of the shoreline and can be up to five feet tall. Photo by Gary Kjlelleren.
Ice crystals form on the lake between Burlington and Juniper Island. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Pancake ice cakes on the water at the Colchester Causeway. Photo by Jessica Becker.
Icicles hang from the rocky outcroppings at Oakledge Park. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Clear ice and snow form in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Ice splashes rock faces at Palisades. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Ice coats rocks at Oakledge Park in Burlington. Photo by Jessica Becker.
Bumpy ice covers rocks at Oakledge Park in Burlington. Photo by Jessica Becker.
LCC Staff skates on solid pancake ice in Malletts Bay. Photo by Jessica Becker.
Icicles cling to the grass along the lake shore at Oakledge Park. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Pancake ice cakes outlined by snow and frozen spray fill the bay at Blanchard Beach, in Burlington. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A thick layer of ice covers the rocks and trees of Oakledge Park, near Burlington, where the wind blew spray from the lake. Photo by Alexa Hachigian.

Winter on Lake Champlain

Cold winters in New York and Vermont provide a beautiful setting covered in snow and ice.

Juniper Island sits in frozen Lake Champlain. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Cedars grow over black ice near Cold Spring Road in Milton. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
The sun rises over Rose and Cave Islands in Mallet's Bay. Photo by Jamie Leopold.
A nordic skater strikes a pose on black ice off Colchester Point. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
A sail-like kite catches the wind, allowing the snowkiter to fly across the lake's frozen surface. Photo by Gary Kjelleren.
Ice boats gather off Sandbar. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
A skater marvels at ice on Garden Island in Converse Bay. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
A flat shelf of rock near Burlington is coated with a thin dusting of snow. Photo by Laura Pratt.
The early morning sun lights up Blanchard Beach. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Mount Mansfield towers over the Champlain Valley heading toward Leddy Park. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Icy rock faces rise above the lake in New York. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
Steam rises from the lake during a zero-degree morning, looking toward Stave Island. Photo by Gary Kjelleren.
Snow-covered Lake Champlain glistens from South Hero. Photo by Gary Kjelleren.
Trees and mountains cover the Lake Champlain Basin, viewed from Camels Hump. Photo by Lori Fisher.
The sun rises over the Lake Champlain Basin, viewed from Camels Hump. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Skaters gather on black ice south of Cedar Island. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
A skater checks ice thickness near Port Henry. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Solid ice develops at the narrows near Snake Den Harbor. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Clouds billow over the Adirondacks and a frozen Lake Champlain. Photo by Randy Stacey.
A cheerful snowman stands in Addison County. Photo by Randy Stacey.
Skaters trek through snow and ice at Perkins Pier in Burlington. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
A skater takes a break on the New York/Vermont border on Lake Champlain. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
The sheltered ice of south bay, near Burlington, seen through a gap in the trees. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A pressure ridge rises north of Schuyler Island. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Skaters tour near North Beach in Burlington. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Skaters explore east from Schuyler Island. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
The boardwalk and pier stretch across Burlington's Waterfront during the winter months. Photo by Carolyn Bates.
A blue sky shines on skaters and Lake Champlain ice sky north from Northwest Bay. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Ice begins to fringe the grass and rocks at Oakledge Park. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A sunny February thaw sends rivulets of meltwater through the sand. Photo by Laura Pratt.
The Burlington Boathouse and Adirondacks seen from the Burlington Waterfront in the winter. Photo by Carolyn Bates.
An ice boat prepares to head out at Whites Beach in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Nordic skaters cross a pressure ridge on Lake Champlain. Photo by Phyl Newbeck.
A windsurfer glides over Lake Champlain in Milton. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Long shadows of trees stretch across Blanchard Beach in the early morning light. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Kitesurfers travel over ice in Milton. Photo by Cathy Frank.
A golden sky shines on a snowy lake near Malletts Bay. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Ice boats gather in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Snow buries red rocks in South Burlington. Photo by Cathy Frank.
A beach-front bench swings at Harbor Road in Shelburne. Photo by Cathy Frank.
The sun rises over Rose Island in Mallet's Bay. Photo by Jamie Leopold.
Skaters travel mid-way between Point Kent and Appletree Point. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Winter ice solidifies at Thompson's Point in Charlotte. Photo by Cathy Frank.
The entirety of Lake Champlain's surface froze in March, 2019, for the first time in four years. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Open water surrounds Law Island from the Colchester Causeway before ice has formed. Photo by Cathy Frank.
A cross-country skier heads north on the Colchester Causeway. Photo by Cathy Frank.
An aerial view of Lake Champlain shows nearly 99 percent ice coverage from over Addison County. Photo by Jessica Becker.
A lighthouse towers over a frozen Lake Champlain and ice fishing near Sandbar. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Colorful kites catch the sunset's glow as snowkiters soar through the air over Lake Champlain. Photo by Rob Swanson.
Summer swimming rules greet a snowy beach in South Hero. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Skaters head northwest of Appletree Point. Photo by Vincent Rossano.
Ice coats the rocks and trees of Oakledge Park. Photo by Alexa Hachigian.
The Earth Calendar at Oakledge Park on a sunny winter's morning. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Sand and snow form mesmerizing patterns on a beach in South Hero.
A bald eagle flies over a blue winter sky in Shelburne. Photo by Boston Neary.
The Charlotte Ferry breaks ice to create open water for hundreds of waterfowl. Photo by Boston Neary.
Canvasback ducks soar over Lake Champlain near the Charlotte Ferry. Photo by Boston Neary.
A canvasback duck swims near the Charlotte Ferry. Photo by Boston Neary.
A juvenile and bald eagle strut on Lake Champlain ice. Photo by Boston Neary.
A female mallard duck lands on ice in Shelburne Bay. Photo by Boston Neary.
Sunset lights up the waters of Lake Champlain. Photo by Jamie Leopold.
Tree icicles sway in the view of Law Island. Photo by Jessica Becker.
An ice fishing shanty is on the move in Malletts Bay. Photo by Cathy Frank.
Icicles hang from the rocky outcroppings at Oakledge Park. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Fog rises from the cold water across the lake. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Crowds gather at the Vermont Ice Fishing Festival in North Hero. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A happy pup conquers a snow drift on Malletts Bay. Photo by Jessica Becker.
A snowman stands on the frozen waters of south cove after a snowfall. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Hundreds of ducks gather on the small amount of open water on Lake Champlain at the causeway bridge break. Photo by Jessica Becker.
View of the sun rising over Lake Champlain from the Essex Ferry. Photo by Alexa Hachigian.
Frozen water and icy rocks stand in the view of Burlington from Oakledge Park. Photo by Jessica Becker.
Snowy rock outcroppings at Oakledge Park. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A snow wave develops on Malletts Bay. Photo by Jessica Becker.
The Colchester Causeway stands in front of Law Island. Photo by Jessica Becker.
Dusk falls over the Earth Calendar at Oakledge Park near the winter solstice. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Dormant ice volcanoes stretch across Blanchard Beach after a windy night. Photo by Laura Pratt.
Ice volcanoes are often formed at imperfections along an ice shelf, where strong wave action drives spray up in a frozen "V" along the edge. Photo by Laura Pratt.
A thick coating of ice covers trees and rocks at Oakledge Park. Photo by Alexa Hachigian.
The view of Lake Champlain from a snowkite. Photo by Gary Kjelleren.
A thick coating of ice clings to the grass by the lakeshore. Photo by Laura Pratt.