Niquette Bay State Park

Today’s 553-acre park began with an initial land purchase by the State of Vermont in 1975. It is named for Niquette Bay, the local name for an indentation along the northeastern shore of Lake Champlain’s larger Malletts Bay. 4700 feet of scenic rocky and sandy shoreline along the bay comprise the park’s southern boundary.  The property, much of it farmed and pastured through the 1800’s, is today predominately forested. Two long ridges with summits rising to over 400’ elevation run parallel along either side of a flat, sandy terrace bisecting the property. This terrace, in turn, is bisected by a brook and associated ravine. This brook, over 1000’s of years, has carried away sand and silt as the ravine was carved, depositing it into Lake Champlain and forming the sandy but shallow beach along the eastern half of the park’s shoreline. Limestone cliffs form the headwall of the western of the two ridges that cut through the park. The park’s trail system accesses high points along each of these ridges, from which impressive vistas overlook Malletts Bay to the south, the Green Mountain ridge line to the east, and the Lake Champlain Islands to the west.  Management strategies at Niquette Bay work to support the vision of the park as an oasis for appreciating nature. Camping is not permitted. Day use hours are from 10 a.m. to sunset. There is no public drinking water supply, and fires are not allowed. The park trail system is comprised of three interlocking “loops” along which a variety of hiking combinations can occur. The complete loop around the Ledges, Muhley, and Island View trails is 3.5 miles. The shortest distance to the lakeshore is 0.6 miles, via the Allen trail. It is by design that parking is limited to 30 cars, in an area adjacent to the park office, at the entrance to the property. Niquette Bay is pet-friendly, although proof of rabies vaccination is required. Pet owners are expected to clean up after their pets. The Burns, Muhley, and Island View trails are designated off-leash areas, although pets within these areas must remain within sight and voice control of their owners, who remain responsible for their pet’s behavior and any damage caused. Parties hiking with pets are limited to a maximum of four (4) animals per group. Pets, though welcome in other sections of the park, must be leashed, including the parking lot and at the beach, except when swimming.