City of Colchester

Town of Colchester

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Local Attractions

Founded in 1763, Colchester is the third most populous community in Vermont. The town is located on the eastern side of Lake Champlain and is a unique combination of rural and suburban environments, with easy access to the lake and mountains.

The town of Colchester is surrounded by water on three sides including the Lamoille River to the north, the Winooski River to the south, and Mallets Bay in Lake Champlain to the west. Marble Island and its beautiful marina are also located within Malletts Bay. It is the historical location of Fort Ethan Allen, named for the famous Revolutionary War hero. Established as a cavalry post in 1894, it closed in 1944. Today, it is the center of a designated national historic district and now houses a variety of businesses, academic institutions, and residential areas.

The nationally-recognized Hall of Fame Colchester Causeway trail is a treasure. American elms rise from the shoreline but don’t interrupt the view of the Green Mountains to the east or the Adirondacks to the west. At 2.7 miles, the Causeway ends at The Cut, but walkers and bikers can ride a ferry to South Hero Island every day during the summer or on weekends and holidays during the spring and fall. The trail continues for another mile once the ferry arrives at South Hero Island. There are no bathrooms available on South Hero Island.

In August of 2000, the MacDonald family was dismantling their camp when they uncovered what turned out to be a long-forgotten 1815 Schoolhouse. Today the Colchester Log Schoolhouse serves as a visitor center and a museum. By saving the oldest known structure in Malletts Bay, the Colchester Historical Society provided the community with a place to showcase its history and heritage.

The Storywalk® at Village Park is a community partnership between Colchester Parks and the Burnham Library. It combines the many benefits of physical activity, time outdoors in nature, and literacy.

Every year, Colchester holds a popular fishing event called the "Lake Champlain International Father's Day Fishing Derby." It draws over six thousand fishermen each year. And whether you live in Colchester or nearby you certainly don’t want to miss this town’s incredible fireworks display on Independence Day.

City of Colchester

Vermont Fish and Wildlife

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Colchester

In the early 1900s, the 10th Cavalry Regiment, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester.

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• Town of Colchester
• Colchester, VT
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• Town of Colchester