This Iron Wood Nature Trail begins at the southwest corner of the intersection of East Shore Road South and the park access road. The trail enters the woods up a short hill.
An extension from inside the campground begins near the park office, the street from the boat launch entrance. This extension enables campground guests to access the trail.
The trail has sturdy wood footpaths over wet areas (though you may encounter some mud).
Highlights of the trail include: Numerous old iron wood trees (also called hardhack, or hop hornbeam), a 15-foot observation tower, wetland-forest plants, and an exposed bedrock dome with deep fissures which you will cross approximately 2/3 of the way around the loop. Round trip from the trailhead is approximately 1 mile.
The adjacent Grand Isle State Park is open to campers and their guests only, not open to day-use visitors (near-bye day use parks on Lake Champlain include Knight Point and Sand Bar).
Visit Vermont State Parks online for more information or contact:
VT Dept. Forests, Parks & Recreation Region 3: Essex RegionPark at the corner of East Shore Road South.
From the South: Take I-89 to Exit 17; Travel west on US Route 2 through the towns of South Hero and Keeler Bay. Continue straight through the flashing light at the junction of US Route 2 and VT Route 314. The park access road is exactly 2 miles past the light on the right side of the road. Follow access road to East Shore Road South, approximately 0.75 miles.
From the North: Travel east on US Route 2 through the Champlain Islands. Drive through the towns of Alburgh, North Hero, and Grand Isle. The park entrance is approximately 2.5 miles on the left after the flashing light in Grand Isle village.
The park access road between US 2 and East Shore South is closed to vehicles from mid-November to mid-May, during which period off-season hikers may access the park entrance and trailhead along East Shore South via either Town Line Road to the south or Donaldson Road to the north.
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