Kayaking Near Whitford House: Lake Champlain & Otter Creek

Updated July 28, 2026

Whitford House is one of the closest places to stay for paddling this stretch of Lake Champlain, and guests are welcome to use the inn's kayaks — soft roof racks, PFDs, and paddles provided. The nearest put-in is DAR State Park in Addison, about a six-minute drive, with a boat launch that looks across to the Adirondacks. A little farther north near Vergennes, Button Bay State Park is a second, more sheltered launch. And when the wind kicks up on the open lake, you can trade it for the calm, current-free water of Otter Creek — a flat river paddle from Vergennes down toward the lake. Mornings are usually calmest; the cottage sleeps 4 and has a full kitchen for an early start.

DAR State Park — the closest put-in (about 6 minutes)

DAR State Park, on Lake Champlain in Addison, is the easiest launch from the cottage — roughly a six-minute drive. It has a boat access on the lake with a wide western view toward the Adirondack High Peaks, and it sits beside the historic John Strong Mansion. Load up the inn's kayaks, put in here, and paddle the quiet shoreline. Because the lake opens up to the west, mornings before the afternoon breeze are the best time to be on the water.

Directions from Whitford House →

Button Bay State Park — a sheltered bay to the north

A short drive north toward Vergennes, Button Bay State Park sits on a bluff above Lake Champlain with a day-use area and a launch onto a more sheltered bay — a good option when the open lake is breezy. The park is known for its namesake "buttons" (small clay concretions along the shore) and long views across the water. It pairs well with a stop in Vergennes for lunch or dinner.

Directions from Whitford House →

Otter Creek from Vergennes — calm water when the lake is windy

When the wind's up and the open lake looks choppy, this is the paddle to do instead — a flat, protected river with no waves to fight and almost no current.

The paddle

Otter Creek runs slow and wide from the falls at Vergennes down toward Lake Champlain, quiet the whole way through open farm country with marshy banks. It's an easy, scenic paddle and a good pick for a first-timer or a lazy afternoon — a completely different feel from the big lake.

How far do you want to go?

Put in at Vergennes and choose your takeout downstream:

• Rock Landing Road — about 5 miles, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace. A good half-day, and there's room to leave a car. Directions from the house →
• Fort Cassin — about 7 miles, 3 to 4 hours, all the way to the mouth of the creek at the lake. Directions from the house →

There's no real current, so the distance is just how long you'd like to be on the water.

Putting in

This is a one-way paddle, so bring two cars: drop one at your takeout, then drive the other to the launch below Vergennes Falls and start there. It's a hand-carry put-in — no dock, a tight lot, sometimes a little driftwood — so it's easy with the inn's kayaks. With just one car, paddle downstream as far as you like and turn back. Directions to the Vergennes put-in →

What you'll see

Quiet water through farmland and marsh, with osprey and heron working the banks and the occasional eagle overhead. Otter Creek is the longest river entirely within Vermont and has been a travel route for thousands of years; the basin below the Vergennes falls is historic, sitting above the old shipbuilding site. Lock your boat at the put-in and it's a short walk up into Vergennes for lunch.

Tips for a good paddle

• Go early. Lake Champlain is usually calmest in the morning; wind and chop build in the afternoon.
• Windy day? Switch to the creek. If the open lake is whitecapping, Otter Creek stays flat and protected.
• Check conditions. This is a big lake — watch the forecast, stay near shore, and always wear the provided PFD.
• Bring layers and water. It can be cool on the water even on a warm day.
• Make a lake day of it. Add Basin Harbor and the Maritime Museum — see the Lake Champlain day guide.

State-park hours, launch access, and fees vary by season — confirm current details for DAR State Park and Button Bay State Park before you go, especially outside summer.