Shelburne Town Beach
Shelburne, Vermont
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $30
- SEASON
- June
About Shelburne Town Beach
Shelburne Town Beach is a municipal swimming beach on Lake Champlain at the end of Beach Road in Shelburne, Vermont, operated by the town's Parks & Recreation department. It is a resident-oriented swimming hole (annual sticker or day-pass system) with a supervised swimming area, boat launch, and standard beach amenities on about 1.5 acres, making it a straightforward lake to swim in for locals.
The beach sits directly on the shore of Lake Champlain at the end of Beach Road, a residential street in Shelburne. It is a compact, 1.5-acre developed municipal park property rather than a backcountry or undeveloped shoreline site.
Swimming at Shelburne Town Beach
Swimming takes place in a designated lake swimming area at a developed town beach on Lake Champlain. Lifeguards are on duty 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily during the summer season (June 15 through late August, weather permitting); swimming outside those hours or dates is at the swimmer's own risk. The site is set up for family and resident use rather than remote or wild swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at the end of Beach Road in Shelburne, Vermont, on the shore of Lake Champlain.
Parking: On-site vehicle access is managed through the pass system (per-vehicle season passes and per-car day passes), implying an on-site parking area at the beach.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up town beach at the end of Beach Road in Shelburne; parking lot is adjacent to the swim area, effectively a one-to-two-minute walk from car to water. No trail or hike involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Developed municipal lake beach with a playground and a designated, buoy-marked swim area, but lifeguards are only on duty 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. daily (June 15-late August); outside those hours swimming is unsupervised. Official beach rules require an adult to accompany any child under 12 and ban all flotation devices except Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Rules also warn patrons off 'the CLAY,' indicating patches of clay lake-bottom near the swim area that can be slick or stir up sediment.
Parking
Paid, Access requires a beach pass, not a separate parking fee: $10/vehicle day pass (Shelburne residents or resident-accompanied guests) or a resident season pass ($30 first vehicle, $10 each additional household vehicle, $15 for seniors 60+)
Parking is limited to areas with a displayed, current beach pass (bumper sticker for season pass, dashboard placard for day pass); parking in the boat-access area or turnaround is prohibited.
Restrooms
Yes
On-site bathhouse; per the town's official 2026 Beach Rules, beach staff are present and bathrooms are open 10:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
No independent visitor reports on water clarity were located. The one piece of direct evidence found is from the town's own 2026 Beach Rules, which instructs patrons 'no playing in the CLAY', indicating a clay lake-bottom near the beach that can cloud the water when disturbed, consistent with Lake Champlain's generally turbid-to-moderate (not spring-fed-clear) character in this shallow bay.
Hours
Beach open sunrise to sunset year-round. Lifeguards on duty 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. daily as staffing/weather allow, June 15 through late August. Beach staff present and bathrooms open 10:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
On the water
Restrictions: Per official 2026 Beach Rules: boats, sailboards, and motorized craft are not permitted near the designated (buoy-marked) swim area; the adjacent boat launch is for small craft only and boating must stay within roughly 100 feet of the launch. Paddleboards may be launched directly from the beach, outside the swim ropes. No flotation devices of any kind are allowed within the swim area except Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
Non-residents wanting to launch a boat cannot use the Town Beach launch (resident-pass system); the beach page notes Vermont's state boat launch on Bay Road as the public alternative nearby.
Rentals nearby
Hourly kayak (single and double), canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals, plus sailboat rentals and season passes
Prices: $40/hour for paddle craft (kayak, canoe, or SUP); 10-hour paddle punch card $120; season passes for unlimited paddle-craft access starting at $190 (student rate)
505 Lake Street, Burlington, VT -- on the Burlington waterfront of Lake Champlain, roughly 4-5 miles north of Shelburne Town Beach by road · May 23-June 14: Saturdays, Sundays & Memorial Day, 10am-6pm. June 20-Sept 7: daily, 9am-8pm. Sept 12-Oct 12: Saturdays, Sundays & Indigenous Peoples Day, 10am-6pm. Rentals must be off the water 30 minutes before closing.
Shelburne Town Beach: FAQ
Does Shelburne Town Beach charge a fee?
Annual season pass: $30 for the first vehicle, $10 per additional household vehicle, $15 for seniors (60+). Day pass: $10 per car for Shelburne residents or resident-accompanied guests. Access requires a Shelburne resident sticker or resident-accompanied day pass; passes sold at the beach gatehouse or the Recreation office (weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., starting May 26).
Is Shelburne Town Beach kid friendly?
Developed municipal lake beach with a playground and a designated, buoy-marked swim area, but lifeguards are only on duty 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. daily (June 15-late August); outside those hours swimming is unsupervised. Official beach rules require an adult to accompany any child under 12 and ban all flotation devices except Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Rules also warn patrons off 'the CLAY,' indicating patches of clay lake-bottom near the swim area that can be slick or stir up sediment.
Do I need to hike to reach Shelburne Town Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Shelburne Town Beach?
Parking is limited to areas with a displayed, current beach pass (bumper sticker for season pass, dashboard placard for day pass); parking in the boat-access area or turnaround is prohibited.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Shelburne Town Beach?
Non-residents wanting to launch a boat cannot use the Town Beach launch (resident-pass system); the beach page notes Vermont's state boat launch on Bay Road as the public alternative nearby.
When is the best time to visit Shelburne Town Beach?
Lifeguard-supervised swimming runs June 15 through late August; the beach itself is open sunrise to sunset year-round.
What are the rules at Shelburne Town Beach?
No dogs or other pets allowed at the beach. Alcohol and glass containers prohibited. Groups must maintain one adult per five children. Group events must end by 7:30 p.m. Boating is restricted to small craft and must stay within 100 feet of the launch area. Beach open sunrise to sunset year-round; access is resident/guest-of-resident only via sticker or day pass.
