The Lower Barton River is a great summer paddling destination in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. This is a relaxing, flat water reach.The river can be an easy out and back ½ day trip from the South Bay Access on Lake Memphremagog. If shuttling cars is an option, the Coventry Station Access offers an ideal put-in for a one-way paddle down river to Newport. The paddle itself is through the 1800 acre South Bay Wildlife Management Area, which is dominated by red maple-northern white cedar swamps, sweet gale-buttonbush shrub swamps, floodplain forests, sedge meadows, and cat tail marshes. This remote stretch of the river features a variety of wildlife for the quiet observer. Keep your eyes out for great blue herons, snapping turtles and many other creatures.
The Barton River offers an easy day trip from Newport, where you can find a bustling downtown, a good natural foods store, a sporting goods store, excellent coffee and a tasting room for locally-made products including a number of local breweries. We recommend Tim and Doug’s for ice cream after the paddle.
Trip Details
- Miles: 7.7
- Put In: Coventry Station Road bridge, Newport, Vt.
- Take Out: Vermont Fish & Wildlife South Bay Access, Coventry Street, Newport, Vt.
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Services:
- Lower Barton River to Lake Memphremagog South Bay
- Trail Features
