Chittenden County, Vermont
Starr Farm Beach
Starr Farm Beach is a small public beach on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont — a local neighborhood beach that has maintained an informal clothing-optional tradition for decades.
- Day use
- Freshwater
About this place
Starr Farm Beach is a small public beach on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont — a local neighborhood beach that has maintained an informal clothing-optional tradition for decades. The beach is low-key and community-oriented, lacking the infrastructure of Burlington's larger North Beach Park, which makes it less visited by tourists and more associated with Burlington residents who know the city's outdoor culture.
Lake Champlain is a freshwater lake running 120 miles between Vermont and New York, with the Adirondacks on the western shore and the Green Mountains on the east. The water warms to swimmable temperatures (68–74°F) in late July and August — a genuine summer swimming season, albeit shorter than ocean beaches further south. The lake view from Burlington beaches includes the Adirondacks and the backdrop of the Champlain Valley.
Burlington is a small city with an unusually vibrant outdoor culture for its size — home to the University of Vermont, active cycling and hiking communities, and the kind of liberal Vermont politics that has historically tolerated informal naturism at spots like Starr Farm. The beach is within biking distance of downtown Burlington via the Burlington Bike Path.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Burlington residents and UVM community members who know the local tradition. Not a destination for out-of-town visitors typically; more of a neighborhood secret.
How to find it
From downtown Burlington, take the Burlington Bike Path north along the lake to Starr Farm Beach (near Starr Farm Road). About 3 miles from downtown by bike.
Things to watch out for
Lake Champlain water is cold until late July. The C/O tradition is informal; Burlington city parks technically prohibit nudity, though Starr Farm has been left alone historically. Moderate crowds on hot summer weekends.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Low-key neighborhood beach. The C/O tradition persists through courtesy — behave accordingly when general visitors are present.
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