Tree Tops Cottages

08/12/2025

Keep the green can to your right leaving Outer Malletts Bay through the “cut”.

08/11/2025

A few weeks ago we had a lake shore assessment with the VT Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), Friends of Northern Lake Champlain Association (FNLC)and South Hero Land Trust (SHLT). We “passed” the test and just got presented with an award!
Whoo hooo. Now, where to hang it??

08/10/2025

This is Allen Point Reef. Two boats hit it today & that's just what I happened to see.

It's a little less than 3' deep right now & extends halfway between the green can & shore. It's near the cut to the broad lake from Malletts Bay.

08/10/2025

FYI. This means that we have a wide beach this year!

I get asked a lot about the lake level. Is it low right now? Yes. How low?

Today the lake level reading was 94.1'. For anyone who follows lake level readings, this might sound abnormally shallow for August.

However - back in October 2023, the NOAA/NWS changed the reference level aka "vertical datum" used to calculate the lake level, so all the readings dropped overnight by 0.6 feet (7.2 inches) from what everyone used for many decades before.

So today's Burlington gauge reading of ~94.1' is really 94.7' using the system in place until 2023.

Regardless of how complicated this sounds, this year's early August lake level is identical to what we had in early August 2022, 2020, & 2018. In 2016 the lake was a few inches lower than it is right now.

So TL;DR - it's a bit below the average level for this time of year, but nothing crazy yet.

Typically the lake level continues to drop through early October. If the dry weather keeps up, things could get interesting heading toward record-low territory. 2016 eventually hit 92.9' (new datum) by late October. Record low territory is ~92.1, a full 2 feet lower than right now.

Here's the link to the graph I took the screenshot from. Blue line is record high, green is record low, purple is average, red is current year.

https://www.weather.gov/btv/lakeLevel?year=2025

08/01/2025

After our beloved Ethel died in March we debated whether to do it again. We did! Meet the new Tree Tops mascot, Gus.
We picked him up today at 10 weeks old.

07/27/2025

Lakeside cottage rentals in South Hero.
Save 25% in any open cottage! We still have room for August 30-September 6 and September 6-13.
Visit www.treetopsvt.com for more information.

07/16/2025

Maintenance on the Colchester Causeway is completed and will reopen on Thursday July 17!

And the Bike Ferry will be back to its normal schedule. See you out at the Cut.

Monday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

07/10/2025

The Colchester Causeway will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday July 16th. This will apply to ALL users of the trail.

The Local Motion Bike Ferry will also be closed in both directions. The Causeway (and Bike Ferry) are likely to re-open on July 17th, check back on localmotion.org/bike_ferry for updates.

06/18/2025

We had a cancellation, and still have a week open July 5-12 in HighView cottage. Kayak, paddle-board, swim all from our beach. It's a great time on Lake Champlain, so let us know you're interested. Plus, save 20% on any weeks still open in 2025! Visit www.treetopsvt.com for more info.

05/23/2025

Save 20% for any open week We’ve had a few cancellations, so our loss is your gain.
June 14-21. June 28-July 5. July 5-12. August 9-mid Sept. Visit our website for more information and ask us anything. Www.treetopsvt.com

05/15/2025

Unfortunately one of our long time guests had a death in her family and had to cancel. So, the Point cottage is now open July 5-12. We also have a few other openings, so if you have any interest in a prime time summer Lake Champlain get away, please let us know. www.treetopsvt.com

05/06/2025

We just had a cancellation for the week of June 28-July 5 in South BayView cottage (our largest cottage!)
This is a great time and a holiday week, so let us know if you are interested. www.treetopsvt.com