Travel

One of the most ‘amazing’ lakes in the U.S. is in New England, according to USA Today readers

Plus, New England has one of the best lakes for swimming and one of the best lake beaches.

A portion of the Island Line Trail in Burlington, Vermont stretches over Lake Champlain. Christopher Muther

June 19, 2025

1 minute to read

Summer means embracing the nature-filled joys of lake life and New England has one of the best lakes in the nation, according to USA Today readers.

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The publication recently released a list of 10 “amazing” lakes in America, part of its 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York ranked No. 9.

“Lakes across the United States have plenty to offer for those who enjoy the great outdoors,” wrote USA Today. “From fishing and boating to swimming and camping, you can enjoy scenic views, wildlife, water sports, and fresh air and sunshine.”

Here is what USA Today wrote about Lake Champlain:

Vermont is renowned for its sprawling mountain ranges, and the state is no stranger to gorgeous water features either. Case in point: Lake Champlain, a massive body of water that runs 107 miles along the New York-Vermont border. In terms of urban exploration, Burlington is a particularly popular drinking and dining destination on the Champlain shore, while there’s a wealth of parks and islands for nature lovers to explore as well.

The No. 1 lake on the list is Big Bear Lake in California.

Other New England lakes recognized by the publication include Weirs Beach at Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia, N.H., which ranked No. 10 among the best lake beaches (No. 1 was Antlers Park Beach at Marion Lake in Lakeville, Minnesota) and Echo Lake in New Hampshire, which ranked No. 7 among the best lakes for swimming (No. 1 was Lake Ouachita in Arkansas).

For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.

Check out USA Today’s list of the 10 best lakes in America.

Kristi Palma

Culture writer

Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.