North Hero in the Champlain Islands will be in total darkness on April 8

North Hero in the Champlain Islands will be in total darkness on April 8 for over three and a half minutes, as one of the longest paths of totality in the state for the upcoming solar eclipse. The Champlain Islands see over 20,000 tourists during a typical summer. April’s solar spectacle could eclipse that. “We’re expecting to exceed that this year, in just a 24 or 48-hour period,” said Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen. Local lodgings are bursting at the seams. Apple Island Resort in South Hero got a special permit to open weeks early for visitors viewing RV-style, and there are only a few spots still up for grabs. They’ll also host local students on their lawn. North Hero House booked up last summer. General manager Desiree Maltais says they’ve been getting eclipse-related calls since 2018. There’s no shortage of viewing spots. Alburgh is gearing up for a three-day Totality Festival with live music and a parade. Sheriff Allen expects visitors will travel by land and water, congesting Route 2 from Rouses Point to the Sand Bar, and catching the ferry from New York. “Our goal is to keep the main roads open and asking the residents as much as you can, to stay home during this period,” he said. Allen is working with the state police, Fish and Wildlife, and Emergency Management to plan in case of weather-related accidents.