The Tour de Champlain is an annual bicycle tour around scenic Lake Champlain.  The Tour begins and end in beautiful Burlington, Vermont.  The roughly 50 mile ride uses bike paths and two ferries to circumnavigate the lake.  The ride is moderately difficult and includes some significant hills.  However, the pace is relaxed.

The Tour plans to follow the same route as last year: From the start, we travel north on the bike path and out the causeway in Mallets Bay to "The Cut." At The Cut we will take a bike ferry to South Hero island. The Tour follows West Shore road to the Grand Isle Ferry.

Please note, the bike path out to the cut is NOT paved for about 2.5 miles. Also, most of West Shore road in South Hero, about 8 miles, is a hard packed dirt road.

After arriving in New York, we follow the new access road to Route 9 in Plattsburgh. We stop for lunch along Lake Champlain at a park. After lunch, the Tour continues south on Route 9 to Route 373 where we turn left to Port Kent and board the ferry back to Burlington. After arriving in Burlington, the Tour heads north again up the Burlington bike path back to Starr Farm Beach.

This route is approximately 45 miles.

As always, The Tour will begin at Starr Farm Beach. Find North Ave, Burlington, VT. From Battery Park, follow North Avenue North to Starr Farm road (about 3 miles). Turn Left on Starr Farm road. Just past the dog park (and bike path) turn Right on Starr Farm Beach road (it may not be marked). Please park in the field near the red barn and ride your bike to the Start which is a few 100 yards further up the road.

Coffee, fruit, and bagels are available at the start. Bathrooms are also available.

Please pre-register for planning purposes.  Registration is free.  A donation of $25 for adults and $15 for children is appreciated.  Donations may be made at the event.

Register 

  Map

The earliest known photo from the Tour de Champlain

Your registration donation ($25) gets you a commemorative Tour T-Shirt, Ferry Tickets, Lakeside Lunch, and the post-ride party with awesome food, drinks, live music, and many, many awards and prizes.   All registration proceeds are donated to the Raymond J. McCarthy Fund charity which supports underprivileged youth athletes.

In 2004, The Tour was renamed The Raymond J. McCarthy Tour de Champlain in honor of Ray McCarthy, who passed away on April 12th, 2004. Ray's life was dedicated to his family and friends and a personal goal of keeping an open, inquiring mind and a strong, limber body. A work in progress ended prematurely.

This Tour was one of his yearly favorite activities and represented, to him, the perfect celebration of his passion for people and life. By naming the Tour in his honor, we keep Ray with us, knowing he will always be riding along in spirit.

In Ray’s honor, the Tour de Champlain donates all registration fees and additional donations to the Raymond J. McCarthy Foundation.