Causeway Outreach Returns for a Third Summer

This summer is the third year Lake Champlain Sea Grant staff will be at the Colchester Causeway through our partnership with Local Motion. On Fridays and Saturdays from 11 to 3pm from now through August, we will have staff, fellows, or student interns from Lake Champlain Sea Grant chatting with visitors about all things Lake Champlain. 

The Colchester Causeway is part of the Island Line Trail, a 13.4-mile trail that follows the route of the Island Line, built by the Rutland Railroad in 1901. Today, this trail is one of the most popular bike routes in New England with hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Learn more about the history of the Colchester Causeway. 

Local Motion has been operating a bike ferry on the Island Line Trail in one form or another for over 20 years. Originally, the ferry brought visitors across the Winooski River, until a bike/pedestrian bridge over the river was constructed and opened in 2004. In 2005, the operation moved to the Colchester Causeway “Cut.” The ferry became the connection across a gap in the Causeway connecting Colchester to the Champlain Islands. The bike ferry carries over 17,000 visitors each summer and is funded by donations. It runs seasonally between late May and mid-October.  

The Bike Ferry is an important link between the Burlington area and the Champlain Islands which makes it possible for uninterrupted travel along the entire length of the Island Line Trail. Visitors enjoy dramatic scenery during their 15-minute ferry ride and look forward to spending the day exploring the Islands, enjoying a creemee, or relaxing at a local restaurant before riding back to Colchester.  

The bike ferry is one of the many Local Motion programs designed to get Vermonters—and visitors—to experience Vermont’s beautiful outdoors. The programs help to make riding and walking in Vermont safe, accessible, and fun for everyone. Local Motion continues to be Vermont's leading resource for all issues related to walking, biking, and rolling. 

“It just made sense to partner with Lake Champlain Sea Grant on the Causeway,” said Tom Clark, Director of Services and Marketing at Local Motion. “With many visitors waiting for the ferry and or out enjoying the lake, Sea Grant has a captive audience to engage on issues of biodiversity, geology, lake systems, and more. This is a way we can give back and support community watershed education—and we get to learn something, too!” 

Last year, Lake Champlain Sea Grant staff had a blast meeting with hundreds of visitors from across the United States and beyond. We even had the chance to meet some local biking celebrities!  

Our staff is looking forward to yet another great summer at the bike ferry crossing to share more of our Little Lake Lessons with you including the geologic history of the basin, various intriguing species in the lake, some of the challenges that Lake Champlain faces, and more.  

You can also come out to ask us your questions about the lake! So, head down on foot or on wheels to learn a little bit more about our lovely lake! 

“Going out to the causeway is such a fun part of summers at Lake Champlain Sea Grant!” shared Aude Lochet, Water Resources Extension Specialist with Lake Champlain Sea Grant and SUNY Plattsburgh. “Beautiful scenery and friendly atmosphere provide a great setting for meaningful conversations about how to protect the waters we love!" 

To learn more, visit the Lake Champlain Sea Grant causeway webpage.