2027 Vermont City Marathon

A rolling two-loop tour of Burlington that begins and ends at Waterfront Park on the shores of Lake Champlain, with the Adirondack Mountains rising across the water. The route threads the Church Street Marketplace and downtown before its signature climb — the 'Assault on Battery' up Battery Street around mile 15, six steep blocks away from the lake, where taiko drummers and the loudest crowds of the day push runners up the hill. More than 10 miles run along the flat Burlington Bike Path beside Lake Champlain, opening up expansive lake-and-mountain views. Total climbing is moderate at about +260 m (855 ft), so it rolls rather than plunges; the course is USATF-certified and a Boston Marathon Qualifier, making it a realistic BQ option for runners who handle one honest hill. The festive atmosphere — on-course bands, neighborhood block parties, and a waterfront finish festival at Waterfront Park — is the race's signature.