2006 Fish Hawk cancelled... we lost our funding.
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Ride past Mt. Vernon's fleet of workboats.

For the last three years, the organizers and volunteers of the Fish Hawk Festival have worked to establish our ride as a highlight of the Eastern Shore cycling calendar.

Somerset County offers hundreds of miles of flat meandering roads through farm and watermen country - often on fingers of land that stretch far out into the waters of Tangier Sound and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Fish Hawk Festival takes riders from the beautiful campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore through the historic and thriving town of Princess Anne, out into the "highlands" of Somerset County, then finally down to Mt. Vernon, whose newly refurbished harbor is still home to crabbers and oystermen.

Riders from the 2002 Fish Hawk Festival enjoying the home-baked food at the Mt. Vernon rest stop.

Lying on Route 13, just 10 miles south of Salisbury and 30 miles southwest of Ocean City, Princess Anne provides easy access to our unique and unparalleled riding.

Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Norfolk are all within a pleasant two and a half hour drive. And with our late start time, there's no need to get up at 5 a.m. to ride the Eastern Shore!

We pride ourselves on welcoming riders of all abilities, from seasoned randonneurs to fun-loving "pedalstrians," so whether you're out to knock Jay "The Animal" Brown off his throne as the first 62 mile finisher three years running, or you're just out to work the winter rust off your legs and your bike, rest assured that we have a route for you.

Towards that end, we have added a scenic 7 mile route this year, for those folks who have told us they are interested in riding, but don't feel they can complete 25 miles.

Mt. Vernon's resident fish hawks, or osprey, nest each spring in the steeple of Asbury Church, the site of the Fish Hawk Festival's final rest stop.

Want to know how we picked the routes and read what riders thought of past events? Visit our FAQ/Testimonial page. Want to see our roads?

We also have pictures from last year's event (coming soon).

Organized by experienced cyclists with the help of local leaders and volunteers, The Fish Hawk Festival Bicycle Tour is your invitation to one of the East Coast's true cycling destinations.

All our routes will be SAG and EMS supported and will feature rest stops stocked with healthy food, home baked goods and friendly volunteers.

All proceeds will benefit the Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, which serves a community 20 miles from the nearest hospital.

As always, helmets are required.

For more information e-mail:
fishhawkfestival@hotmail.com

Driving Directions:   View Detailed Directions