Rock River (Lake Champlain) facts for kids

The Rock River (also called Rivière de la Roche in French) is a river that flows into Rock River Bay. This bay is located in the northern part of Lake Champlain. The river flows through two countries:

• in the United States, it goes through Franklin County, including the towns of Franklin and Highgate in northern Vermont;
• in Canada, it flows through Saint-Armand in the Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, which is in the Montérégie region of Quebec.

The main activity in the Rock River valley is farming. People also enjoy visiting the area for fun activities and tourism, especially near Lake Champlain. Many roads help people get around the valley.

During winter, the river's surface usually freezes from mid-December to early March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to late February. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain or snow falls. The river usually floods in March due to melting snow.

River's Journey: Geography

The Rock River is part of a larger water system that eventually reaches the St. Lawrence River. This journey goes through Lake Champlain and then the Richelieu River.

Where the River Starts

The Rock River begins in a swampy area in Franklin County, Vermont, right on the edge of Highgate. This starting point is found between Jones Road and Hanna Road, west of Lake Carmi.

How the River Flows

The Rock River is about 40.8 km (25.4 mi) long. About 30.7 km (19.1 mi) of it is in Vermont, and 10.1 km (6.3 mi) is in Quebec. The river flows downhill, dropping a certain amount from its source to its mouth.

• Upper Part (Vermont): The first 10.1 km (6.3 mi) of the river is in the town of Franklin. It flows through farmland, first heading northwest, then turning west. It makes a big curve and crosses Browns Corner Road before reaching the border between Franklin and Highgate.
• Middle Part (Vermont): For the next 13.7 km (8.5 mi), the river stays in Highgate, Vermont, still flowing through farmland. It first goes southwest, then turns north, passing through Bullis Pond and under Gore Road (VT 207) until it reaches the Canada-US border.
• Middle Part (Quebec): The river then flows for 10.1 km (6.3 mi) in Saint-Armand, Quebec. It winds through forests and farms, crossing Chemin Pelletier Sud and Chemin de Saint-Armand. It also picks up water from Brandy Brook. After passing east of Saint-Armand village, it meanders back to the Canada-US border.
• Lower Part (Vermont): The final 6.9 km (4.3 mi) of the river is back in Vermont. It flows southwest through flat farmland, making a few loops. It passes under Saint Armand Road, Highway 189, and Spring Street (US7). Finally, it flows into the eastern side of Rock River Bay, which is in the northern part of Lake Champlain.

Where the River Ends

The Rock River finishes its journey by flowing into the eastern shore of Rock River Bay. This bay is part of Missisquoi Bay, which is a northern arm of Lake Champlain. The river's end point is in Highgate Springs, Vermont.

River's Name: Toponymy

The Rock River has a few different names. The Geographic Names Information System also lists it as "River Rocher" and "Riviere de La Roche."

History of the Name

In Quebec, the river was shown on a map from 1732 by Jean-Baptiste Lefebvre, called "Rivière du Rocher." For a long time, English speakers in Quebec called it "Rock River," just like in Vermont.

The name "Rock River" comes from a large rock found at the river's mouth on the eastern shore of Rock River Bay in Lake Champlain, Vermont. In Quebec, the name "Rivière de la Roche" was officially approved on February 2, 1955, by a group called the Geography Commission, which is now known as the "Commission de toponymie du Québec." The name was officially set on December 5, 1968.