Leaves, snow and mountains: The best bike rides in Vermont
by: Alpana Pandya
Posted on: Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm by: Alpana Pandya
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Vermont has the largest percentage of unpaved roads and logging trails of any state in the U.S. The Green Mountain National Forest runs through its heart, offering an extensive network of back roads, forest roads and mountain bike trails to explore.
Experience Vermont mountain biking and back roads cycling on scenic routes that travel over rolling countryside, passing through covered bridges, past historic villages and dairy farms dotted with black and white cows. For the more adventurous mountain biker, there are plenty of steep mountain trails in famous ski resort towns like Stowe and Killington.
A vast network of Vermont Rails Trails and bike paths including the Montpelier to Wells River Rail Trail, Beebee Spur & Spin, Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail are ideal for easy recreational bike rides.
Vermont bikes and fall foliage rides
Some of the best Fall bike rides in Vermont are the Northfield Covered Bridge Bike Tour and the Waterbury Stowe Bike Tour which travel on local country back roads and recreation paths that wind around lakes, through covered bridges and quaint villages set against a backdrop of spectacular mountains painted in brilliant Autumn colors.
The Missisquoi Rail Trail in the heart of northern Vermont’s dairy country is also a must for premier leaf peeping from your bike.
Vermont’s northern region
Vermont’s northern region can best be described with superlatives. Lake Champlain with its wide fertile valleys surrounded by striking mountain ranges, is the country’s sixth largest lake. Rugged mountains tower 1,000 feet higher than any other in the state. The northern border is a busy trade route with Canada and the cultural influence of the Province of Quebec seeps into the state. There are crystal clear lakes, abundant dairy farms, logging and backcountry roads in Northern Vermont to explore by mountain bike.
The Waterbury-Stowe Mountain Bike Tour and Montgomery Covered Bridges bicycle routes offer spectacular mountain views and travel through historic villages, covered bridges and the picturesque countryside of northern Vermont. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a popular outdoor destination and offers a huge network of dirt roads, cross-country ski trails, logging roads and singletrack trails. The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, ideal for families and beginners, offers easy riding through rural communities and farmland.
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom has some of the best mountain biking trail networks in the northeast and miles upon miles of unpaved roads. While biking, you will often see as many cows, deer and moose as you will vehicles on these routes. The Back Roads to Big Falls Tour winds over hills, past waterfalls, a popular swimming hole, lakes, scenic green pastures and through an unusual historic covered bridge.
Groton State Forest is the second largest protected area in the state and offers rides to many interesting and unusual natural features. The Montpelier to Wells Rail Trail has many historical points of interest and takes you back in time to a bygone railroad era.
Central Vermont
Central Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains and home to the State Capital, offers great back-country bicycling on a combination of paved and unpaved roads. The Mad River Valley Tour travels past small farms, through covered bridges, and over the picturesque rolling countryside of rural Central Vermont.
Killington, Vermont’s largest ski area, welcomes mountain bikers in the summer to its 35 miles of single-track trails and work roads. The Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail travels through quintessential Vermont countryside and is an excellent bike excursion for families and beginners.
With thousands of acres and hundreds of miles of trails within the Green Mountain National Forest there are mountain biking opportunities for everyone. Verdant mountain peaks, cold mountain streams, dense pine forests and lush green valleys await you. Mountain biking is permitted on all National Forest service roads. There are also several designated off-road mountain biking trails. Among these are the Pine Brook Trail, Leicester Hollow Trail, Minnie Baker Trail and the Silver Lake Trail.
