3-Day Vermont Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Bike Tour

The two pick-up locations today are the Park & Ride in Colchester at 9am, or the Hotel Vermont at 10am. After brief introductions, shuttle to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in Walden. Stop in Hardwick for lunch along the way. Then have a bike fitting and start riding in Walden at the headwaters of the Lamoille River. Today’s ride is down the railroad grade to St. Johnsbury. You stay at a casual inn very close to the trailhead and have a chance to explore the historic downtown, including a brewery and dinner. Informally known as “Saint J.,” the town of St. Johnsbury is the largest town in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and was one of the original New Hampshire Grants towns in 1760.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn & Suites St. Johnsbury
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 19.5 miles (31 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier

Your ride today starts with a 30-minute shuttle back near the highpoint of the trail in Walden. You then travel along a picturesque route from Walden to Jeffersonville, covering more than half the width of beautiful Vermont. Today’s entire ride is downhill again, frequently crossing the Lamoille River. One highpoint of the day is riding through the Fisher Covered Railroad Bridge. It was one of the last operating covered railroad bridges in the U.S. Lunch is on your own. Our recommended lunch stop is at Lost Nation Brewery in Morrisville, which is right on the trail. You can opt to stop riding at this point and shuttle to the end of the day's ride.

Along the way, you pass working farms that produce maple syrup and dairy products. Many sell these delicious fresh treats at the farm. At the end of the ride, shuttle into iconic Stowe, Vermont, where you stay within walking distance of the famous Alchemist Brewery. Walk to dinner from the inn.
Accommodation: Stoweflake Mountain Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 28 or 42.5 miles (45 or 68 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate

Begin your morning with breakfast in Stowe, then shuttle back to Jeffersonville. Today’s ride is away from the Lamoille River along a gentle railroad grade to the Missisquoi River Valley and downriver to Swanton. The day still has just 677 feet of climbing and continues to roll through Vermont’s farms and forests. Have lunch together after finishing the ride in Swanton, and then shuttle back to downtown Burlington where you started, arriving by about 4 p.m.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 31.6 miles (51 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate