Burlington Vt

[overmyhead]

Hi all,
I am going up to Burlington for a couple of days in June. If anyone has a good road route or two I'd appreciate it if you could pass them along. I'm not looking for anything big - it's a leisure trip- 30-35 miles, 40 tops.
Thanks

[NHAero]

I'm looking forward to seeing what more local folks propose, but I'll toss out two - for a flat ride, the Lake Champlain islands, and for hills, a loop that takes you through Smugglers Notch. Have fun!

[Mr. Pink]

There's a lot of good riding just south of Burlington. That area is accessible by the bike path, and a few maneuvers off, before you're in the farmland/exurbia of that town. Also, a nice way to blow the day is ride south to Charlotte from town, grab a half hour ferry over to the NY side, and do some miles over there out of Essex, and ferry back.

You may be encountering black flies and other irritating bugs at that time, so,wear repellent, and don't stop!

[tv_vt]

Probably best bet would be to stop into the Ski Rack and talk to some of the folks there, like Roger. Burlington is a city with traffic, etc., so you may want to drive out a ways first. In the city, there is the lakeshore bike path if you just want to stretch your legs and look around. Addison county to the south (Vergennes, Middlebury) is a very pretty rural area. But stay off Route 22A - too many trucks and high speeds.

If into music, check and see if Burlington Jazz Festival is going on when you're in town, too. (June 2 - 11th: Robert Cray, Diana Krall,...)

[kingpin75s]

Addison county to the south (Vergennes, Middlebury) is a very pretty rural area. But stay off Route 22A - too many trucks and high speeds.

I toured this area in 2010 on one of my trips back East and it was really nice.

[djg21]

Probably best bet would be to stop into the Ski Rack and talk to some of the folks there, like Roger. Burlington is a city with traffic, etc., so you may want to drive out a ways first. In the city, there is the lakeshore bike path if you just want to stretch your legs and look around. Addison county to the south (Vergennes, Middlebury) is a very pretty rural area. But stay off Route 22A - too many trucks and high speeds.

If into music, check and see if Burlington Jazz Festival is going on when you're in town, too.

This is good advice. If you have time, the riding is better IMO on the NY side of Lake Champlain. There is a lot less traffic. Maybe park your car in Charlotte and take your bike onto the ferry and over to Essex one day. There are some good rides in Essex County on RideWithGPS.

[gdw]

+1 on taking the ferry to NY and exploring the back roads.

[r_mutt]

i can't speak for NY, and i'm sure that the roads are great, but why bother jumping on a ferry across Lake Champlain when the riding south of Burlington is spectacular?

here's a ride from Burlington to Warren that's easy to follow. have a look at the roads here- pretty much empty country roads:

https://goo.gl/maps/qyXtCg6DuQE2

That would put one in one of the vicinity of some of the best (if not the best) climbing in the east coast . here's the famous the 6 Gaps Ride:

http://dynamic-assets.mapmyfitness.com/us/northfield-vt/vermont-six-gaps-road-ride-route-130752773?host_canon=mapmyride.com

[Mr. Pink]

i can't speak for NY, and i'm sure that the roads are great, but why bother jumping on a ferry across Lake Champlain when the riding south of Burlington is spectacular?

here's a ride from Burlington to Warren that's easy to follow. have a look at the roads here- pretty much empty country roads:

https://goo.gl/maps/qyXtCg6DuQE2

That would put one in one of the vicinity of some of the best (if not the best) climbing in the east coast . here's the famous the 6 Gaps Ride:

http://dynamic-assets.mapmyfitness.com/us/northfield-vt/vermont-six-gaps-road-ride-route-130752773?host_canon=mapmyride.com

Because, it's really cool (in more ways than one as per the meaning of the word) to ride a ferry across Champlain, a beautiful lake in between the Greens in Vt. and the ADK in NY.
And the area climbing out of Essex to maybe five miles directly west of the shoreline is awesome riding that is not well known to most riders, because it's hard to get to. Much much better than the riding in the ADK. Much less traffic, better roads. Beautiful scenery at times. If you're looking at a map, find Essex, and think RT. 22 as a start.
The downside is that the ferry ride is a half hour, so, we're talking at least an hour back and forth added to ride time, and maybe an hour wait for the ferry if you just missed one, so, it's not going to be a short day. So, yeah, if you're coming out of downtown Burlington, it's going to be a long one. Bring a pb&j.

I'm pretty sure the OP just wants a nice little ride. That six gaps thing is brutal. Not for the weak.

Another problem in Vermont is something I learned from living in Saratoga Springs for three years and exploring about. The roads can really, well, suck. Vermont, in general, is a poor state that cannot afford the same level of road care that NY, a rich state, can. Over half of Vermont is dirt (attn, gravel riders!), and many of the main roads are battered by very rough winters and truck traffic. I drove 100 south from Stowe to Killington this winter, and, boy, there were some stretches I would not want to be on with skinny tires and a stiff frame. Dangerous traffic at times, too. Too bad, pretty road.

[Mr. Pink]

This page on ride with GPS gives you a taste of riding on both sides of the lake.

https://ridewithgps.com/events/24593-vt-all-days#routes/16048648/preview

[kingpin75s]

Another problem in Vermont is something I learned from living in Saratoga Springs for three years and exploring about. The roads can really, well, suck. Vermont, in general, is a poor state that cannot afford the same level of road care that NY, a rich state, can. Over half of Vermont is dirt (attn, gravel riders!), and many of the main roads are battered by very rough winters and truck traffic. I drove 100 south from Stowe to Killington this winter, and, boy, there were some stretches I would not want to be on with skinny tires and a stiff frame. Dangerous traffic at times, too. Too bad, pretty road.

This is a fair point but also a draw for me. I admittedly toured this region on a cross bike capable of wider tires and enjoyed finding the lesser traveled dirt roads of the region.

[djg21]

A few more you can edit.

This one includes Port Kent and Essex Ferries and goes into Burlington, and by Ausable Chasm. It passes the Ausable Brewery, which is fun on weekend evenings. Highland road is beautiful, with great views of Willsboro bay, but with some steep climbs. RTE 22 is fine. You can skip Willsboro point. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21158758/edit

These also can be modified.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/8600414

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2753353

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2816069

[fiamme red]

A few more you can edit.

This one includes Port Kent and Essex Ferries and goes into Burlington, and by Ausable Chasm.Is Ausable Chasm worth going out of the way for on a bike tour? Is there much to see from Route 9?

[djg21]

Is Ausable Chasm worth going out of the way for on a bike tour? Is there much to see from Route 9?

I avoid RTE 9 and stay on Mace Chasm road, which is really nice. They've recently been developing the area as an agritourism center, with the Ausable Brewery and Mace Chasm farm there. http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/agri-tourism-cluster-sprouts-new-growth/article_09754150-2d53-5b42-9ae8-d5fdc068f64d.html

I don't know about making a special trip to Ausable Chasm. It's privately owned and they charge to visit. It supposedly has some nice MTB trails it has developed, but I've not ridden there yet.

RTE 9 is fine, and I often ride south on it from where it intersects with 22, down towards Elizabethtown, before heading back east towards Essex or Westport. I can do without the section of 9 between Keeseville and Plattsburgh, but it's really not bad, and has good shoulders. I just prefer back roads to riding on 9.

I like 22 and the climb over Rattlesnake Mountain to 9. There is a good shoulder, even though it is a main road.

I often ride up along the Bouquet River into Wadhams on the way back towards the lake. There is a bakery there that makes a nice stop. http://www.dogwoodbread.com

[fiamme red]

I avoid RTE 9 and stay on Mace Chasm road, which is really nice. They've recently been developing the area as an agritourism center, with the Ausable Brewery and Mace Chasm farm there. http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/agri-tourism-cluster-sprouts-new-growth/article_09754150-2d53-5b42-9ae8-d5fdc068f64d.html

I don't know about making a special trip to Ausable Chasm. It's privately owned and they charge to visit. It supposedly has some nice MTB trails it has developed, but I've not ridden there yet.

RTE 9 is fine, and I often ride south on it from where it intersects with 22, down towards Elizabethtown, before heading back east towards Essex or Westport. I can do without the section of 9 between Keeseville and Plattsburgh, but it's really not bad, and has good shoulders. I just prefer back roads to riding on 9.

I like 22 and the climb over Rattlesnake Mountain to 9. There is a good shoulder, even though it is a main road.

I often ride up along the Bouquet River into Wadhams on the way back towards the lake. There is a bakery there that makes a nice stop. http://www.dogwoodbread.comThanks for the detailed and useful information.

By the way, are you familiar with Trout Pond Rd that runs about 8 miles, from Route 9 (about 10 miles north of Elizabethtown) up to Green St south of Route 9N? I'm wondering if it's paved.

[djg21]

Thanks for the detailed and useful information.

By the way, are you familiar with Trout Pond Rd that runs about 8 miles, from Route 9 (about 10 miles north of Elizabethtown) up to Green St south of Route 9N? I'm wondering if it's paved.

Trout Pond road is pretty, with one or two dirt sections (longish) that are absolutely rideable on a road bike. It goes behind Pocomoonshine, which are the cliffs you see from I-87 where people are often rock climbing. I ride Trout Pond Rd. fairly often when I'm in the area.

[fiamme red]

Trout Pond road is pretty, with one or two dirt sections (longish) that are absolutely rideable on a road bike. It goes behind Pocomoonshine, which are the cliffs you see from I-87 where people are often rock climbing. I ride Trout Pond Rd. fairly often when I'm in the area.Thanks! :)

[thunderworks]

Approximately 40 miles . . . . Ride south to the ferry at Charlotte. Cross into NY. Ride up the NY shore which is spectularly beautiful and devoid of traffic. Return to Burlington on the ferry at York.

The roads in NY have less traffic and are in good condition. I think that the folks at Ski Rack probably have a map of this ride.

[overmyhead]

Thanks everyone!
I will wade through all this and look for the best options. Knew I could count on you all.

[ORMojo]

My favorite, and easiest, leisure bike trip when in Burlington is the Colchester Causeway Trail coupled with riding the roads on Grand Isle. You can start this right from downtown Burlington. There are lots of loops you can make out of the Grand Isle roads, nice scenery, very little traffic, and a few restaurants if you want to include a stop at one along the way.

Don't miss this resource: Lake Champlain Bikeways (http://www.champlainbikeways.org/) Lots of route suggestions, free downloadable maps, etc.

[pncguy]

When I was in college in the late 80s our cycling team did a lot of rides along 116 from south of Middlebury all the way to Burlington. I don't know how the traffic is now, but from East Middlebury to Bristol was pure joy.

[fiamme red]

The Island Line Trail from Burlington to South Hero looks like fun: http://www.bikekinetix.com/t_vt/vt_rail/island-line-colchester.php.

http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/vpr/files/styles/x_large/public/201407/VPR-Island-Line-20140702.jpg

[overmyhead]

How is the ride up route 2 to the islands?

[572cv]

How is the ride up route 2 to the islands?

From Burlington, not very good until you get past Colchester... its an artery as things go around here. But, once in Milton, not so bad.


My go-to 30 to 50 mile loops are south of Burlington, going from Hinesburg or Charlotte down towards Middlebury. I also start in Monkton often.

A great ride from Monkton Ridge: Bristol Road south, rt. on Hardscrabble; Hardscrabble south (includes 1 mile of hard gravel) to Lower Hardscrabble, continue straight on Sawyer, cross rt17 onto East St, straight to River Rd. in New Haven Mills. Then rt on River Rd, then hard rt on South Street heading back north to New Haven. (Pause: Monument Farm chocolate milk and a cookie at the little store on the green in New Haven.) Then continue north on North St. across Plank Rd, to where it becomes Parks-Hurlburt Rd, and still straight on Old Stage Rd back to Monkton Rd. This last after North Rd is hard gravel. Then Monkton Rd back to Monkton Ridge, and you've done 30 miles of some of the most beautiful roads in the Champlain Valley, not far from Burlington. If I'm around and the timing is right, and you don't mind slower old riders, I'll join you.
This one also easily extends to Middlebury by cutting up onto Munger St. in New Haven Mills, which bumps it up to about 42-45 miles.

[verbs4us]

Have done the Burlington ride a few times with JDRF--100 miles down to Middlebury and back. Mostly gently rolling, since it stays in the valley by the lake. Road surfaces are great; traffic nil.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3964847

[sandyrs]

Love all this talk of traffic. Y'all are spoiled. :p