Enjoy one of Vermont’s most scenic and quaint towns by cycling the Stowe Recreation Path. Follow the meandering Little River for 5.5 miles and explore at these 10 best stops along the way. You won’t be disappointed!
Growing up in Vermont, a pedal along the Stowe Bike Path was a regular outing for my family. We would meander along the river on our bikes and make our way to Stowe Village for an ice cream before pedaling back to the car. The 11 miles roundtrip felt like 100 miles when I was 11, but I loved it! It’s s still a must-do when I come back to visit.
The Stowe Recreation Path is 11-miles roundtrip and it snakes its way alongside the quiet West Branch Little River. There are a dozen wooden foot bridges that criss-cross the river and plenty of swimming holes to take a dip in. The path also winds through the outskirts of town and passes a handful of great restaurants, cafes, and shops. If you’re visiting Stowe, I highly recommend exploring this beautiful paved path! Below I’ve rounded up the 10 best stops along the way.
(There’s a good chance that affiliate links are scattered throughout this post. If you click on one I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you and I’ll definitely be using it to buy bike gear.)
Bike rentals & Where to Start
The paved Stowe Recreation Path path stretches 5.5-mile from the town of Stowe to Brook Rd. where you can visit a beautiful covered bridge. There are several ways to ride the path:
West to east: The western terminus of the Stowe Bike Path is right off of route 108 on Brook Road. There’s a small parking area with a port-a-potty and a large field with grazing horses. The outdoor gear store MountainOps is also close by and they rent cruiser bikes or e-bikes by the hour if you need a set of two wheels. It is 5.5 miles one-way to the Village of Stowe.
East to west: The eastern terminus of the Stowe Bike Path starts almost right in the village at Lintilhac Park. There’s a large parking area and easy access down to the river. If you need a bike rental, Ranch Camp or AJ’s Ski and Sports both have bike rentals suitable for the bike path. It is 5.5 miles one-way to the end of the bike path from the Village.
Start in the middle: You can also start your ride somewhere in the middle of the bike path. There are several places to park, which are marked as P on the map to the right. Just remember where you parked your car!
Stowe Bike Path Stops – Mapped
10 Best Stops Along The Stowe Recreation Path
1. Stowe Sweets
Stowe Sweets is Stowe’s best ice cream shop and it’s located right in the village at the eastern start/end of the Stowe Bike Path. They serve handmade ice cream in a dozen different flavors (my fave is the sea salt truffle) as well as creemees (Vermont soft-serve), milkshakes, sundaes, and more.
Whether you’re starting and ending your bike ride at Lintilhac Park or the Village is your half-way point, an ice cream at Stowe Sweets is a must!
2. Piecasso Pizzaria & Lounge
Situated about halfway down the bike path, Piecasso Pizzaria is a great stop for lunch or dinner. They serve delicious artisan pizza along with other Italian standards like pasta and salads.
Piecasso has a full bar with craft beers and hard ciders and outdoor seating just a few pedal strokes away from the bike path.
3. Idlethyme Brewing Co.
Idlethyme Brewing Co. is located right next to Piecasso Pizza and is another great place to stop for a meal or snack along the Stowe Recreation Path. Along with their own craft beers brewed onsite, Idlethyme serves simple and seasonal fare like burgers and salads.
They also have a beautiful outdoor seating patio with twinkling lights and picnic tables just steps from the bike path.
4. Swimming holes
There are many opportunities to take a dip in the river along the Stowe Bike Path. The paved path meanders along the West Branch Little River and you’ll see multiple places to jump off the bikes and into the river.
Some of the swimming holes are built up with small rock dams and others are deep, natural pools. Find one that looks appealing to you and jump on in!
5. Percy Farm Corn Maze
Every year, farmer Paul Percy mows a maze through his Bouchard Farm corn field and lets visitors navigate their way through it. The corn maze is located right off the bike path and it’s a super fun stop for kids.
They also have a few farm animals out front like baby cows and goats, that you can feed for ¢.25.
The maze typically opens in August, so check their Facebook page for updates.
6. Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe
Need a little sweet treat to keep your energy up? Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe serves up beautiful and delicious treats like cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and a wide assortment of pastries. They also have a savory breakfast and lunch menu filled with comfort foods like mac & cheese and pot pies and a full-service coffee bar.
Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe is just steps off the Stowe Bike Path near Town Farm Ln. and definitely worth a stop!
7. Stowe Cider
I’m a huge cider fan and Vermont brewers make some of the best hard cider around. Stowe Cider was founded in 2013 with the mission to ‘keep cider dry’ (just the way I like it!) All of their ciders range from dry and preservative-free to others that contain local fruits, hops, and unique barrel-aged flavors like peach-habanero or pineapple, lemon, blood orange with gin botanicals
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try their Gummy Bear cider – a dry cider co-fermented and aged on blue raspberry gummies.
Stowe Cider is located behind Tres Amigos Mexican restaurant. They have a large green space with picnic tables and stone sculptures. They also occasionally have a food truck parked out front and few snacks available for purchase. If you enjoy live music, check out there summer schedule line-up.
8. The Alchemist
You may have heard of the craft beer Heady Topper, which has a bit of a cult following in Vermont, similar to California’s Pliny The Elder. Heady Topper and their other popular brew – Focal Banger – are made by The Alchemist Brewing who specialize in fresh, unfiltered IPA’s.
The Alchemist Brewery and Visitor’s Center in Stowe (they also have a brewery in Waterbury which isn’t open to the public) is situated slightly off the bike path, but it’s worth a visit. They provide samples of beer for tasting, retail beer sales, merchandise and a fun, educational experience.
If you like beer – especially hoppy IPA’s – The Alchemist is a must!
9. Stowe Farmer’s Market
If you happen to bike riding the Stowe Bike Path on a summer Sunday, be sure to stop at the Stowe Farmer’s Market to browse fresh produce and locally-made crafts and goods.
You’ll find everything from homemade cheese to spicy pickles to wood-fired pizza, samosas, thirst-quenching beverages, pottery, glass work, and more.
The market is set up every Sunday on the green between the Stowe Motel and Edelweiss Mountain Deli, right off the bike path!
10. Northwood Gallery
Northwood Gallery, located in Stowe Village, hosts a collection of art and gifts from a wide variety of Vermont artisans. Here you can find everything from pottery to jewelry to paintings to molded wax candles. Everything at Northwood Gallery is made or crafted from artists that live in Vermont, so if you’re looking for a gift or memento this is the place to shop!
Northwood Gallery is just a few steps from the eastern end of the Stowe Bike Path near Lintilhac Park.
Have you visited Stowe? What’s your favorite place to stop along the Stowe Recreation Path? Leave a comment below!
Hi there! My name is Becky and this is my bike travel blog. I’ve always loved exploring the world on two wheels and it’s my mission to help others do the same! My first love is mountain biking, but I’ll never say no to any two-wheeled adventure.
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