12 Best Stops Along The Stowe Recreation Path

Growing up in Vermont, a pedal along the Stowe Recreation Path was a regular outing for my family. We would meander along the river on our bikes or rollerblades and make our way to Stowe Village for an ice cream before pedaling or skating back to the car.

The 11 miles roundtrip felt like 100 miles when I was 10, but I loved it!

The Stowe Bike Path is still a must-do when I come back to Vermont for a visit, especially with my niece and nephew, who love the wooden bridges and secluded swimming holes.

In this post, I share some tips for making the most of your day on the Stowe Rec Path including a few best places to stop along the way.

Let’s dive in!

Stowe Recreation Path FAQs

Read next: Looking for some dirt? Check out my guide on Mountain Biking in Stowe, Vermont

12 Best Stops Along the Stowe Rec Path

Now for the fun part! There are some great places to stop along the Stowe, VT Bike Path for food, shopping, swimming, and more. Here are my favorite spots.

Stowe Recreation Path Map

Coffee & Baked Goods

There is no shortage of good coffee and delicious baked goods in Stowe. If you’re the mood for a cup of Joe and a pastry, check out these locally-owned cafes and coffee shops along the Stowe Bike Path:

1. Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe

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 a few steps off the Stowe Bike Path near Town Farm Ln. and definitely worth a stop!

2. Woodland Baking & Coffee

Owned and operated by a Stowe native (very hard to find these days), Woodland Baking and Coffee is dedicated to serving treats made with locally sourced ingredients and coffee from Broadstreet Roasters.

They also have a menu of Instagram-worthy breakfast sandwiches and burritos.

Breweries & Restaurants

If you time your ride right (and I highly recommend that you do), you can stop at one these restaurants or breweries along the Stowe Bike Path.

3. Piecasso Pizzaria & Lounge

Located 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.

4. The Skinny Pancake

The Skinny Pancake in Burlington was a staple when I was growing up. We’d stop in for a delicious crepe between errands.

Since then, The Skinny Pancake has set up shop in Stowe where you can indulge in a sweet or savory crepe while sitting out on the porch and watching the world go by.

5. Idlethyme Brewing Co.

Idlethyme Brewing Co. is 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.

6. 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 a few snacks available for purchase. If you enjoy live music, check out their summer schedule line-up.

7. 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 which specializes 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!

Activities & Attractions

Biking the Stowe Recreation Path is a great family-friendly activity in and of itself, but if you want to make it into a longer excursion, here are a few ‘bonus’ actives and attractions to do along the way.

8. 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!

9. 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.

Shopping

Stowe has a lot of high-end shops and stores. I’m not really a shopper, but here are a few places I recommend browsing.

10. 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, glasswork, 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!

11. 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 by 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.

Ice cream

I mean, who doesn’t want a sweet treat after a day out on the bike?

12. Stowe Sweets

Stowe Sweets is Stowe’s best ice cream shop and it’s located right in the village at the start of the Stowe Recreation 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 halfway point, an ice cream at Stowe Sweets is a must!

Have you biked along the Stowe Recreation Path? What are your favorite places to stop along the way? Leave a comment below!