Top 10 Vermont Bike Trails For Every Rider

I may be biased (I’m a born and raised Vermonter), but I think Vermont has some of the best biking in the East, if not the whole US or even North America! Vermont bike trails range from incredibly scenic bike paths and rail trails to rough and rowdy mountain biking destinations with everything in between.

Whether you’re looking for multi-day bikepacking trips through the Green Mountains or you want to hit the Kingdom Trails for a weekend of world-class singletrack, Vermont delivers.

And Vermont’s awesomeness doesn’t stop at the trailheads. You’ll also find delicious maple syrup treats (a maple creemee is a must), stunning fall foliage, a thriving craft beer scene, quaint New England towns with farm stands, and so much more.

As someone who grew up in Vermont, I’m pretty familiar with the trails and backroads throughout the state and in this post, I’ve rounded up a handful of the best stand-alone Vermont biking adventures. From scenic paved bike paths to fast and flowy mountain bike trails, there’s something for every rider!

Why Choose Vermont for Biking?

As I mentioned in the intro, there are a lot of reasons to plan a biking trip to Vermont regardless of your two-wheeled fancies. Here are just a few reasons why Vermont is a stand-out state for cycling adventures:

Best Mountain Bike Trails in Vermont

Love singletrack? Here are the best places to find it:

1. The Kingdom Trails

• Location: East Burke, Vermont
• Bike Type: Mountain Biking
• Miles: 100+ Miles
• Highlights: Black Bear and Stormin’ Norman

Vermont is chock-full of amazing mountain biking trails, but ask anyone which are the best and they’ll probably say the Kingdom Trails (or at least they’re the most recognized).

The Kingdom Trails are a collection of 100+ miles of singletrack spread through East Burke, Vermont. These trails are on private land, so please remember that it is a privilege to ride them, not a right.

While there is a ton of great riding to choose from, I’m partial to Black Bear and Stormin’ Norman in East Haven. Black Bear is a long flow track while Stormin’ Norman has a few more features to play around on.

The only catch is that the fire road to the top is a bit of a grind…

Read next: A Complete Guide To Mountain Biking at The Kingdom Trails

2. Killington Bike Park

• Location: Killington, Vermont
• Bike Type: Mountain Biking
• Miles: 33 Miles
• Highlight: 3 different lifts to bring you to access three different parts of the mountain

If you like bike parks, you’ll like Killington. Killington Mountain has some of the best Vermont bike trails for mountain bikers ranging from easy (but fun!) flow trails to rough and gnarly old-school tracks. Many of the trails are built by Whistler’s famed Gravity Logic team.

What’s really unique about Killington, though, is that there are three different lifts that access different parts of the mountain. The Snowshed Quad accesses the more beginner-friendly trails while Ramshead and the K1 Gondola take you up to the more challenging terrain.

Try to hit Killington in the fall when the leaves are changing color – it’s magical!

Read next: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide to Killington Bike Park

3. Victory Hill

• Location: Victory, Vermont
• Bike Type: Mountain Biking
• Miles: 14 Miles
• Highlight: Unique trail network built and maintained by a volunteer trail crew

Victory Hill is located just a short drive from the Kingdom Trails network, but it’s not actually part of the Kingdom Trails.

It’s built and maintained by a volunteer trail club (Victory Hill Trail Club) and situated on private land (remember to Ride With Gratitude!).

Victory Hill is free to ride, but you must stop at the gatehouse to sign a waiver. They also close the trails after rain.

So what about the trails? They’re awesome! A friend said that it’s like no other place he’s ever ridden. There is everything from fast flow trails with small features to jump lines and big drops. It’s kind of like a pedal-accessed bike park.

There is primitive camping at Victory Hill ($35/night). You can learn more here.

Read next: Best Places to Mountain Bike in Vermont

Best Gravel Rides & Bikepacking Trails in Vermont

For the gravel grinders, here are the top dirt road routes and adventures:

4. The VTXL

• Location: The length of Vermont
• Bike Type: Gravel/Bikepacking
• Miles: 302 miles
• Highlight: Bike the length of Vermont!

The VTXL is a bucket list trip for cyclists. Stretching the length of Vermont, this 302-mile trail links together Vermont backroads and old forgotten tracks from the Canadian border in the north to the southwesternmost corner on the Massachusetts border.

Throughout the route, the trail passes by bucolic pastures and pastoral landscapes and traverses through quiet little towns, many with their own character-filled general store.

There’s even a little bit of singletrack and a handful of rugged Class 4 roads to keep things interesting.

This was one of my favorite bike trips on the East Coast!

5. The Green Mountain Gravel Growler

• Location: Start and end in Burlington
• Bike Type: Gravel/Bikepacking
• Miles: 255 miles
• Highlight: Sample some of the best craft brews in Vermont

Another bikepacking route in Vermont, the Greek Mountain Gravel Growler is a beer-loving cyclist’s dream.

The 255-mile loop starts and ends in Burlington, but along the way, the route passes by 13 different breweries, 2 classic brewpubs, and several esteemed taprooms and restaurants not to mention endless stunning Vermont landscapes and lots of cows.

The majority of the bike trail is on quiet backroads or abandoned tracks, so go ahead and have that second – or third – pint.

6. Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail

• Location: Missisquoi, Vermont
• Bike Type: Gravel
• Miles: 26.3 miles one-way
• Highlight: Step back into time and experience rural Vermont

The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail is a 26.3-mile crushed-stone trail that stretches between the towns of St. Albans and Richford just south of the Canadian border. It’s a scenic path with plenty of views of cornfields, pastoral dairy farms, and waterways, but the real appeal is the feeling that you’re stepping back into time.

Learn about railroad history at the Enosburg Historical Museum and stroll around the historical district in Richford for glimpses of the old mill-town architecture.

If you only want to do a portion of the trail, start in Enosburg Falls and head toward Richford.

7. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

• Location: Saint Johnsbury to Swanton, Vermont
• Bike Type: Gravel
• Miles: 93 Miles
• Highlight: Pass through 18 small Vermont towns and through pastoral Vermont landscapes

If you haven’t gathered, Vermont is home to a number of rail trails and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is another one worth checking out. It’s the longest bike trail in Vermont, spanning 93 miles between the towns of Swanton and St. Johnsbury.

In between the two start/end trailheads, the trail passes through a number of other quaint Vermont towns and bucolic landscapes. It has an average grade of 3%, making it a perfect trail for all ages and abilities.

I haven’t ridden the full Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, but it’s on my bike-it list!

Best Road Biking & Bike Touring Trails in Vermont

Prefer pavement? These are Vermont’s top road and blacktop rides:

8. The Burlington Bike Path

• Location: Burlington, Vermont
• Bike Type: Road/Gravel
• Miles: 13.4 miles one-way
• Highlight: Biking over the Colchester Causeway with Lake Champlain on either side

Also known as the Island Line Rail Trail, the Burlington Bike Path is a 13.4-mile (one-way) stretch of off-road rail trail that connects the lakefront shores of Burlington to the narrow spit of the Colchester Causeway. It’s one of my favorite ways to explore Burlington and the lakefront.

Along the way, the trail passes by several beautiful beaches, wooded hiking trail networks, wildlife areas, local shops, and more.

The first 9 miles of the Burlington bike path are paved and then the trail turns into hard-packed gravel, which is still suitable for most road bikes.

During summer, there is actually a free bike ferry at the end of the Colchester Causeway and you can continue your ride on into South Hero and the northern islands of Lake Champlain.

So grab a rental from Local Motion Bike Shop and enjoy a day out on this iconic Vermont bike trail!

Read next: Cycle The Burlington Bike Path For The Best Views Of Lake Champlain

9. The Stowe Recreation Path

• Location: Stowe, Vermont
• Bike Type: Road
• Miles: 5.5 miles one-way
• Highlight: All the bridge crossings and fun stops along the way

Cycling along the Stowe Recreation Path (or Stowe Bike Path) is one of my favorite summertime activities. Growing up, my family and I actually used to do it as a fun outing and now my brother takes his kids on it.

The paved path is only 5.5 miles one-way, but it meanders alongside a scenic river and ends in the quintessential New England town of Stowe where you can get an ice cream or browse the local shops.

There are also a number of fun stops along the path were cyclists can grab a delicious meal, drink some craft brews, or take a dip in one of the many swimming holes.

If you visit Stowe, rent a bike and spend an afternoon pedaling the Stowe bike path. You won’t be disappointed!

Read next: Best Stops Along the Stowe Bike Path

10. Green Mountains Loop

• Location: Starts and ends in Burlington, Vermont
• Bike Type: Road/Bike Touring
• Miles: 377 Miles
• Highlight: Quiet backroads and bike paths through some of the prettiest areas of Vermont

For road riders looking to experience the best of Vermont’s quiet backroads and multi-use paths, Adventure Cycling’s Green Mountain Loop is the perfect answer.

This 377-mile route takes cyclists out of Burlington (on the Burlington Bike Path) up through northeastern Vermont (on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail) before turning south toward St. Johnsbury, Middlebury, and even across Lake Champlain into New York.

There are plenty of campgrounds, churches, and National Forest lands to camp in, or it would be very easy to do this route from inn to inn.

You can buy the digital maps on Adventure Cycling.

Best time of Year For biking in Vermont

Vermont has five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Mud Season (which is typically around November and March/April).

I recommend planning your biking trip between late June and mid-October for the best weather.

Spring brings beautiful wildflowers and a feeling of reawakening while fall in Vermont is famous for its stunning maple foliage, summer harvests, apple cider donuts, and cozy vibes.

Final Thoughts

Vermont has no shortage of awesome bike trails. Whether you’re a mountain biker, gravel grinder, or roadie, my home state will deliver epic singletrack and quiet backroads.

Don’t miss out on all the other great things Vermont has to offer, too, like amazing local food and treats (maple creemees!), cozy bed & breakfasts, great hiking trails, and so much more.

What are your favorite Vermont bike trails? Which ones did I miss? Which ones are now on your bike-it list? leave a comment below!