Green Mountains Loop

Green Mountains Loop Burlington, VT to Burlington, VT 1 Map Set GPX Data | Overview | Buy | Mobile App
1. Burlington, VT to Burlington, VT Detail

Due to limited resources, the paper map version of this route has been discontinued and will no longer be available once sold out. This route is still available digitally. More info here: Going Digital: App or GPX.

Rural Vermont and then some.

While the Green Mountains dominate the views and the geography of Vermont, the pastoral scenery and rural roads of Vermont are leading reasons for its popularity as a cycling destination. Be sure to enjoy at least one breakfast of pancakes, waffles, or French toast to savor the regional delight of locally produced pure maple syrup.

When ridden in a clockwise direction, the main route of the Green Mountains Loop Bicycle Route travels from Burlington, Vermont, north then eastward into New Hampshire along the Connecticut River. It continues back across Vermont then north into New York along the shore of Lake Champlain. If you prefer, alternates provide a route that can be ridden entirely in Vermont. The prettier and more rural, but hillier 68.7-mile East Alternate leaves the main route in St. Johnsbury and rejoins it in South Royalton.  Highlights of this alternate include riding 10 miles of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and pedaling through picturesque Peacham which has appeared in more Vermont Life photographs than any other town. From Middlebury, the 55.1-mile West Alternate is a faster return to Burlington that avoids the two ferry crossings of Lake Champlain found on the main route.

The Green Mountains Loop Bicycle Route utilizes three rail trails, all of which are unpaved. The Missisquoi Valley Trail between St. Albans City and Richford has a well-packed crushed limestone surface. The parallel SR 105 is suitable for those who prefer pavement. Both offer good views of the Missisquoi River and Jay Peak to the east.

The Newport-Beebe Bike Path travels north from Newport along Lake Memphremagog almost to the Canadian border. The trail has a hard packed gravel surface. Darling Hill Road is suitable for those who prefer pavement.

Between St. Johnsbury and Danville (on the East Alternate), the route utilizes the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail which has a crushed stone surface. North Danville Road and Bruce Badger Memorial Highway can be used for those who prefer pavement.

Photo by Dennis Coello

Although much of the route lies within valleys, expect many hills of less than 200 feet. Crossing the spine of the Green Mountains involves climbs of 1,640′ between Richford and North Troy, and 1,220′ between Hancock and East Middlebury. To avoid the climb between Richford and North Troy, you may wish to cross the border into Canada onto the Quebec Alternate for a more level 21.6-mile ride. Most of the route uses lightly traveled roads with no shoulder. Paved shoulders prevail where traffic is moderate. For a brief respite from climbing, the 17.6-mile White River Alternate runs along the river valley between Bethel and Rochester avoiding Rochester Gap, but be aware that SR 107 is narrow, winding, with little to no shoulder and carries truck traffic.

Green Mountains Loop - Main Route
Section Distance Elevation Total Climb Avg. Climb/mile
Total 377.3 miles Minimum: 95 ft.
Maximum:2,140 ft.		 23,440 ft. clockwise
23,490 ft. counterclockwise		 62 ft. per mi. clockwise
62 ft. per mi. counterclockwise
Green Mountains Loop Alternates
Name Section Distance Total Climb Avg. Climb/mile
Quebec Alternate 1 21.6 miles 1,855 ft. clockwise
1,720 ft. counterclockwise		 86 ft. per mi. clockwise
80 ft. per mi. counterclockwise
East Alternate 1 68.7 miles 5080 ft. clockwise
5200 ft. counterclockwise		 74 ft. per mi. clockwise
76 ft. per mi. counterclockwise
West Alternate 1 55.1 miles 2,915 ft. clockwise
3065 ft. counterclockwise		 53 ft. per mi. clockwise
56 ft. per mi. counterclockwise
White River Alternate 1 17.6 miles 960 ft. clockwise
640 ft. counterclockwise		 55 ft. per mi. clockwise
36 ft. per mi. counterclockwise

The Green Mountains Loop can be ridden beginning in late May through September. Generally, the cycling season in the region can be extended into mid-October as long as you’re prepared for cool, crisp mornings and brisk evenings. Showers are common throughout the spring, summer, and fall in northern Vermont. Thunderstorms account for most of the rain during the summer. Wind is seldom a problem for cyclists on this route. However, strong southerly winds in the Champlain Valley will occasionally affect riding for a day at a time.

Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent or RV site, and that can easily be $10-$40/night. The maps list churches that have opened their doors to cyclists, but they aren’t all that closely spaced. If you’re friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. Our routes sometimes go through national forests (moreso in the west) and you are allowed to camp anywhere on national forest land as long as you “pack it in, pack it out.” Many city parks are free to camp in.

You may also wish to sign up with Warmshowers, a reciprocal hospitality site for bicycle travelers, for other overnight options.

 

Route Highlights

Green Mountains Loop Highlights

  • Lake Champlain
  • Ethan Allen Homestead and Museum, Burlington, Vermont
  • Missisquoi Valley Trail
  • Long Trail (hiking), Vermont
  • Newport-Beebe Bike Path
  • Lake Memphremagog
  • Brighton State Park
  • Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (East Alternate)
  • Moosalamoo National Recreation Area

More Route Resources

RIDING CONDITIONS

U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 7 has been designated in Vermont. Portions of our route run concurrent with it. For more information and maps see advcy.link/vtusbr.

The Green Mountains dominate the views and the geography of Vermont. They are seldom out of sight, and occasionally underfoot! Thanks to the glaciers, most valleys run north and south. East-west roads are distinctly more hilly and often include steep, though short, climbs. Although much of the route lies within valleys, expect many hills of less than 200 feet. Crossing the spine of the Green Mountains involves climbs of 1,640’ between Richford and North Troy, and 1,220’ between Hancock and East Middlebury. To avoid the climb between Richford and North Troy, you may wish to cross the border into Canada onto the Quebec Alternate for a more level 21.6-mile ride.

Most of the route uses lightly traveled roads with no shoulder. Paved shoulders prevail where traffic is moderate, principally near Burlington, Colchester, St. Albans City, St. Johnsbury, and along SR 100.

The Missisquoi Valley Trail (advcy.link/missisquoi), a railbed conversion between St. Albans City and Richford, has a well-packed crushed limestone surface. The parallel SR 105 is suitable for those who prefer pavement. Both offer good views of the Missisquoi River and Jay Peak to the east.

The Newport-Beebe Bike Path (advcy.link/newportbeebe) travels north from Newport along Lake Memphremagog almost to the Canadian border. The trail has a hard packed gravel surface. Darling Hill Road is suitable for those who prefer pavement.

In East Burke and Lyndonville, lodging fills up fast on weekends and holidays due to the mountain bike mecca Kingdom Trails, located in the area. For more information go to www.kingdomtrails.org.

The prettier and more rural, but hillier 68.7-mile East Alternate offers routing that remains in Vermont. It uses a portion of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (advcy.link/lvrt) between St. Johnsbury and Danville and has a crushed stone surface. North Danville Road and Bruce Badger Memorial Highway can be used for those who prefer pavement.

On the Main Route, use caution descending the steep grade on SR 132 between South Strafford and Sharon. For a brief respite from climbing, the 17.6-mile White River Alternate runs along the river valley between Bethel and Rochester avoiding Rochester Gap. Be aware that SR 107 is narrow, winding, with little to no shoulder and carries truck traffic. From Middlebury, the 55.1-mile West Alternate is a faster return to Burlington that avoids the two ferry crossings of Lake Champlain found on the Main Route.

The Lake Champlain Bikeways Network has more information about cycling in this region. For information go to www.champlainbikeways.org.

If cycling this route to enjoy the fall colors, we recommend you call ahead to campgrounds to verify that they are open. Many close after Labor Day. Also, indoor accommodations are often full during this season so reservations are recommended.

All known Amtrak stations are listed on this map but not all stations provide bicycle service. Check if bicycle service is provided at both the starting and ending stations on your trip using the spreadsheet and other trip planning resources at advcy.link/amtrak.

CLIMATE

Rainshowers are common throughout the spring, summer, and fall in northern Vermont. Thunderstorms account for most of the rain during the summer. Burlington receives measurable precipitation on 155 days each year. One or two dying hurricanes can cause an all-day rain between late August and early October. The average dates of earliest and latest snowfalls are November 20 and May 10.

Summer winds are most commonly southwest, veering to northwest when cool, dry air moves in behind cold fronts. Wind is seldom a problem for cyclists on this route, which lacks the long open stretches found in the mid-west and the west. However, strong southerly winds in the Champlain Valley will occasionally affect riding for a day at a time.

THE BORDER

All persons crossing the U.S. – Canadian border in either direction need one of the following: a passport, a U.S. Passport Card, an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), or a NEXUS card. Visitors who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens will also need a visa. Visa requirements vary from country to country, check advcy.link/visaUSCanada for specifics.

For entering Canada, if you are younger than 18 years old and are not traveling with your parents, it is advisable to carry a letter in which your parents give you permission to visit.

For questions on requirements for crossing the border call the Canada Border Services Agency at 800-461-9999 (in Canada) or 204-983-3500 (outside Canada) or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 877-227-5511 (in the U.S.) or 202-325-8000 (outside the U.S.).

Updated: Jun 9, 2021

Updates to Recently Released Maps

If you are planning a bike tour, be sure to get the most recent map updates and corrections for your route by selecting the route, and the appropriate section(s), from the drop-down menu below.

Over time maps become less useful because things change. Every year Adventure Cycling’s Routes and Mapping Department create map updates and corrections for every map in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, which now totals 52,047 miles. With the help of touring cyclists like you, we receive updates on routing, services, camping, and contact information. Until we can reprint the map with the new information, we verify the suggested changes and publish corrections and updates here on our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Covid has been particularly hard on the small businesses along our routes. While we do our best to keep the maps and these online updates current, you may encounter more closed businesses and longer stretches with limited or no services.

Refer to these updates for the most current information we have and submit reports of changes to the Route Feedback Form for the cyclists coming after you.

NOTE: Map updates and corrections only pertain to long term changes and updates. For short term road closures, please see the Adventure Cycling’s Routes Temporary Road Closures discussion in our Forums.