Vermont Biking Tours: Trails, Rail Trails, Seasons And Where To Stay

Vermont by bike, start to finish: Kingdom Trails singletrack, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Burlington's Island Line, Stowe, road and gravel loops in Woodstock and Middlebury, plus foliage timing.

95 miLongest Rail Trail · Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, St. Johnsbury to Swanton through 18 towns, the longest rail trail in New England
213 trailsKingdom Trails · more than 100 miles of non-motorized singletrack and multi-use trail around East Burke
14.4 miIsland Line Trail · Burlington to South Hero, about 8 miles of paved Greenway and about 5 miles of crushed gravel causeway

Vermont Biking Tours By The Numbers

An electric assist bike parked at the edge of a gravel rail trail in rural Vermont

A paved bike path beside a lake with sailboats moored offshore

A cyclist riding a rail trail of packed crushed stone through green Vermont farmland

A cyclist riding a pedal-assist e-bike along a tree-lined crushed stone rail trail

5.3 mi

Stowe Recreation Path · paved, gently rolling, from Stowe village along the river and meadows

26.4 mi

Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail · St. Albans to Richford on crushed stone, joining the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail near Sheldon

Bike Ferry Donation · suggested one way on the Lake Champlain bike ferry, $10 round trip; the ferry runs late May to mid October

59 F / 42 F

October In Burlington · average high and low, the heart of the foliage window

28 mph

Class 3 E-Bike Limit · Class 1 and 2 stop assisting at 20 mph; motors are under 750 watts and Class 3 riders must be 16 or older

Vermont Biking Tours Month By Month

Burlington High29°32°41°55°69°78°82°81°73°59°46°35°

Kingdom TrailsWinterWinterOpensOpenOpenOpenOpenOpenWinter

Bike FerryOpensOpenOpenOpenWeekendsEnds

FoliageBeginsPeak

Limited or winter
Starting or ending
Open
Peak
Not named
This month

January

Burlington High: 29 F Burlington Low: 13 F Kingdom Trails: Winter Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Kingdom Trails summer network is closed; the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail stays open to non-motorized use; the bike ferry is closed

February

Burlington High: 32 F Burlington Low: 14 F Kingdom Trails: Winter Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Kingdom Trails summer network is closed; the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail stays open to non-motorized use; the bike ferry is closed

March

Burlington High: 41 F Burlington Low: 24 F Kingdom Trails: Mud season Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Mud season: the Kingdom Trails summer network is not open yet and softer trails need a conditions check; the bike ferry is closed

April

Burlington High: 55 F Burlington Low: 36 F Kingdom Trails: Mud season Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Mud season: the Kingdom Trails summer network is not open yet and softer trails need a conditions check; the bike ferry is closed

May

Burlington High: 69 F Burlington Low: 48 F Kingdom Trails: Opens Bike Ferry: Opens Foliage: None Riding Notes: Kingdom Trails typically opens as conditions allow; the bike ferry season starts in late May

June

Burlington High: 78 F Burlington Low: 57 F Kingdom Trails: Open Bike Ferry: Open Foliage: None Riding Notes: All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs

July

Burlington High: 82 F Burlington Low: 62 F Kingdom Trails: Open Bike Ferry: Open Foliage: None Riding Notes: All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs

August

Burlington High: 81 F Burlington Low: 61 F Kingdom Trails: Open Bike Ferry: Open Foliage: None Riding Notes: All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs

September

Burlington High: 73 F Burlington Low: 53 F Kingdom Trails: Open Bike Ferry: Weekends Foliage: Begins Riding Notes: Foliage begins in the north in late September; the bike ferry moves to a fall weekend schedule

October

Burlington High: 59 F Burlington Low: 42 F Kingdom Trails: Open Bike Ferry: Ends Foliage: Peak Riding Notes: Foliage peak window runs late September to mid October; Kingdom Trails is open through October 31; the bike ferry season ends mid October

November

Burlington High: 46 F Burlington Low: 32 F Kingdom Trails: Closed Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Kingdom Trails closes in November and early December for deer hunting; the bike ferry is closed

December

Burlington High: 35 F Burlington Low: 21 F Kingdom Trails: Winter Bike Ferry: Closed Foliage: None Riding Notes: Kingdom Trails opens its winter network of groomed fat bike and Nordic trails as conditions permit; the bike ferry is closed

Riding Season By Month

Month	Burlington High	Burlington Low	Kingdom Trails	Bike Ferry	Foliage	Riding Notes
January	29 F	13 F	Winter	Closed	None	Kingdom Trails summer network is closed; the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail stays open to non-motorized use; the bike ferry is closed
February	32 F	14 F	Winter	Closed	None	Kingdom Trails summer network is closed; the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail stays open to non-motorized use; the bike ferry is closed
March	41 F	24 F	Mud season	Closed	None	Mud season: the Kingdom Trails summer network is not open yet and softer trails need a conditions check; the bike ferry is closed
April	55 F	36 F	Mud season	Closed	None	Mud season: the Kingdom Trails summer network is not open yet and softer trails need a conditions check; the bike ferry is closed
May	69 F	48 F	Opens	Opens	None	Kingdom Trails typically opens as conditions allow; the bike ferry season starts in late May
June	78 F	57 F	Open	Open	None	All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs
July	82 F	62 F	Open	Open	None	All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs
August	81 F	61 F	Open	Open	None	All the main networks are open and the bike ferry runs
September	73 F	53 F	Open	Weekends	Begins	Foliage begins in the north in late September; the bike ferry moves to a fall weekend schedule
October	59 F	42 F	Open	Ends	Peak	Foliage peak window runs late September to mid October; Kingdom Trails is open through October 31; the bike ferry season ends mid October
November	46 F	32 F	Closed	Closed	None	Kingdom Trails closes in November and early December for deer hunting; the bike ferry is closed
December	35 F	21 F	Winter	Closed	None	Kingdom Trails opens its winter network of groomed fat bike and Nordic trails as conditions permit; the bike ferry is closed

Kingdom Trails, Waterfront, Rail Trail Or Stowe: Which Ride Fits

	Kingdom Trails	Burlington And Island Line	Lamoille Valley Rail Trail	Stowe Recreation Path
Length	213 trails, more than 100 miles of trail	Island Line 14.4 miles; Burlington Greenway about 8 miles	About 95 miles, St. Johnsbury to Swanton	5.3 miles
Surface	Singletrack and multi-use trail	Paved Greenway plus about 5 miles of crushed gravel causeway	Firm crushed stone, grades 3 percent or less	Paved
Difficulty	Easy meadow loops to technical, rooty descents	Flat and easy, with exposure on the causeway	Easy and flat, with gentle grades	Easy, gently rolling
Rider Base Town	East Burke	Burlington	St. Johnsbury, Morrisville or Swanton	Stowe
Season Notes	Summer network typically May to October 31, then a winter fat bike and Nordic network	Bike ferry runs late May to mid October; check the causeway before a long ride	Open year-round to non-motorized use; snowmobiles use it December 16 to April 15	Paved path through the village; check conditions in shoulder seasons

Where Vermont Biking Tours Ride

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway)Waterfront
Colchester Causeway (Island Line Trail)Waterfront · 7.0 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
East Burke (Kingdom Trails)Mountain Bike Towns · 64 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Stowe Recreation Path (Stowe village)Rail Trails And Paths · 26 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (St. Johnsbury)Rail Trails And Paths · 58 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (Morrisville)Rail Trails And Paths · 31 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (Swanton)Rail Trails And Paths · 31 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail (St. Albans)Rail Trails And Paths · 25 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Woodstock VillageRoad And Gravel Towns · 69 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line
Middlebury (Trail Around Middlebury)Road And Gravel Towns · 32 miles from Burlington Waterfront Park (Burlington Greenway) in a straight line

Where To Stay For Vermont Biking Tours

upscale

Hotel Champlain Burlington, Curio Collection by Hilton

Burlington, near Waterfront Park

Check rates

mid-range

Sun & Ski Inn And Suites

Stowe

Check rates

mid-range

The Wildflower Inn

Lyndonville, 2.3 miles to Kingdom Trails

Check rates

Vermont Biking Tours FAQ

A cyclist riding a rail trail between open fields with mountains on the horizon

Are e-bikes allowed on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail?

Yes. The Vermont Agency of Transportation says e-bikes are allowed on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, while ATVs, dirt bikes and motorized scooters are not.

Can I rent a bike in Burlington?

Yes. The Local Motion Trailside Center at 1 Steele Street in Burlington rents bikes, including Class 1 e-bikes, near the start of the Island Line Trail.

Do I need a pass to ride Kingdom Trails?

Yes. Kingdom Trails passes are sold online through the association's store and in person at the Welcome Center in East Burke, and a pass is required to ride the network.

When is the best time to bike in Vermont?

Summer and early autumn are the main riding season. Kingdom Trails typically opens in May and closes at the end of October.

When does the foliage peak for a ride?

Peak color usually arrives between late September and mid October. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation publishes regional foliage reports during the season.

Does the Lake Champlain bike ferry run all year?

No, the ferry is seasonal, running from late May to mid October, with weekend-only fall hours from mid September.