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Biking Information

Biking Information

Biking Overview

Vermont offers a wide variety of roads and trails for both bicycle touring and mountain biking. Biking is also a fun and convenient way to explore the parks and campgrounds. You can cruise alongside relatively flat lakes and rivers or challenge yourself on single-track mountain trails.

Enjoy up-close views of farms and forests, mountains and lakes. Ride from your campsite down to the beach, or head into town for some ice cream at a local store.

Top 5 Parks for Biking

Here are our picks for some of our favorite biking parks:

Button Bay State Park

When most people think of Vermont, they picture mountains. But as you approach Lake Champlain, the landscape flattens out, offering sweeping views of the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains, and the lake itself. Together, these features make for spectacular biking conditions.

Button Bay State Park lies along the Lake Champlain Bikeway, a 363-mile cycling route that loops around Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River in Quebec. The primary route is mostly paved, and the full system includes 992 miles of themed loop rides. Most routes have minimal traffic, and the section near Button Bay is especially well-suited for family cycling.

Nearby biking destinations include the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Basin Harbor Club, and D.A.R. State Park. The southern Lake Champlain region near Button Bay is rich in Revolutionary War history. During your visit, you may want to explore Chimney Point and Mount Independence Historic Sites, Fort Ticonderoga National Historic Site, or the John Strong Mansion Museum.

Button Bay State Park offers tent sites with wide-open lake views, lean-tos, a swimming pool, and a large open-air picnic pavilion. The park is named for the unique button-shaped concretions, geological formations found in the area’s clay soil. A scenic nature trail leads to the point where the nature center is located. Nature programs are offered daily. Fishing and boating are also popular activities in the park.

Emerald Lake State Park

The rugged, steep mountains of southwestern Vermont are a northern extension of the Taconic Mountain Range, which begins along the western border of Connecticut and the eastern border of southern New York.

Once known for its slate and marble production, this region’s geology creates white-rock cliffs, limestone caves, and deep, emerald-green lakes and quarries—hence the name Emerald Lake.

In southern Vermont, the Taconics are paralleled to the east by the southern end of the Green Mountains. Between these two impressive ranges lies the scenic “Valley of Vermont,” where Otter Creek flows north toward Lake Champlain. The Battenkill River, known for trout fishing as well as canoeing and kayaking opportunities, flows south. The valleys of the Battenkill, Otter Creek, and Mettawee River—along with the nearby corridors of Routes 11, 30, and 7—offer some of the best biking routes in the region. While the scenery is outstanding, these routes are best suited for intermediate to advanced riders.

Emerald Lake State Park offers tent and lean-to camping, a large beach, swimming, fishing, boat rentals, a concession stand, and hiking trails. Nearby attractions include the Green Mountain National Forest, with its extensive trail network and remote camping opportunities, the Appalachian Trail, the Battenkill River, the village of Manchester, and Equinox Mountain.

See also: Northshire Area Trails System

Grand Isle State Park

Located in the heart of the Champlain Islands, Grand Isle State Park is open to camping visitors only — there is no day use at this park. But for those staying overnight, it offers an unbeatable basecamp for exploring one of Vermont’s most scenic regions.

Nestled between Burlington, VT and Montreal, QC, the Champlain Islands retain a peaceful rural charm, with lakefront farms, orchards, vineyards, and the longest sand beach in Vermont. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities — swimming, fishing, paddling, and especially biking.

The Champlain Islands are a road cyclist’s dream, with access to the Lake Champlain Bikeways network — over 992 miles of themed loops ranging from 10 to 60 miles, all along quiet, scenic back roads. Five loops run through the islands, including:

  • Island Life (11.6 miles)
  • Stone Castles (15.0 miles)
  • A Trail to Two Beaches (17.5 miles)
  • Liquid Elixir (11.7 miles)
  • A Legacy of Ancient Stone (10.1 miles)

Camping at Grand Isle State Park also includes free day use at nearby Knight Point, Sand Bar, and Alburgh Dunes State Parks. These are ideal spots to begin, end, or pause a cycling adventure, complete with parking, swimming beaches, and picnic areas.

Come stay at Grand Isle State Park and experience the Champlain Islands by bike, but remember, camping reservations are required, and there is no access for day-use visitors.

Lake Carmi State Park

On the shores of Vermont’s fourth-largest lake, Lake Carmi State Park sits in the heart of farm country. Quiet back roads lead past rural landscapes, generations-old family farms, quaint villages, rolling fields, and forested woodlots.

The park is just a short ride from the 26-mile Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and is located near its midpoint. This scenic trail, built on an old railroad bed, runs between the towns of St. Albans and Richford. Its packed gravel surface makes for an easy, comfortable ride, and being off the highway means no traffic concerns—making it even more enjoyable. Much of the route follows the beautiful Missisquoi River, known for its spring whitewater, excellent fishing, and downstream heron rookeries.

While you're in the area, consider visiting the 6,600-acre Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. It serves as a vital stopover, breeding ground, and feeding area for migratory birds and waterfowl.

At Lake Carmi State Park, the paved campground roads are ideal for kids to ride their bikes. The park also features a large day-use beach, boat launch ramps, boat rentals, and a variety of camping options, including tent sites, lean-tos, and cabins. Daily nature programs are available during the season. The park is also home to Vermont’s third-largest peat bog—a 140-acre natural area of spongy sphagnum moss and unique bog flora.

Ricker Pond State Park

In the heart of the 26,000-acre Groton State Forest, Ricker Pond State Park was once the location of a working saw mill. The Montpelier-Wells River railroad ran through the park, and the former railroad bed is now part of the Cross-Vermont rail trail. When completed, this will be a 75-mile bike trail between Burlington and Newbury. Ten miles of this trail run through the Groton Forest. With a packed gravel bed and average gradient of less than 2%, it is appropriate for family riding and is easily accessible for people with disabilities. The trail takes you in and out of woodlands and past secluded lakes. Family riders can do an easy out-and-back, where experienced cyclists may choose a day-long loop.

Ricker Pond has tent and lean-to camping, five cabins, and a small, fully furnished cottage. Loons are common on this quiet pond. Your campsite registration gets you entry into all of the other Groton parks, too. With its vast network of trails, ponds, lakes, streams, and forests, there are a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities to keep the whole family occupied.

Resources

Bike Rental Fees for Burton Island and Grand Isle Only

 Half Day (4 hours)Full Day (24 hours)Additional Day (24 hours)
Bike Rentals$15 + tax$25 + tax$15 + tax

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is a popular sport, and in Vermont we have a lot of mountains! If you are looking for some great rides, or are wondering about mountain biking on state land, here are some resources that can help you plan your trip:

Top Parks for Mountain Biking

Branbury State Park 

Adjacent to the Green Mountain National Forest and the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, Branbury offers access to miles of mountain biking trails. Trails are accessed via forest roads directly east of the park. More detailed maps and information are available on the Green Mountain National Forest website.

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Three people on their mountain bikes taking a ride at a Vermont State Park.

Brighton State Park

A great base for exploring the world-renowned Kingdom Trails in East Burke, just 30 minutes away. This remote and scenic park is popular with locals and visitors alike.

Directions

From Island Pond, head south on VT-114 for 20 miles to reach East Burke. The Kingdom Trails Welcome Center is open daily in summer. Parking is located behind the Northeast Kingdom Country Store in town.

Coolidge State Park

Provides easy access to gravel roads and trails in Coolidge State Forest (PDF). The park is less than 30 minutes from the Evolution Bike Park at Okemo Mountain Resort.

Gifford Woods State Park

Located near Coolidge State Forest and just a short drive from Killington Resort’s Bike Park. Pine Hill Park in nearby Rutland also offers 16 miles of mountain biking trails.

Jamaica State Park

Roughly a half-hour drive from Mt. Snow's Bike Park in Dover.

Little River State Park

Features over three miles of new mountain biking trails within the park. Additional nearby trails are maintained by the Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA) at Perry Hill.

The park has over three miles of trails. Rhe Waterbury Area Trails Alliance maintains more trails nearby at Perry Hill. 

Directions

From the contact station at the park entrance, take a left and continue on the road towards the "B" camping area. Parking is at the Dalley Loops trailhead.

Molly Stark State Park

Also about a half-hour drive from Mt. Snow's Bike Park in Dover.

Groton State Forest

Home to several parks within a 26,000-acre forest, Groton offers over 60 miles of trails and forest roads—many of them multi-use and suitable for mountain biking. View the Groton State Forest Trail Map (PDF).

Additional Mountain Biking Resources