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Vermont Bicycle Tours: Lake Champlain Valley
Duration
6 days
Site savings
$35
From
$3,440 USD
Nestled between Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Adirondack Mountains is spectacularly beautiful Lake Champlain. Country roads, charming inns, and a classic lakeside resort form the framework for this Vermont bike tour, named by Frommer’s as one of the “Ten Best in the World.” One of the top locations in the world for bicycling is in Vermont. Witness Vermont’s endless shades of green during spring and summer and be enthralled by the lake’s natural beauty. Enjoy lightly travelled roads that wind through classic Vermont landscapes. Gentle valley farmland provides miles of fabulous cycling and mountain foothills are close enough to provide challenging options for those who want them.
- CategoryLuxury
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration6 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level2 - Novice
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance108.7 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance18 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration6 days
- Main DestinationVermont
- Distance108.7 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance18 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Maple Farm Views
Meet your tour leaders at the Hotel Vermont for the short transfer to their office. Ride south along a lightly travelled route through farmland to the charming town of Vergennes. Stop to view the waterfalls cascading into a basin that was the site of an important shipbuilding center during the French and Indian War. Chat with your fellow travellers during a picnic lunch on the town green. The afternoon ride features beautiful views extending over the valley to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. Ride through Vermont’s only two-lane covered bridge–one of only six remaining in the entire US. In Middlebury, visit Danforth Pewter to watch family patriarch, Fred Danforth, shape beautiful pewter crafts as his ancestors have done since 1755. Continue through town to the Waybury Inn, a truly classic Vermont country inn, surrounded by huge maple trees. Relax on the patio, in the gardens, or wander over to the Middlebury River. The WayburyInnholds the distinction of being featured for years in the opening scene of the 1980s TV sitcom Newhart. Enjoy dinner this evening in the inn’s dining room then visit their pub for a nightcap.
Cycling Options: 25km (16mi) and 57km (36mi).
- 15.5 miles
- The Waybury Inn, East Middlebury
- Lunch and Dinner
- Day 2Lake Dunmore and the Falls of Lana
This morning’s ride leads through rural valley farmland and one of Vermont’s longest covered bridges. Continue along lightly travelled roads offering stunning views of the Green Mountains as you make your way to Brandon. History buffs will enjoy a visit to the Brandon Museum located in the house where Stephen A. Douglas was born. Here, you can learn more about this 19th-century statesman and how the Civil War affected this small Vermont town. You might also enjoy a visit to the artist’s cooperative which features a variety of local works. Your tour leaders will host a delicious picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Dunmore situated at the edge of the Green Mountains. The “Greens” as they are known locally, are part of the northern section of the Appalachian Mountains and the icons after whichVermont–the Green Mountain state–is named. Enjoy the short walk to the Falls of Lana or continue on the climb to Silver Lake for expansive views over Lake Dunmore. Those up for a challenge can tackle the climb up Middlebury Gap before returning to the Waybury where you can enjoy a refreshing microbrew in the inn’s pub. Join your fellow travellers by the fire on the patio before dinner this evening in the inn’s dining room.
Cycling Options: 37km (23mi), 57km (36mi) and 85km (53mi).
Hiking Option: 1.6km (1mi) to 4.8km (3mi) round-trip
- 23 miles
- The Waybury Inn, East Middlebury
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3A Classic Town Green and Mountain Village
Following a delightful Vermont country breakfast, wind your way north through open farmland to Bristol and its classic town green. Bristol retains its small-town charm and features a variety of unique shops, including that of a family run beeswax candle maker. Follow the New Haven River toward its headwaters near the tiny hamlet of Lincoln, a picturesque village nestled along the river below imposing Mount Abraham. The route provides numerous photo opportunities of the river, its waterfalls, and boulder-strewn riverbed. For strong cyclists, an option to climb Lincoln Gap will burn the quads of the best of them. Following lunch on your own in Bristol, follow the river downstream as it meanders west toward Middlebury. Stop to visit Otter Creek Brewery, Woodchuck Cider, or Vermont’s all-natural soap company, Vermont Soapworks. The downtown area is lined with interesting shops as well as a variety of restaurants. This evening, your accommodations are at the lovely Swift House Inn, a former governor’s mansion just steps from the heart of downtown. Dinner is on your own in this classic New England college town.
Cycling Options: 24km (15mi), 46km (29mi) and 69km (43mi).
- 14.9 miles
- The Swift House Inn, Middlebury
- Breakfast
- Day 4Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Begin the day with a ride to the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm. This architecturally stunning property was built in the late 1800s by Colonel Joseph Battell who began breeding Morgans on the farm in an effort to preserve the pedigree of America’s first, and many argue finest, breed of horse. Meet some of the breed’s exemplary lineage during a private guided tour of the property. Cross a bridge over a lovely section Vermont’s longest river—the Otter Creek—and continue past orchards and farms. Stop into the kitchen shop of a fabulous local chocolatier and sample delicious gourmet chocolate. Visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum or opt for an extended ride through rolling countryside. Your afternoon destination is the Basin harbour Resort and Boat Club, a classic turn-of-the-century resort that has hosted generations of vacationers in its peaceful lakeside setting. The harbour, as it is known locally, offers swimming (lake and pool), non-motorized watercraft, tennis, golf, formal dining room, and pub-style restaurant. Evenings on the lakeshore are blissfully quiet and the sunsets absolutely stunning.
Cycling Options: 30km (19mi), 56km (35mi), and 75km (47mi).
- 18.6 miles
- The Basin harbour Resort and Boat Club, Vergennes
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 5Historic Sites of the Lake Champlain Basin
Today’s ride features lightly travelled roads winding through farms, apple orchards and open fields that offer expansive views. Vistas along much of the gently rolling route extend east to the Green Mountains and west across Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains. Cross the beautiful new bridge spanning Lake Champlain to visit the Crown Point Historic Site in New York. During the early 19th century, the strategic peninsula overlooking the narrowest section of Lake Champlain was occupied first by the French, then by Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys, and ultimately by the British in the ongoing battle for control of north-south travel on the lake. In addition to the stone barracks and earthen embankments of the former fort, there is an unusual stone lighthouse nearby that was constructed in 1912 to honor French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the first European to discover the lake. Later in the day, enjoy a visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, take a boat out on the lake, play a game of tennis or round of golf, or simply relax at the resort. This charming lakeside oasis is just perfect for unwinding in comfortable Adirondack chairs on the lawn overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. Join your fellow travellers for a final dinner together this evening in the inn’s dining room.
Cycling Options: 28km (18mi), 53km (33mi) and 74km (46mi)
- 17.4 miles
- The Basin harbour Resort and Boat Club, Vergennes
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 6Cruise Across Lake Champlain and Visit Historic Essex