Vermont Bicycle Tours: Vermont to Montreal's Tour de L’Île

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Burlington to North Hero

   Ride north out of Burlington on the Island LineTrail. This former rail trail enables cyclists to follow the shore of Lake Champlain then cross to the Lake Champlain Islands via a bike ferry operated by Local Motion. The ferry crossing is necessary as the old railroad bridge that once spanned the short gap from the trail’s causeway to the Islands was dismantled many years ago to allow the passage of pleasure boats between Malletts Bay and the broad lake.

   Enjoy a visit to Vermont’s first vineyard and winery for a picnic lunch hosted by your tour leaders. Ride through the patchwork farmland of the Lake Champlain Islands whose agricultural heritage is firmly rooted in apples and dairy. After settling into your room at North Hero House, enjoy a swim in the lake or visit the tiny village of North Hero and its eclectic general store whose politically divided bench is worth a visit in and of itself. This evening, the group will gather for a welcome reception and dinner overlooking Lake Champlain.
   

   
   

   • 31.7 miles
   • The North Hero House
   • Lunch and Dinner

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     Burlington, Vermont

     Start the tour in beautiful Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain

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     Island Line Trail

     Ride on this fantastic former rail trail across beautiful Lake Champlain

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     North Hero House

     Nestled in the heart of North Hero and on the shores of Lake Champlain, this lovely property features charming rooms and their popular Pier Bar

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     North Hero House

     Nestled in the heart of North Hero and on the shores of Lake Champlain, this lovely property features charming rooms and their popular Pier Bar

2. Day 2Cross the Canadian Border

   Enjoy a beautiful ride along the lakeshore of the Champlain Islands before crossing the border into Canada. Once across the border, the roads narrow and the landscape flattens as farmland dominates the scenery for much of the ride. The Richelieu River, which flows north out of Lake Champlain on its way to rendezvous with the St-Lawrence, is never far from your route to St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

   Break for a delicious picnic lunch served by your tour leaders in the town of St-Paul-de-Île-aux-Noix. The island and fort atÎle-aux-Noixwere alternately occupied by the British, French, and Americans during the late 1700s and early 1800s.The British used it as an important shipbuilding site for the decisive battle of 1814 that would prove to be the final naval confrontation on Lake Champlain.

   Continue north to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu where you will lodge at the Auberge Harris, a simple but clean and comfortable hotel which is owned by local legend and enthusiastic regional cycling supporter, Madame Boutin. Take a dip in the pool or walk the canal path into town. Dinner is on your own this evening, with plenty of delicious local options within walking distance of the
   hotel.

   Cycling Options: 50km (31mi) and 84km (52mi).
   

   • 30.4 - 51.6 miles
   • Auberge Harris, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
   • Breakfast and Lunch

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     Auberge Harris, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

     This spacious property along the Chambly Canal is owned and operated by the region's most spirited cycling advocate and is a short walk to restaurants in town

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     Auberge Harris, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

     This spacious property along the Chambly Canal is owned and operated by the region's most spirited cycling advocate and is a short walk to restaurants in town

3. Day 3St-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Montréal

   Today’s ride follows the Path du Canal-de-Chambly north to the charming village of Chambly along an intricate series of locks. The locks enable boats to avoid the unnavigable rapids of the Richelieu River as they pass between Lake Champlain and the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Explore the shops in town or visit Fort Chambly which sits overlooking the rapids and a large basin in the river. The fort serves as another reminder of the battles for control of strategic waterways during Colonial times.

   The route continues from Chambly to Montréal following bike paths into the city. Early arrival provides the opportunity to explore the city from your hotel or enjoy an additional ride along the city’s bike lanes and dedicated paths to Parc René-Lévesque. This evening, the city of Montréal offers an array of dining options just a short walk from the hotel. The Metro—Montréal’s fabulous subway system—is close by and offers plenty of additional options for venturing out to other sections of the city.
   

   • 29.2 miles
   • Delta Hotels by Marriott Montreal
   • Breakfast

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     Delta Hotels by Marriott Montréal

     Set in Le Quartier des Spectacles, this polished hotel is a 5-minute walk from the nearest metro station and comes with sleek comfortable rooms

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     Delta Hotels by Marriott Montréal

     Set in Le Quartier des Spectacles, this polished hotel is a 5-minute walk from the nearest metro station and comes with sleek comfortable rooms

4. Day 4The Tour de l’Île

   This morning, join your fellow tour participants and 15,000 others for the Tour de l’Île. This annual ride is a festive event that follows different routes through the Montréal on streets closed to vehicular traffic for this event. The route is often lined with bystanders who cheer for cyclists young and old, slow and fast, those dressed in costume and those who are not. For most of us, it’s as close to imagining that we’re riding in the Tour de France as we’ll ever get. Needless to say, it’s an event that every cyclist should experience at least once in their lifetime. There are rest stops along the route and a carnival-like atmosphere in a city park at the end of the ride. Following the conclusion of the ride,  the group will be transported back to Burlington, Vermont with anticipated arrival during the late afternoon (4:30-5pm).

   Cycling Option: 26km (16mi) - 48km (30mi)
   

   • 16.2 - 29.8 miles
   • Breakfast

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     Tour de L’Île

     Join this festive and fun ride through Montreal on the last day of the tour