Lamoille Valley Rail Trail 9:30 am. Ride code B/2/34
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
This week Bob Holdsworth will host the ThursdayD&P ride! He has chosen the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. The eastern end of the LVRT runs about 17 miles from St. Johnsbury to Danville, ending alongside Joe's Pond. It is part of a project that is patching together pieces of the rail line to eventually establish the longest continuous rail trail in New England, stretching about 100 miles across Vermont from St. Johnsbury to St. Albans.
The surface is hard packed smooth stone dust. There are tunnels and bridges, lots of forest, good views of the Vermont hillsides and some lakeside biking. Dan's Pond is a good place for a swim, and there (typically) is a food truck at the beach for a hot dog or fried calm plate. When we have done the trail in the past there were bikers, pedestrians, dog walkers, and horses out enjoying the trail. The weather forecast looks good for this out-of-the-valley-experience. Escape from the local traffic!!
The surface is fine for most bikes. Teeny tiny skinny tires have been used on this trail, BUT will slip in the rougher spots, not as much fun as compared to wider tires. The occasional surface issues are at some of the road crossings, the interface between the trail and the road is sometimes soft and sandy with a bump. Your All-Road or Gravel bikes will be flying happily on this trail. The trail climbs gradually all the way to Danville, a hardly noticeable climb. The downhill trip back, however, is a hoot! It is certainly the easiest, flattest way to travel east-west across any part of Vermont!! A Thank You to the railroad designers, and surveyors.
Check out the website: www.lvrt.org
The surface is hard packed smooth stone dust. There are tunnels and bridges, lots of forest, good views of the Vermont hillsides and some lakeside biking. Dan's Pond is a good place for a swim, and there (typically) is a food truck at the beach for a hot dog or fried calm plate. When we have done the trail in the past there were bikers, pedestrians, dog walkers, and horses out enjoying the trail. The weather forecast looks good for this out-of-the-valley-experience. Escape from the local traffic!!
The surface is fine for most bikes. Teeny tiny skinny tires have been used on this trail, BUT will slip in the rougher spots, not as much fun as compared to wider tires. The occasional surface issues are at some of the road crossings, the interface between the trail and the road is sometimes soft and sandy with a bump. Your All-Road or Gravel bikes will be flying happily on this trail. The trail climbs gradually all the way to Danville, a hardly noticeable climb. The downhill trip back, however, is a hoot! It is certainly the easiest, flattest way to travel east-west across any part of Vermont!! A Thank You to the railroad designers, and surveyors.
Check out the website: www.lvrt.org
Round trip we will have a 34 mile car-free adventure!! Ride code is B/2/34.
Time: Ready to ride at the Lamoille Valley Rail Trailhead at 9:30 am. It is about 1 hour 15 minute drive. No porta-potty at the trailhead, so stop at the Welcome to Vermont Visitor's Center on the right side of Rt 93 soon after you cross the CT River.
Carpool? If you like, meet at Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, at 8:00 am to carpool, otherwise, meet at the trailhead in St Johnsbury.
Time: Ready to ride at the Lamoille Valley Rail Trailhead at 9:30 am. It is about 1 hour 15 minute drive. No porta-potty at the trailhead, so stop at the Welcome to Vermont Visitor's Center on the right side of Rt 93 soon after you cross the CT River.
Carpool? If you like, meet at Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, at 8:00 am to carpool, otherwise, meet at the trailhead in St Johnsbury.
Bring snacks and lunch or stop at the General Store or food truck in Danville. We can eat at picnic tables on the beach at Joe's Pond. Bring swim clothes if you like.
Here is the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13191979
Directions:
Take Route 302 over Crawford Notch towards Bethlehem and get onto Route 93 north to Vermont. At the Route 91 interchange, there is has been work going on on the rock cut, but the ramp to Route 91 is open. Go north on 91 for a very short distance, hardly off the entrance ramp. Take this first exit, Exit 20, Route 5, then take a right at the end of the ramp and go a short distance, noticing the sign for the bike path on the right. It is called Railroad Street or Main Street depending on map. Take the right and then immediate right again down a short steep slope into the trailhead parking lot. It is a very quick succession of right, right, right, right. The map app says it is a 1 hour 15 minutes drive.
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