Gravel Riding

Vermont is a gravel biker’s dream. With 8,000 miles of pavement-free roads, the gravel terrain not only feels endless, Vermont’s farms, forests, and fields make for endlessly beautiful landscapes. Varying levels of challenge—gentle hills, steep climbs, smooth graded dirt and chunky unmaintained roads—await you in the Green Mountain State, offering a route and ride for every level of ability. This is why thousands of people flock to Vermont each year to complete one of our iconic gravel routes like the “Super 8,” or, just to casually explore some back roads. 

Gravel bikes are similar to road bikes in their structure and shape, but they typically have a wider tire for more stability on the variable surfaces of unpaved roads. These dirt roads see less traffic than paved ones, and people generally drive slower on them, which makes it a more relaxing experience for cyclists. Depending on your route, you might see wildlife, beautiful vistas, maple sugaring operations, and farm fields. With fewer cars to dodge than on a paved road ride, you’ll have the time and space to take it all in. Plus, it’s a great activity to do in the early spring and late fall when many hiking and biking trails are closed for Vermont’s fifth (Mud) and sixth (Stick) seasons—as well as seasonal hunting closures.

Gravel Rides in and around Montpelier: Montpelier is perfectly situated to be the base camp for your gravel biking adventure. Smack in the middle of the Vermont, we’re at the center of the many great gravel rides.Super 8 route. You can head out of Montpelier in any direction and be on scenic gravel roads within minutes. Three good places to check for local rides are on the Green Mountain Gravel website, on the GravelMap website, or go directly to Onion River Outdoors on Langdon Street to get a local’s recommendation. 

The local spots

Muddy Onion 2022 Route

Each spring, Onion River Outdoors puts on the Muddy Onion, an untimed ride predominantly on gravel roads that takes hundreds of riders from Montpelier, to East Montpelier, and Calais and back. The route has changed slightly over the years, we recommend the 2022 route, which is made up of three loops, and you can make the ride really adventurous by doing all three (essentially a counter-clockwise circle around the loops), or, shorten the ride (and still get plenty of climbing and challenge!) by going counter-clockwise around the first two (more southernly) loops, the top of the circle being in the hamlet of Adamant. The full ride is about 40 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing; the shorter version where you head back toward Montpelier in Adamant is about 21 miles. In Adamant, there is a sweet little natural foods co-op, in Maple Corner, the Maple Corner Store, and in East Montpelier, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks has arguably the best maple creemees in Vermont. Otherwise, food and water are sparse, and the cell signal is iffy, so please pack plenty of food, water, and carry basic bike tools.

For a shorter adventure in the same area, you could do the four-mile ride around Sodom Pond in Adamant. You can park on the side of the road in town (as long as you’re out of the traveled way, and they aren’t marked otherwise) and head south on Center Road. Take your next left onto Sibley Road, and the next left onto Sodom Pond Road.

Just outside town

If you’re short on time but want a good climb: The Brook Road Loop in Middlesex

Park at Middlesex Park & Ride (4 Knapp Road, Middlesex). Turn east out of the park & ride onto Vermont Route 2. Take your next left (north) onto Center Road, and begin climbing. The pavement ends and Center Road turns to a gravel surface. Near a picturesque farm, you’ll pass a turn for Brook Road on your right, though skip that turn, staying straight to stay on Center Road. You’ll spend about four miles on Center Road in total, climbing, before turning right onto Brook Road (the second turn off for it). Descend down Brook Road for another four or so miles, until it meets back up with Center Road (near the farm). Take a left to travel back down Center Road, and after you pass the highway entrance, take a right to get back on Route 2, and you’ll see the park and ride on your right. This route is about 9 miles and 900 feet of elevation gain. For before or after your ride, Red Hen Baking (bread, pastries, sandwiches), Roots Farm Market (grab-and-go made with local produce), and The Filling Station (burgers and sushi).

Day tripping

Gravel rides in the Northeast Kingdom. Fewer cars, stunning views, and that feeling like you’ve traveled back in time. 

Burlington’s Old Spokes Home compiled this list of rides featuring gravel roads in the Burlington area.  

Check out this article from VT Sports for some great gravel riding recommendations around Vermont.