Road & Mountain Biking in Southern Vermont
On road and off, Southern Vermont give all bikers some of the most challenging terrain to tackle. Being in the Green Mountains, the difficulty of the inclines and speedways can be extreme. From Dover and Wilmington, you are central to Brattleboro, Bennington, Manchester and Stratton trails.
Mount Snow and the crosstown trail in Dover provide basic paths for both casual and experienced peddlers. Most innkeepers have connections to sports shops in the area that can get you discounts on gear and tune-ups, be sure to ask yours.
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Road Biking in Southern Vermont
| NAME | DISTANCE | START/END | DIFFICULTY | ELEVATION CHANGE |
|
Handle Road |
10.4 miles |
West Dover, VT |
Easy |
800 ft |
Directions:
Start in West Dover, VT heading north on Route 100 for 2.0 miles.
Turn left on to Tannery Rd, follow 0.2 miles to Handle Rd.
Make a left on to Handle Rd and follow to the intersection of Coldbrook Rd with Route 100 (Handle Rd turns into Coldbrook Rd).
Take Route 100 North back to starting point.
| NAME | DISTANCE | START/END | DIFFICULTY | ELEVATION CHANGE |
|
The Newfane Loop |
43.0 miles |
West Dover, VT |
Extreme |
2,000 ft (multiple times) |
Directions:
Start in West Dover, VT heading north on Route 100.
Follow 18 miles to intersection with Route 30.
Take Route 30 South for 11.4 miles and take a right onto Grimes Hill Road.
Grimes Hill continues on to Dover Rd, follow this for 13.6 miles back into West Dover.
Mountain Biking in Southern Vermont
| NAME | DISTANCE | START | END | DIFFICULTY | ELEVATION CHANGE | TYPE |
| Crosstown Trail | 8.45 miles | West Dover, VT | - | Moderate | 200 ft | Loop |
|
Directions: You'll find the entrance to the Crosstown trail on Handle Road in West Dover, 0.7 miles north of the Hermitage Inn. Once you're on Crosstown, you'll see various paths and cutaways to follow. One of the best loops is near the Mount Snow Golf Course, beautiful views. |
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Crosstown Trail, West Dover, VT
One of the easiest and most relaxing hikes in the Dover/Wilmington area of Southern Vermont is the Crosstown Trail loop in Dover. For people driving to the trail, it can be accessed from the west by the trailhead at the parking lot on Handle Road, or for those already in West Dover, it can be accessed from the east by the intersection of Route 100 North and Crosstown Road in the center of West Dover. This eastern entrance is the more strenuous of the two.
From the intersection of Route 100 and Crosstown Road, head west up Crosstown Road, which is very steep and climbs 300 feet in under a mile. Once you’re up the hill, you’ll pass the Mount Snow Golf Course on your left, and you’ll see the trailhead in front of you as the road turns sharply to the right. Follow Crosstown Trail into the Green Mountain National Forest for about a mile where you’ll see the Sherwood Forest and Friar Tuck trails. Just a quarter mile ahead of you is the west trailhead at the parking lot on Handle Road, if you chose to start there.
EASY
5-6 mile loop
2-3 hours
1800-2000' elevation
100-200' elevation change
Turn South into the National Forest following the Sherwood Forest trail. It will rise and fall in an easy hike through the woods for about 2 miles. This is a well-known trail that is clearly marked and relaxing to follow. At the marsh, you'll cross the bridge, and then you'll cross beneath the power lines.
After your 2 miles, you’ll merge into the Little John Trail in Wilmington. To do this, you’ll come to a T intersection where you’ll want to go left (eastward direction). From here, the trail winds one and a half miles along the ridge line at 1900 feet. Given its easy slopes and wide trails, this hike is a local favorite for a daily stroll or bike ride.
Circling back North, you’ll pass the Mount Snow Airport and cut back through the Mount Snow Golf Course on to Crosstown Road. Head back down Crosstown Road into the center of West Dover. Total distance: about 6 miles. Difficulty: Easy. Time: 2-3 hours.