Cool mornings, warm colors, rolling hills invite you. Round the corner and you're high above in the Green Mountains. Around the next, quiet farmlands. Taste the maple. Savor the brilliant foliage. Hear the hum of your wheels on the timber of a covered bridge. Take a break in Stowe, Warren, Middlebury and Woodstock and walk the quaint shops in biking shoes. It's okay. They've heard the "clip-clop" before. Southern Vermont was made for the ride.
Day 1 Stowe's idyllic surroundings and historic architecture
Pedal past perfectly manicured farms, wooded mountains, and pastures dotted with black-and-white Holstein cows Don't forget to look up for striking views of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak Explore Stowe Village or perhaps sample a maple latte before dinner.
Days 2-3 Bike through maple forests and rustic farmland
from the beautiful New England village of Stowe to the enchanting and rural village of Warren Cherry Garcia or Chunky Monkey? Try 'em both at Ben & Jerry's famous ice creamery Spin through the postcard-perfect landscape of the Mad River Valley beneath the Green Mountains to the Pitcher Inn, a luxurious Relais & Châteaux property and our home for two nights Pedal rolling, rural, paved and dirt roads to the quaint village of East Middlebury Challenge yourself on Lincoln Gap Scenic Road or return to the inn to relax or pamper yourself with a spa treatment.
Days 4-6 Woodstock, a quintessential New England village
Birch, pine and vibrant maple trees flank your path from Warren to the charming town of Woodstock Ride quiet, tranquil roads through peaceful farmland and rural villages In the village of Quechee, known for its covered bridge, watch local glass artisans ply their trade at the Simon Pearce factory.
Trip Highlights
- Ride amid vibrant fall foliage, along picturesque rivers and by old red barns
- Taste maple syrup, cheese, beer and other local delights
- Gourmet cuisine and sophisticated country inns
- Stowe, Warren, East Middlebury, Woodstock, quintessential New England villages
- Rolling routes past grazing cows and quaint towns, mixed with challenging climbs and exhilarating descents
Premiere Inns
Green Mountain Inn (1 night): Built as a private residence in 1833 and now tastefully restored, this historic inn was once a stagecoach stop. (pool)
The Pitcher Inn (2 nights): Sitting at the edge of a stream, this elegant property features wide porches, a gabled roof and charming guest rooms. A Relais & Châteaux member. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List.
Woodstock Inn (2 nights): An "imposing landmark resort hotel facing the village green in a beautifully preserved village noted for its restored 18th-century homes," according to Andrew Harper. (pool, spa, tennis, golf)
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 14 | 400 | 24 | 500 | 35 | 1700 | ||||
| 2 | 19* | 300 | 37* | 1200 | 51 | 2100 | ||||
| 3 | 31* | 600 | 49* | 2200 | 63 | 4000 | ||||
| 37* | 1800 | |||||||||
| 4 | 25* | 300 | 41* | 1300 | ||||||
| 49 | 2500 | |||||||||
| 5 | 31 | 1500 | 47 | 2700 | ||||||
| 6 | 13 | 700 | ||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 10% dirt and 90% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 9/22-27 Price: $3598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1440 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/29-10/4 Price: $3798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1440 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/1-6 Price: $3698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1440 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/6-11 Price: $3598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1440 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
Backroads provides the total package in every respect but the principal reason our family never considers any other outfit is because of the Backroads leaders. I marvel at your company's ability to have such consistency of superb staff. We started with you in 1998 and have taken now eight trips. Every one was great and every group leader was huge in making the trips memorable.- Anchorage, AK
Our leaders made this trip fantastic. Their incredible personalities really nurtured us to form a group of friends. Even bad weather did not keep us from having fun. The food and wine were outstanding, and the biking was challenging yet we were ready to go the next day. This is our idea of a perfect vacation.- Wilmette, IL
Better than we could have imagined - accommodations, food, leaders and an amazing cycling route! Thanks for the incredible trip. Although I'm not a huge cyclist, the cycling was my favorite part of the trip! Our leaders and the amazing Vermont landscape made riding so enjoyable.- Calgary, AB