Middlebury & Lake Champlain
This itinerary explores the rural region between Middlebury and Lake Champlain, where bucolic roads lead past farms, past lakes and historic towns. With overnight stays in two historic Vermont Inns, this trip will appeal to those wanting a relaxed cycling vacation. As in all of our trips, we provide options each day for you to choose between and provide historical notes, restaurant recommendations and more, so that you can experience this region as a local would. Vermont boasts gorgeous landscapes, a relaxed pace, interesting shops and a sense of community that you will be welcomed into. Whether in the vibrant spring or into the fall with the colors of autumn, anytime is a great time to experience this region.
Middlebury, VT, USA
Days 1+2
Basin Harbor, Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT, USA
Days 3+4+5+6
| Start any date between May 1 and Oct 31. |
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| Custom trips are also available and can start any date, call or email for details. |
Total Days
Arrive/Depart
Activity LevelModerate
20-50 km daily
275-725 m elevation gain daily
TerrainHilly with rolling climbs and winding descents
CostClassic Accommodation: US $2,320
Single Supplement: US $600
Bike Rentals
Hybrid Bikes: US $260
Racing Bikes: US $360
E-Bikes*: US $400
*E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable.
Getting There
Getting to Burlington, Vermont is simple and scenic. Travellers can fly into Burlington International Airport (BTV) just minutes from downtown, take the Amtrak Vermonter for a relaxed rail journey, or enjoy a picturesque drive through New England from nearby cities like Montreal, Boston, and New York City, among others.
Middlebury
Arrive to Middlebury, chartered in 1761 and on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is everything you’d expect in a quaint Vermont town – a white-steepled church, a Main Street lined with unique shops and a pretty town green. Otter Creek tumbles over a twenty-foot waterfall in the center of town. After an orientation with our Area Manager at a time convenient to you, take a warm-up loop that crosses Pulp Mill covered bridge and past Middlebury College and then return to town to explore. There are casual and fine dining options to choose from and several tasting rooms where you can sample many of the fine beers, spirits and ciders that are locally produced.
Ride Distance: 10mi; 600’ (15km; 200m).
Branbury State Park
Today, ride south to the village of Salisbury, Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park. Historically, the 69-acre park operated as a farm at the turn of the century, then as a guest house, summer camp and then in 1945, it became Branbury (Brandon-Salisbury) State Park. The 1,000 foot natural sandy beach, clean, clear Lake Dunmore, and the large open grassy areas make the area very popular for swimming and picnicking. If you prefer a restaurant meal, we can recommend just the place. Back in Middlebury, enjoy an afternoon coffee at Monarch Café in the Stone Mill Public Market. Visit Sheldon Museum or stroll Main Street shops and galleries before dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants a stroll from your hotel.
Ride Distance: 25mi; 1200’ (40km; 400m) or 31mi; 1500’ (50km; 520m).
Lake Champlain
Choose from several scenic routes as you ride north through rural Vermont to the shores of Lake Champlain. Stop in the village of Bristol for lunch and then continue to Vergennes, Vermont’s smallest city, which dates back to post-Revolutionary War era. Visit the Opera House, Stevens House (which dates to 1793) and peak into the Bixby library, which boasts a spectacular stained glass dome in its lobby. We recommend lunch at Vergennes Laundry for farm-to-table dining and if you are feeling thirsty, stop in for a tasting at Shacksbury Cider. As you ride towards Lake Champlain, enjoy views of the Champlain Valley & the Adirondacks. Settle into the charming Basin Harbor Club and enjoy dinner at the restaurant here (included).
Ride Distance: 21mi; 1000’ (34km; 345m) or 30mi; 1335’ (47km; 445m).
Lake Champlain
Should you wish to relax at the Basin Harbor Club and take a day off the bikes, this is an option; there is swimming, tennis, golf and a wellness center here. Or go kayaking onto Lake Champlain. We offer several cycling options including bucolic roads towards the Green Mountains. Visit West Addison or on a longer option, Chimney Point Historic Site, which explores the history of the area’s three earliest cultures—the Native American, French Colonial, and early American by showcasing the artifacts each left behind. The tavern was built in 1785 and has welcomed visitors every since.
Ride Distance: 18mi; 675’ (30km; 225m) or 25mi; 800’ (40km; 265m) or 34mi; 1,050’ (54km; 350m).
Kingsland Bay
Today, ride along Otter Creek and north to Kingsland State Park, where you can rent a canoe or kayak for a paddle around protected Kingsland Bay. The park is 264 acres with hiking trails also. We recommend lunch back in Vergennes, after which you might want to visit the Maritime Museum, whose mission is to preserve and share the history and archaeology of Lake Champlain. Or pop into Northern Daughters, a gallery that merges the aesthetic of blue chip galleries with the familiarity and authenticity of a Vermont general store. Back in Basin Harbor, dine at the Red Mill Restaurant and toast your time in Vermont.
Ride Distance: 13mi; 450’ (22km; 150m) or 26mi; 960’ (42km; 320m) or 38mi; 1,680’ (62km; 560m).
Departure Day
Depart at your leisure.
This historic property, built in 1814 by Samuel Swift (a writer, historian, judge and newspaper man!) includes 20 ‘unique, neat and tidy’ guest rooms in three buildings, a cozy bar and delightful gardens. Their in-house restaurant, Jessica’s, offers great breakfasts and dining options.
This peaceful lakeside inn has been welcoming guests for more than a century. Guestrooms are in the lodge and in cottages around the property. This 700-acre resort includes a heated swimming pool, golf course, tennis courts, beautiful gardens and more. Fourth-generation innkeepers offer a warm welcome.
Tour Reviews
“I appreciated Randonee’s personal communications and responsiveness. Loved the Ride with GPS verbal instructions – they kept us from getting lost. We enjoyed the quiet routes chosen. Really relaxing from a vehicular traffic point of view.”
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