Short Bike Rides

FIVE FAVORITE BIKE RIDES IN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK

Northeastern USA is a gold mine when it comes to great routes for bike rides. The region is replete with gorgeous and varied scenery, quiet country roads, rich culture and vibrant history, with plenty of mouth watering food options along the way. The best part is, because things are relatively compact on this side of the country, a single bike tour, and even a short bike ride, can encompass a tremendous amount of this richness and diversity. The challenge then becomes identifying just a few of our favorite rides to share with you. We've drawn from our 33 years of bike touring experience to select the following short and varied bike rides. The five routes range from an easy spin on flat roads, to one that may get the heart pounding and the legs burning. Enjoy this sampling and check back for more favorite bike rides to come.

# 1 – Covered Bridges of East Central VT
Summary: This scenic loop starts and finishes in historic Woodstock, a town the Ladies Home Journal termed “one of the prettiest small towns in America.” The route passes picture-perfect farmland, a dramatic gorge, classic country stores, a blueberry farm, three covered bridges, art galleries, sumptuous delis, and unique shops. With slight modification, this route is included on Great Freedom Adventures Best of Vermont Bike Tour.
Start/Finish: Woodstock, VT
Mileage: 31.3
Terrain: Flat sections as well as significant hills. Roads are mostly paved with one stretch of dirt road. Suitable for all types of road and hybrid bikes.
Route: Starting from the west end of the Woodstock Green-
At Mi:  Go:  Onto:
0         L      Rt 4E
.1        L      around green
.2        R      Mountain Ave and over covered bridge
.3        R      River St
.7        L      Rt 12N
1.5      bear R Pomfret Rd  Pomfret
3.5      bear R Pomfret Rd
13.3    R      Quechee/West Hartford Rd
18.9            arrive in Quechee
20.4    R      Dewey Mills Rd
21.4            arrive at Quechee Gorge and retrace route
22.2    L      Quechee Main St
23.2    S      staying on Main St
24.1    bear L staying on Main St
27.4    bear L staying on Main St
27.5    R      River Rd at Taftsville Covered Bridge
30.6    L      Rt 12S
30.8    L      Rt 12S/Elm St
31.2    R      Rt 4W
31.3            Finish at west side of Woodstock green

# 2 – Enchanting Islesboro, ME
Summary: Islesboro is a beautiful, 14 mile long island located in the upper Penobscot Bay of Maine and is accessed by ferry from Lincolnville on the mainland. Once home to the largest commercial shipping fleet during the 19th century, the island was later reborn as a Gilded Age resort community with many large summer homes remaining. This ride travels along the many harbors and coves filled with lobster pots and the famous summer colony and yachting center at Dark Harbor.
Start/Finish: The Islesboro ferry landing.
Mileage: 28.5
Terrain: Flat, easy route on mostly paved roads. Suitable for all types of bikes.
Route: Starting from the ferry landing-
At Mi:   Go:   Onto:
0         east  Ferry Rd
1.1      R       Mill Creek Rd
1.8      L       staying on Mill Creek Rd
2.3      R       Main Rd
2.5      S       Pendleton Point Rd
3.3      R       West Shore Dr
4.6      L       Derby Rd
4.9      R       Pendleton Point Rd
                    continue to the Point and beach at road’s end and retrace route
10.0    R       East Shore Dr
11.8    L       Boardman Rd
12.4    R       Main St
19.7    S       Meadow Pond Rd
22.5    R       Main Rd
25.3    R       West Bay Rd
27.5    R       Ferry Rd
28.5             Finish at ferry landing

#3 – Vineyards and Horse Farms of the Mid Hudson Valley, NY
Summary:  Travel through a tranquil countryside of impeccably manicured horse farms, stately homes and scenic vineyards. The ride is centered on Millbrook, a picturesque village and antique mecca. Pass Millbrook Vineyards and Oak Summit Vineyards where you can stop to sample the vintages amidst stunning views. Portions of this route are included in Great Freedom Adventures Hudson Valley National Heritage Bike Tour.
Start/Finish: Millbrook, NY
Mileage: 21.9
Terrain: All paved roads with one short dirt section. Includes a number of a number of uphills and fun descents. Suitable for road and hybrid bikes.
Route: Starting from Millbrook, at the free parking lot at the intersection of Franklin Ave and North St-
At Mi: Go:   Onto:
0        N      North St
.1       St     Stanford Rd
.4       R      Rodrigo Knolls
.7       R      Rt 44A E
.9       L       Valley Farm Rd
3.9     R       Rt 57/Shunpike Rd
4.5     R       Bangall Rd
6.8     L        Daheim Rd (dirt)
7.3     R       Cty Rd 98/N Mabbettsville Rd
8.0     St      Cty Rd 99/Little Rest Rd
9.5     R       NY 343 W
10.1    L       Killearn Rd
10.3    R       Hoxie Rd
11.3     L       Altamont Rd/Cty Rd 96
12.1    bear L Oak Summit Rd
14.1    R        Camby Rd/Cty Rd 90
14.7    St       Verbank Village Rd
14.8    R        Verbank Rd
16.7    R        staying on Verbank Rd
18.0    R        South Rd
19.63   L        NY 82 N
19.69   R       Cty Rd 95/Oak Summit Rd
19.9     L       County House Rd/Cty Rd 97
20.6     R       NY 343 E
21.1     L        Church St
21.8     L        Franklin Ave
21.9               finish back at lot

#4 - Ride the Gaps of West Central VT
Summary: Test your legs and lungs on this challenging route that crosses the spine of the Green Mountains not once but twice. Along the way, traverse the wilds of the Green Mountain National Forest, enjoy panoramic mountain top vistas and admire the beauty of Lake Dunmore in the Moosalamoo Recreation Area. Cool off in the lake’s clear water at ride’s end. If time and remaining leg strength permit, hike to the nearby Falls of Lana.
Start/Finish: Brandon, VT, Branbury State Park on the east side of Lake Dunmore.
Mileage: 48.0
Terrain: Steep, long and rolling hills along with the occasional flat stretch on paved roads. Suitable for road bikes.
Route: Starting at Branbury State Park-
At Mi: Go:   Onto:
0        E      Branbury State Park access rd
.2       L      Rt 53N/Lake Dunmore Rd
3.8     R      Rt 7N/Ethan Allen Hwy
6.9     R      Rt 125E/E Main St  East Middlebury
22.7   R      Rt 100S  Hancock
27.8   R      Rt 73W/Brandon Mountain Rd  Rochester
41.9   R      Rt 53N/North St  Forest Dale
47.8   L      Branbury State Park access Rd
48.0           Finish

#5 – Maritime Massachusetts
Summary: This gloriously picturesque ride is a delightful blend of colonial homes and farms, historic villages, dramatic shoreline, and gorgeous beaches. Views of lighthouses and boat-filled harbors abound. Along the way are plentiful eateries including clam shacks, a boat building museum, sea captains’ mansions, and numerous antique shops and boutiques. Hop in the ocean at Crane Beach near ride’s end. Great Freedom Adventures Maritime New England Bike Tour includes these routes and sites as well as an extension into nearby Cape Ann and Gloucester of The Perfect Storm fame.
Start/Finish: Ipswich, MA
Mileage: 40.5
Terrain: Mostly flat with some rolling hills on paved roads. Suitable for road and hybrid bikes.
Route: Starting in Ipswich at intersection of East and N Main Streets-
At Mi:  Go:   Onto:
0         L      High St
.1        R      County St
.5        S      1A S
.6        L      Argilla Rd
1.1      R      Heartbreak Rd (no sign)
1.8      L      Rt 133E
1.9      R      Lakemans Ln
2.5      L      Fellows Rd
3.6      R      Candlewood Rd b/c Sagamore St
5.8      L      staying on Sagamore St
5.9      L      Bridge St
6.0      L      22N/Essex St  b/c Western Ave
7.5      R      Apple St     Essex Fells
8.8      bear R  Southern Ave (no sign)
11.0            over Rt 128 Southern b/c School St
11.6     L     Lincoln St
11.8     R     Norwood Ave
12.3     L     Rt 127N   Manchester
12.3     S     Beach St to end
12.9            view Singing Beach and retrace route leaving beach
(13.2    L     Masconomo St.- Optional loop)
13.6     R     Rt 127N
15.2     R     Ocean St
16.0     R     Rt 127N
16.4     R     Raymond St   Magnolia
16.9     R     Shore Rd
17.6     R     go through stone markers- short dirt bit
17.8     R     Old Salem Path b/c Hesperus
18.8            view Hammond Museum & Castle
19.5     R     Rt 127N/Western Ave
21.1     L     Essex Ave/Rt 133W  View drawbridge to Gloucester straight ahead            
23.5     R     Concord St
27.4     S     Harlow St
27.6     R     Lufkin St
28.3     R     Rt 133W/Eastern Ave
29.5     R     Main St b/c John Wise Ave/Rt 133W Essex
32.2     R     Northgate Rd
32.8     R     Argilla Rd
35.0            arrive at Crane Beach and retrace route leaving beach
                   follow Argilla Rd back to Ipswich
39.9     R     County St
40.4     L     East St
40.5            Finish