The best cycling routes around Barton Village

Barton Village, nestled in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, offers a wide variety of terrain for touring cyclists. You'll find peaceful back roads, extensive dirt roads, and gravel paths, all set within a vast wilderness area. This diversity provides options for both leisurely rides and more challenging routes, ensuring a scenic and engaging experience.

Yes, several touring cycling routes around Barton Village are designed as loops. For example, the North Beach, Lake Willoughby – Lake Willoughby Scenic Drive loop from Willougby River offers a substantial ride with scenic views, and the Parker Pie loop from Shadow Lake Dam explores the local area with varied terrain.

While some routes feature moderate to difficult ascents, the region's diverse terrain includes peaceful back roads and gravel paths that can be suitable for various fitness levels. The Parker Pie loop from Shadow Lake Dam is rated as moderate and explores varied local terrain, which might be a good starting point for those looking for a less strenuous option compared to the more challenging routes.

Touring cycling around Barton Village promises breathtaking views, particularly of natural features like Lake Willoughby. Routes such as the North Beach, Lake Willoughby – Lake Willoughby Scenic Drive loop from Willougby River offer extensive scenic drives around the lake. You might also encounter features like the Peter Gilman Waterfall on routes like the Peter Gilman Waterfall – Lake Willoughby Scenic Drive loop from Westmore.

The komoot community highly rates the touring cycling experience in Barton Village, with an average score of 5.0 stars. Cyclists often praise the vast wilderness areas, the extensive network of dirt roads, and the stunning scenic views, especially around Lake Willoughby. The variety of terrain also allows for different ability levels, making it enjoyable for many.

While not directly in Barton Village, the nearby Craftsbury Outdoor Center offers bike rentals and both on-site and off-site bike tours, catering to visitors who wish to explore the region on two wheels. Local shops like East Burke Sports and Village Sport Shop also provide information for the broader Northeast Kingdom area.

The region's vast wilderness and diverse terrain are best enjoyed during the warmer months, typically from spring through fall, when the dirt roads and gravel paths are clear and the weather is conducive to cycling. This period allows for the most comfortable and scenic rides through Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

Yes, for those seeking a more demanding ride, there are routes with significant elevation gain. For instance, the North Beach, Lake Willoughby loop from Westmore is rated as difficult, featuring over 750 meters of elevation gain over its nearly 48-kilometer distance.

While this guide focuses on touring cycling, the broader Barton Village area is known for mountain biking opportunities. The Willoughby State Forest permits mountain biking on its gravel surfaces, and the renowned Kingdom Trails Network, though nearby, offers an extensive system of trails for mountain bikers.

The region around Barton Village has local establishments where you can refuel. For example, the Parker Pie loop from Shadow Lake Dam is named after a local eatery, suggesting there are options to explore in the surrounding towns and villages.

The duration of routes varies depending on their length and difficulty. For example, the North Beach, Lake Willoughby – Lake Willoughby Scenic Drive loop from Willougby River, at 51.1 km, typically takes around 3 hours and 6 minutes. Shorter routes, like the Peter Gilman Waterfall – Lake Willoughby Scenic Drive loop from Westmore (25.6 km), can be completed in about 2 hours and 13 minutes.