Motorcycle Touring Vermont Routes And Rides
Your Riding Adventure Awaits
Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York offer some of the finest motorcycle roads in the northeast. From the valleys along Lake Champlain to the many “gaps” crossing over the Green Mountains to the high peaks in Lake Placid, there is a road for every type of rider.
Generally for a more scenic ride, check out our lake loops. If you enjoy the twisties then look at our mountain loops. Riders of all abilities can ride all loops and we encourage you to explore each of them. After all, exploration is but another great aspect of motorcycling that we all share.
Generally for a more scenic ride, check out our lake loops. If you enjoy the twisties then look at our mountain loops. Riders of all abilities can ride all loops and we encourage you to explore each of them. After all, exploration is but another great aspect of motorcycling that we all share.
Around Lake Champlain RideA leisurely lake ride
Ride Type: Scenic
Difficulty: Easy Miles: 86 Miles Time: 4 hours Rating: 7
This is a classic day ride that has plenty of nice Lake Champlain views from NY across to the Green Mountains as well as two beautiful ferry rides crossing the Lake. There are plenty of places along the route to stop, take pictures and see the sights.
I have ridden this loop many times and never get tired of the scenery. It is recommended that this loop be ridden in the late morning so you can stop for a nice lunch at the Old Dock Restaurant in Essex, NY prior to the ferry ride back to Vermont. From Colchester Vermont, head north west on US Route 2 to Chimney Corners where the road heads west toward NY. This part of the ride has many sweeping lake views and the road is wide and generally straight. As you cross the sand bar area, there is parking on each side where you can stop and take in the sweeping lake views south toward Burlington - a beautiful picture spot. After crossing the sand bar, you will take Route 314 (parts twisty) to the Grand Isle Ferry. Take the ferry across to Plattsburgh NY where you will take route 9 south through the city. Continue on Route 9 along the lake to Giddings Road toward the Port Kent Ferry crossing. This is a nice little back road leg directly along the lake. Take Route 314 back to Route 9 south making a stop at Ausable Chasm where you can marvel at the awe of this gorge and waterfall. Continue on Route 9 south through Keesville, NY to Route 22. Much of this stretch of road is through farmland and offers pastoral views to the east and the Adirondacks to the west. Continue on Route 22 to the small town of Essex NY where you can park your bike at the Old Dock Restaurant. Their lunch menu is good and you can have lunch outside on the patio taking in the sweeping lake views back toward Vermont. After lunch, I highly recommend a stroll through the small town to check out the dozen or so shops and art galleries. When you are done, take the Charlotte / Essex ferry back to Vermont where you will again experience beautiful views of the Champlain Valley. When leaving the ferry, continue on ferry road to Greenbush Road (left at the blinking light) for a nice ride to Shelburne. Once you cross Route 7 to Falls Road, make sure you stop into the Shelburne Country Store to pick up some old time candy or sample some Vermont food products. Once you leave the store, continue on Falls Road to Spear Street heading north. Spear Street offers nice views to the west of the Lake and the Adirondacks. Continue on Spear Street into Burlington and back to the starting point in Colchester. |
App Gap To Middlebury GapA Technical mountain ride
Ride Type: Mountain Gap
Difficulty: Hard Miles: 84 Miles Time: 2.5 hours Rating: 10
Known for it's many curves and switchbacks, the Appalachian Gap (App Gap for short) loop is one of the most technical motorcycle roads in Vermont. This ride loop was made for sport bike riders, but don't let the challenge deter the cruiser crowd. There are beautiful views toward the west at the top of the App Gap and a beautiful ride through the Green Mountain National Forest on the Middlebury Gap side.
This is a loop I ride multiple times throughout the season, and it never fails to disappoint me. It is recommended to ride this loop during the week if possible due to reduced traffic on the App Gap. Sport bike riders will no doubt want to push it to the limits, but caution is the word. There are a few tricky switchbacks and decreasing radius turns which will require your full attention so as not to cross over into the opposing lane or worse, into a guard rail. The road condition as of late has deteriorated some, so watch out for tar snakes and cracks in the pavement. The ride starts in the village of Richmond, but can be picked up anywhere along the route. If you start in the morning, I highly recommend breakfast at Bridge Street Cafe. Taking Bridge Street south toward the town of Huntington offers a pleasant pastoral ride passing many small farms with beautiful views of the mountains above. At the intersection of Huntington Road and Route 17, take a left which is the start of the App Gap. As you ascend up the mountain, you will be greeted by many tight turns both left and right. At the very top is a parking lot where you should stop for nice views of the road below and the mountains toward the west. Descending down the other side the turns lessen except for one large switchback before Mad River Glen Ski Resort. Once past the resort, the road becomes a nice country ride with a few sweepers. At the end of Route 17, take Route 100 south where you will ride along the edge of the Green Mountain National Forest. Don't be surprised if you see a moose in the Granville Reservation area if you ride this in the fall. Continue on 100 to Hancock where you will pick up the Middlebury Gap (Route 125). This gap road is not as technical, but the ride through the forest is spectacular with some nice curves near the top and also at the bottom near Middlebury. At the bottom, take Route 116 north toward Bristol. Bristol is a nice small town with a few places to eat lunch or stop for an Ice Cream. Once through Bristol Village, you will pick up the other end of the App Gap (Route 17) heading back toward Huntington. This part of the App Gap starts out uphill with plenty of nice sweepers and semi-tight turns. It then levels off as you near Huntington Road on the left, where you will take this familiar road back to Richmond Village to conclude the loop. |