2026 Bike Tours

Arrive in Burlington anytime in the afternoon -- Meet at our hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Burlington, on Main St. just three blocks up from the water and one block down from the Church Street pedestrian mall. We'll begin our introductory meeting at 5:00 pm with snacks and beverages, discuss our itinerary and expectations for the week, and walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner (included). Sunset, as always, will be spectacular.

Today we'll be biking 24 spectactular miles from Burlington VT to Plattsburgh NY (with 2 of those miles on a ferry boat). After breakfast and checkout we'll head north on the stunning Burlington Bikeway along the shore of Lake Champlain. As we leave the city behind, we'll cycle the Island Line Trail, which is probably one of the most scenic rides you'll ever experience, with the lake on either side and majestic mountains drenched in fall colors in all directions. A bike ferry bridges the navigational gap in the causeway (which is made of "scrap" marble chunks the size of Volkswagens and refrigerators) so we can reach Grand Isle, where we'll visit the North Hero Brewing company for lunch and tasting. After that we'll pedal on flat country roads to the ferry landing, then after a short pedal arrive at Cumberland Bay State Park in Plattsburgh, NY, where we'll load into the van for an hour's ride up to Lake Placid.

34 miles. To get an early start on the trail, we'll take a breakfast of coffee & scones/muffins/bagels and fruit in the van for a picturesque 40 minute shuttle over to the Tupper Lake Trailhead, at the western end of the Adirondack Rail Trail. Then we'll cycle back east, stopping 2/3 of the way for lunch and some browsing in the cute village of Saranac Lake. By mid-afternoon we should arrive back in Lake Placid, where you can begin your exploration of this iconic town.

You've got the whole day to yourselves to explore more of the town, visit some Olympic venues (including the Lake Placid Olympic Museum), visit local wineries & breweries, or rent a canoe or kayaks for a serene paddle on Mirror Lake. Enjoy lunch & dinner on your own during your excursions. (Your thrill-seeking tour leaders will lead visits to the Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex Mountain Coaster, and the nearby Speed Skating Oval)

After breakfast and checkout, we'll load into the van for a shuttle back over to Vermont, disembarking in the town of Swanton, the western end of the 94 mile LaMoille Valley Rail Trail. We'll plunge into the endless foliage, cycling 35 miles to the town of Cambridge Junction, then right to our lodging for the next three nights, the charming Smugglers Notch Inn. If there's time and sufficient interest, we'll pay a visit to the nearby Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits Tasting Room. Or just settle in and relax, starting with drinks on the front porch and continuing with dinner in the dining room of the adjacent Village Tavern Restaurant.

31 miles – We'll continue east on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail as it shadows the Lamoille River, crossing farmland and surrounded by mountainsides bursting with fall colors. Snack stops along the way (with the first one in the parking lot of the Vermont Flannel Company Factory Store) will feature fresh apples & apple cider, maple treats, and locally baked goodies. We'll pass through the Fisher Covered Bridge, which was the last covered railroad bridge in use in the United States (operational 'til 1994). Converted to rail-trail use, it displays unique features related to its railroad past, including it's full-length cupola to allow smoke & steam to escape. We'll end our ride in Hardwick Junction, where you can browse the Galaxy Book-Game-Puzzle shop (think grandchild Christmas gifts!) and then grab a beer or cocktail and a small bite at the Cork & Fork next door. We'll load up in the van and make the 40 minute shuttle back to Smugglers Notch Inn.

26.3 miles. For a change of pace, after breakfast we'll shuttle up to the western end of the Mississquoi Valley Rail Trail at Richford and ride west, crossing the Lamoille Valley trail at Sheldon Junction (through which we passed two days ago) and finishing on the outskirts of St. Albans City (pop. ~7,000). We'll toast to our tour of northern Vermont & the Adirondacks with drinks at Twiggs American Gastropub on Main St., then jump into the van for the quick 30-minute return to Smugglers Notch Inn and a celebratory dinner.