Bike shops near the WNEG – Western New England Greenway

When you’re cycling the Western New England Greenway, take advantage of these convenient cyclist services along the way. Easily find bike shops and bicycle friendly hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts along the way!

Listed here are bicycle shops and services that are on or near the route.

Lodging / Hotels / Inns near WNEG route

Here is a partial list of hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts that are as close as possible to the center of the towns along the Western New England Greenway, and that cost less than $150 per night.

• “BF” means the hotel/B&B is “bike friendly” according to the Route Verte Guide.
• “#3 of 6 hotels/TA” means the hotel/b&b is rated #3 in the area according to Tripadvisor.

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Bikepacking & Camping Options – VT Section

There are several bikepacking & camping opportunities in Vermont, though there are some challenges, especially in Southern Vermont.

The Green Mountain National Forest lies immediately to the east of the WNEG for the first 40 miles or so of the route.  However, as you might expect, the WNEG follows the valley, and the National Forest can involve deviations from the route of 10-15 miles, and climbs of 1,000 to 2,000 feet.

Given this situation, here are some options.  A lot depends on how primitive you want your camping options to be and what sort of conditions you’re equipped for.

These are in order of decreasing amenities, going from south to north.

 

Hotels, motels, & commercial lodging:

Lots of hotel-motel options from Bennington through Arlington to Manchester and Dorset.  Some wonderful small family-owned places along route 7A.  Though the WNEG generally avoids 7A itself, it’s close by; deviations from route of a mile or two.

Commercial lodging thins out North of Dorset, but is available in Poultney, Fair Haven, and through Airbnb locations.  Commercial lodging is available in Shoreham and across the lake (family-owned Ferry!) in Ticonderoga, NY.  the next commercial lodging is the Vergennes area.

Plenty of lodging opportunities in the Burlington area and Hero Islands.

 

State parks and other campgrounds:

First, all Vermont State parks have a “No turn-away” policy for hikers and bicyclists.  They will find a place for you to camp.

• Woodford State park, about 13 miles (and 2,000 feet elevation) to the east of Bennington on route 9.  Many lean-tos, Nice lake, Easy road access to route 9, though route 9 itself in this area is not much fun until you get to Prospect ski area.  Then, wide shoulders and 12 miles of downhill into Bennington!
• Dorset RV Park – a private campground with tenting opportunities on route 30 in Dorset.  Despite the name, they do have tent camping sites and welcome self-propelled tourists.
• Lake St. Katherine state park, just south of Poultney.  Very nice, easy access, usual state park amenities and lake.  Lots of tent camping sites.
• DAR and Button Bay state parks.  Both have frontage on Lake Champlain.  I usually use DAR, a quirky little place with a funky little beach and a tradition of cairn-building.
•  Mount Philo State park, north of Ferrisburg.A beautiful park with great secluded lean-tos, amazing views, and a climb to the park that can be soul-crushing at the end of a long day of cycling.
•  North Beach Campground, right beside the Burlington bike path north of the harbor.  Great access to downtown and North Beach, but often quite crowded.  They can usually find a place for you, but don’t expect seclusion.
•  Cumberland Head State Park, NY Take the ferry across from South hero to Cumberland Head, then about 3 miles west on 314 to the junction with route 9. the park is right there, on the south side of the road.  Lake access, easy return to the WNEG, either by ferry or by continuing  north to Rouses point and across the bridge there.

 

Forest service and state forest campgrounds:  

Composting toilets, water, sometimes lean-tos, and thats about it.  In some beautiful locations.

NOTE: All Forest Service campgrounds were closed last year due to COVID, and I do not know the current status.  Contact the GMNF Southern sector ranger station in Manchester or the regional office in Rutland.  Be extremely careful with any open flames.  Please, no campfires.

• Tibbitts State Forest – in New York, about 7 miles west of the WNEG at the junction of NY 7 and NY 22. The NY state forest is on the southwest corner of that intersection.  Go south on 22 and you’ll see a trail head on the right. No official campsites but lots of wild opportunities  Frankly, I’m not sure if camping is legal in this state forest.  Check it out.
• Grout Pond, Green Mountain National Forest –Take Kansas road, then Kelley Stand Road east from East Arlington.  About a 2000 foot climb over the ridge, then down to pavement and the turnoff for Grout Pond.  It’s about 13 miles from East Arlington to Grout Pond,  and there are many turnout camping opportunities along Kelley Stand road once you get up into the national forest, including the turnoff for Bourne Pond and Lye Brook wilderness.
• Hapgood Pond, Green Mountain National Forest – Go west (up the mountain) on route 11 from Manchester, about 11 miles to Peru then north on Hapgood Pond road.  Full amenities, plus a swimming beach.  You can return via route 11 or continue on to Landgrove and take the seasonal road over the mountain to Danby.

“Wild” or covert camping locations can be hard to come by in southern Vermont.  Up to Bennington, it’s mostly working landscape, farms and other development.  Most land is posted, and I recommend you respect that.  I think you’ll find people supportive if you ask first, but less so if you don’t.

Ticks, especially deer ticks carrying a host of diseases, are common in Southern Vermont woodlands.  Use repellent and tick check every few hours and before turning in for the night.

‘Off Grid’ Options

The places listed below are extremely challenging roads and terrain.  They are basically trails and what are called class 4 or ancient roads in Vermont.  They’ve been here since colonial times and haven’t been maintained since then.  Significant rocks, roots, sandy washouts, mud wallows almost every foot of the way.  Think 3 miles per hour average speed.  Think 15 percent grades.  Most through cyclists will not be equipped for these roads.

• County Road, Sucker Pond, Stagecoach Road – Your first opportunity for extreme bikepacking camping is to take County road off of South Stream road, east of Pownal.  A very difficult 1500 foot climb, then alpine meadows.  Trails run north from here to “lake Hancock” (aka Sucker pond) and east of Bennington, but plan carefully by map or GPS.  It’s very easy to get lost up here and end up in Stamford or back in Massachusetts!

You can also get into this area from Burgess road and Stagecoach road from the east side of Bennington.

The Appalachian trail runs though here.  Please stay off of it on your bike.  It’s illegal and dangerous.

• White Rocks Recreation Area, Green Mountain National Forest – Go east from Danby. A very challenging climb on a seasonal forest road toward Landgrove. White Rocks Recreational area is north from the road, at the top of the mountain. No campgrounds, but turnout locations and many trailheads.

 

I hope this is of some use.  You can really have whatever level of comfort you like in Vermont, from classy B&Bs to primitive wilderness.  Enjoy yourself and help us take care of our home.

Huge thanks to Bruce Lierman for writing this section!