Cross Vermont Trail Association - List of Rail Trails

The Montpelier & Wells River daily train powers through Groton Village in 1951. Photo by Dwight Smith.
Today this is a rail trail owned by the Town of Groton and a highlight on the Cross Vermont Trail route.

Looking for a rail trail?

Here at CVTA we routinely receive inquiries from people looking for rail trails in Vermont.

Most are on the hunt for that "long cruising bike ride" experience which rail trails, at their best, provide; unbroken and gradual trips through scenic places separate from auto roads.
Others are interested in the fun of exploring for "lost rail lines" and a window into history.
And finally, a lot of people are just looking for convenient trails that are not too difficult, for short walks or bike rides - either near their home or to use while visiting.

The Cross Vermont Trail is not a pure rail trail, but we do have the goal of saving an old railbed where possible, and otherwise making new trail that is similar to the rail trail experience (wide, gradual, smooth.)

Which is to say, we're happy to be in the rail trail family! And we like to keep up with how our peers are doing.

So here is a list. And links to more authoritative information for each trail. It's an ongoing cheat sheet. Call anytime with questions or with new information we can add!

Cross Vermont Trail is a rail trail in spirit (and physically for just a portion of the route)

Montpelier and Wells River Rail Trail

First off, we'll talk about "our" rail trail.

The old Montpelier and Wells River Railroad is the route CVTA is attempting to reassemble (or make a new alternate version of, depending on location) in the east half of our statewide route. (In the west half of the state the railroad is still running, of course, and so we are working in other ways to create the trail there.)

There are several sections of the old M&WR RR that are now portions of the Cross Vermont Trail.

Shorter sections - popular for daily walks and short bike rides - are in Montpelier, East Montpelier, Plainfield, and then over in Wells River.

Our marquee "long section of rail trail" is centered on Groton State Forest and extends basically from South Ryegate Village, through the Town of Groton and all the way through the State Forest to Marshfield Village. Together with the loop trails in the State Forest this is probably the best option on the Cross Vermont Trail route for the "long cruising bike ride vacation" experience.

By the way, within the State Forest, the old railbed is explicitely named Montpelier & Wells River Rail Trail (while also being the Cross Vermont Trail). This "it has two names" situation is not uncommon for us because the Cross Vermont Trail statewide is a "route" which is located on, and joins together, a variety of local trails, most of which have their own name. So in the State Forest you may see signs and maps talking about the railbed as having its own name, but it is also the Cross Vermont Trail.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is the flagship "pure rail trail" in Vermont

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is the one you are looking for if you want 93 miles of continuous rail trail.

Giving credit where it is due, for the best long cruise rail trail in the state it's hard to beat the LVRT, which has earned the title "New England's longest rail trail."

But there are many others worth discovering.

There are several other nice long-ish ones, like the Mississquoi Valley and the Island Line, as well as the M&WR (Cross Vt Trail) in the Groton area. Happy exploring!

Otherwise, most rail trails in the state are shorter (to various degrees). But they pop up all over once you start looking. All provide a neat way to look at history as well as a chance to get out in nature that is convenient for people of a broad range of abilities.

Four big ones, operated by Vt Agency of Transportation (VTrans)

The Vermont Rail Trail System

VTrans owns and operates as trails four old railroads which they have branded as the "Vermont Rail Trail System".

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail from Swanton to St. Johnsbury (93 miles).
Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail from St. Albans to Richford (26.4 miles).
Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in western Rutland and Bennington counties (19.8 miles).
Beebe Spur in Newport, on shores of Lake Memphremagog near the Canadian boarder (4 miles)

More information at railtrails.vermont.gov.

Many other rail trails throughout Vermont

In addition to the official state rail trails administered by VTrans, there are many others built and operated thanks to the work of a variety of local municpalities and non profit organizations. (They are listed here south to north, approximately.)

West River Trail

Upper Section is 16 miles generally parallel to Route 30 between the villages of South Londonderry and Jamaica and including a section in Townshend as well. Lower Section is 3 miles in Brattleboro and Dummerston.

More information at westrivertrail.org.