The best traffic-free bike rides in Little River State Park

This is a highly walkable town (population about 5,300) that caters to foodies and outdoors enthusiasts. High points include the local shops, restaurants, mountain biking trails and the nearby Waterbury Reservoir, a few miles north of the road.

Beautiful Gorge along the route. As tempting as it may be to go in for a swim, don’t, many people have met their end swimming in this gorge.

Main Street in Stowe, Vermont, is a charming, quintessentially New England small mountain town. Lined with historic buildings, boutique shops, cozy cafes, and a variety of restaurants, it is a great spot to spend the afternoon exploring after a morning in the mountains skiing, hiking, or biking. The street is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, featuring attractions like the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum and the Stowe Community Church.

Lintilhac Park is a lovely little park behind the Stowe Community Church and is a common access point for the southern end of the Stowe Recreation Path, just north of Main Street, Stowe. The Stowe Recreation Path is a popular, scenic, 5.3-mile paved trail that is open for bikers and walkers, and is groomed in the winter for cross-country skiers. This fantastic trail crosses Little River several times via wooden bridges, has multiple spots for swimming, and offers direct access to many restaurants and shops in Stowe. There is a bike repair station at Lintilhac Park for those who might need it, in addition to parking for the Recreation Path.

A coffee shop and a brewery right across the street from each other! What more can you ask for on a relaxing ride around Stowe? Idletyme Brewing and PK Coffee are two great spots to grab a burger and beer or coffee and pastry depending on your mood (and time of day). Both of these local-favorite spots are right off of the Stowe Recreational Path, making them convenient to stop at and refuel as you explore the area.

The Trapp Family Lodge is a famous resort founded and owned by the Trapp family, whose flight from Nazi-occupied Austria was fictionalized in the beloved musical "The Sound of Music." The lodge has a great restaurant, lounge, gift shop, and ski shop. The Trapp Family Lodge also manages an extensive network of world-class cross-county skiing trails that can be used for hiking and mountain biking in the spring, summer, and fall months. You will need to purchase a day pass at the lodge if you wish to explore these trails. This historic lodge is fun to explore and a great place to relax after a hard day of skiing, hiking, or biking!

The trees clear out near the top of 1207-foot Barnes Hill, giving you some nice views of the landscape around you. It's a nice climb to get up here, but no so bad that you need quads of steel to make it.

Gillett Pond is a true gem with serene waters and picturesque scenery attracting skaters and skiers during the winter, while canoers, kayakers, and anglers enjoy it throughout the warmer seasons. A good deal of wildlife call it home, from birds and bullfrogs to beavers and bobcats. As the only publicly accessible body of water in the area, it holds a special place in the hearts of the locals. In fact, it's not uncommon for residents to shovel off a section during the winter to skate or play pond hockey.