Biking the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail with kids? Heed these tips and recommendations.

Note: The following story was originally slated to publish the week of July 9, 2023, until massive flooding in Vermont caused an estimated $11 million worth of damage to the new, $31 million Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and delayed its grand opening.

Looking for that next biking adventure for the whole family and planning to hit the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail?

With 93-miles total and many smaller sections to choose from, there are lots of options where to start your journey. Is bathroom access and limited road crossings your priority, or are you looking for a route that can provide an ice cream treat at the end? Do your kids love animals, water access and playgrounds? Do they delight in public art or railroad history? Or does their imagination soar riding through forests that could be settings for elven enclaves and speeding through dark, echoing tunnels?

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail provides varied experiences to appeal to families, not just the hard-core distance cyclers.

Free Press staffers rode the entire trail, experiencing it all for you and created recommendations. Here's a guide to hitting the trail with kids.

Dividing the LVRT into six sections

The Free Press divided the 93-mile trail into six sections that could be completed within a few hours of riding one-way and had parking access on either end. These portions will be referenced throughout this article. The Free Press rode the trail from west to east − starting in Swanton which is closest to Chittenden County − although the trail's mile marker system runs the opposite direction beginning in St. Johnsbury and ending with mile 93 in Swanton. (We technically started at mile 95.3 because there was no designated parking area at the trail's beginning/terminus in Swanton.)

Here are the sections, in case you want to duplicate any of these rides:

• Swanton to Sheldon − 12.6 milesParking at start: Swanton Historical Society Depot Museum at 58 S. River St.Parking at end: Sheldon Trailhead at the town park on Bridge Street.

• Sheldon to Cambridge − 18.8 milesParking at start: Sheldon Trailhead at the town park on Bridge Street.Parking at end: Cambridge Trailhead at Cambridge Junction Road.

• Cambridge to Hyde Park − 12.7 milesParking at start: Cambridge Trailhead at Cambridge Junction Road.Parking at end: Hyde Park Trailhead Depot Street Extension.

• Hyde Park to Wolcott − 10.6 milesParking at start: Hyde Park Trailhead Depot Street Extension.Parking at end: Wolcott Trailhead town offices parking lot on School Street North.

• Wolcott to West Danville − 26.3 milesParking at start: Wolcott Trailhead town offices parking lot on School Street North.Parking at end: West Danville Park & Ride on U.S. 2 West.

• West Danville to St. Johnsbury − 14.1 milesParking at start: West Danville Park & Ride on U.S. 2 West.Parking at end: St. Johnsbury Trailhead on Main Street.

Where restrooms are on the trail

As of late June, there were technically five areas (four locations) providing public restrooms on the trail or at a trailhead or parking area. Mostly they were portable toilets.

There are restrooms at the Cambridge Junction Trailhead which is great for ending the Sheldon to Cambridge route or starting out the Cambridge to Hyde Park route after arriving via car and emptying bladders before those legs get to pumping the pedals. The Cambridge to Hyde Park section also has a restroom stop at the Johnson Trailhead about 7.7 miles into the 12.7 mile route, which makes it an ideal midpoint bathroom break.

The Hyde Park to Wolcott section includes restrooms in Morrisville, about 2.6 miles into the 10.6 mile trek. Interestingly, there are restrooms to the north of the trail at Oxbow Park and to the south at the Morrisville town offices about equi-distant from the same point on the trail.

And, whether you are finishing the Wolcott to West Danville route or beginning the West Danville to St. Johnsbury ride, the two portable toilets at the West Danville Park & Ride may be welcome to riders.

Some of the trailheads are adjacent to businesses with restrooms that may be available during open hours, and many of the sections have a gas station or restaurant within view. Alternatively, there are many road crossings that could lead a group to a business with a restroom in a pinch. It does help that the trail travels through 18 towns with 108 crossings.

Either way, when riding with kids it may be good to plan out potential bathroom spots before you hit the trail in case internet access is limited.

Least amount of crossings

Of the sections mentioned, the one with the least amount of crossings over roadways is Hyde Park to Wolcott with seven. Second least is West Danville to St. Johnsbury with 13. The first three sections all had 18 or 19 crossings each and the longest path, Wolcott to West Danville, had 32. Of course, the more rural the areas, the less busy the crossings may be. Another factor is where the path crosses a major highway. You can zoom in on the trail map to see the types of crossings at https://railtrails.vermont.gov/trails/lamoille-valley-rail-trail/.

Fun points of interest in each section

Generally each path is going to take cyclists across bridges, provide some sights or access to water, have stops with benches or picnic tables along the way, some open-view vistas mixed with enclosed forest riding.

For diversions we think families would enjoy, here are our recommendations for each section.

Swanton to Sheldon

Have a train lover? You could start your journey at the Swanton Historical Society’s railroad depot museum, featuring a red caboose and other outdoor exhibits on the grounds. A short way from the museum is a railroad trestle style metal bridge for walkers and riders to traverse the Missisquoi River as they approach the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail proper.

Sheldon to Cambridge

Most of this ride is open views and rural riding past Vermont dairy farms and over lazy country roads. In one case Free Press reporter Lilly St. Angelo took a break to talk to a cow next to the trail who, eager for interaction, mooed back in response. She also saw horses, song birds, geese, turtles and chipmunks in this section making it a great ride for animal lovers or those looking for pastoral views. Pro tip: there is an Irving Oil gas station in East Fairfield if you need a pit stop at some point.

Cambridge to Hyde Park

This section has a lot to offer kids and kids at heart.

There are train car themed benches and a playground featuring a miniature train at the Cambridge Junction Trailhead. Slightly more than half way is Johnson, about a 7.6 mile ride, which makes for a great pit stop or turn around area. The railroad-theme continues at this trailhead which also has a playground near the path. You can keep an eye out for two murals including “Humans of Johnson” and a world cow when riding through. One mile after leaving Johnson be sure to stop at Dog’s Head Falls to get a glimpse of the rushing water of the Lamoille River. It’s another four miles from the falls to Hyde Park where an art installation and a Little Free Library greet trail travelers.

In addition to the most bathrooms of any section we profiled, the Johnson trailhead also provides a place to top off water bottles and the Cambridge and Johnson trailheads have bike repair stations.

Hyde Park to Wolcott

This section provides lots of water views and access to water as it follows the Lamoille River and rounds Lake Lamoille. Artwork also graces the trail as one river crossing bridge is decorated with paintings, and the Morrisville section includes a colorful downtown mural as well as birdhouse sculptures.

Wolcott to West Danville

This section is the longest owing to the fact the nearest parking areas are spaced more than 26 miles apart. Pro tip: you may want to start with a visit to the restroom at the Wolcott town library by the trailhead or fuel up at the picnic benches before setting out.

Water and forest views dominate this section, but perhaps the most interesting part is the historic Fisher Bridge. The 115-year old bridge is more than 100 feet long spanning the Lamoille River. The covered wooden bridge employs craftmanship rarely seen anymore and provides a glimpse into turn of the century (20th century that is) ingenuity. End your marathon-long trek with well deserved views of the serene waters of Joe’s Pond where there are picnic tables. You can also grab an ice cream cone end-of-ride reward or something to gnosh on from the Hastings General Store across from the West Danville Park & Ride.

West Danville to St. Johnsbury

This section can fuel the mind and the imagination.

Start by saying hi to the statue of the Lone Sentry of Joe’s Pond and walking through the covered footbridge at the West Danville Park & Ride. Also explore history with a stop at the Danville Railroad Station Historic Site which was established as a depot in 1870.

Much of the ride is through thick forests which, at times, cocoon the rider between rock walls and trees that jut up toward the sky on either side of the path, making you feel eerily small and as if you’ve crossed into a fantasy world. Perhaps the two long, dark and echoey tunnels you ride through nearing St. Johnsbury are actually dwarven caves and a half moon bridge you pass under, the residence of a troll.

Ending up in St. Johnsbury is the perfect opportunity to visit the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. There is a less busy way to get there by bike than by going all the way to the ending trailhead on Main Street. Instead, after that first tunnel (which goes under Interstate 91), you come to a red iron bridge that allows you to cloverleaf around and take a paved path down to the street below which is Mt. Vernon Street. Continue in the same direction you’re headed and then take a left at the intersection with High Street. Cross over the multi-lane U.S.. 2/Western Avenue with the Fairbanks Inn on your right. Keep straight as the road turns into Central Street and turn left once you get to Main Street. The Fairbanks Museum will be on your right in one block. Portions of this route include sidewalks or take you through less busy neighborhoods than if you had biked from the trailhead.

Hope that helps you plan a fun trip − or several fun trips − with the family.

Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Guide to biking the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail with kids