Cross Vermont Trail Maps
Explore trails, parks and communities across Vermont, following the Wells River and the Winooski River. Cross Vermont Trail is a project to build a new trail spanning the state from the Connecticut River to Lake Champlain.
Each map shows open sections of trail, and highlights roads that can be used to link them together to make longer trips. The route is shown in the context of an area map to help you orient to the trail location. A "cue sheet" accompanies each map with brief turn by turn directions (both east to west and west to east).
- The statewide route is broken up into twelve maps. You can view the maps individually, below.
- Or you can download the printable maps and cue sheets all at once here. (PDF 4MB)
- And you can download all of the online maps as a single Google Earth file here. (KMZ 91KB) (Learn more about Google Earth.)
Been out on the trail lately? Let us know what you saw. Would you like more of the route to be off road? You can help build more trail!
Map #1 Village of Wells River (Connecticut River) to Boltonville trailhead (4.02 miles)
- Trail on old railbed through Wells River Conservation Park and other preserved land along the Wells River.
- Several nature trail loops are connected together by the Cross Vermont Trail route.
- The trail underpass at I-91 was built by the Cross Vermont Trail Association in 2003.
- Village of Wells River pleasant place to start or end a journey.
Map #2 Boltonville trailhead to Groton (Wilson Dr) (8.37 miles)
- Peaceful village of South Ryegate.
- Meandering views of pastures with backdrop of forested hills.
- Long stretch of trail on old railbed (thank you to the Town of Groton!)
Map #3 Groton (Wilson Dr) to Marshfield Village (Rte 2) (12.74 miles)
- Continue long stretch of trail on old railbed.
- Groton State Forest, Vermont's second largest state forest.
- A string of lakes and ponds, with small, steep mountains providing dramatic backdrop.
- Several campgrounds. This is the part of the trail for a camping vacation.
Map #4 Marshfield Village (Rte 2) to Plainfield Village (6.96 miles)
- The "village to village" route. One nice theme of the entire statewide route is the sequence of still active village down town areas.
- (More) rolling pastures and forested hills.
- A very cool timber frame covered bridge. (Now in park to the side of Rte 2.)
Map #5 Plainfield Village to East Montpelier (Rte 14 trailhead) (4.07 miles)
- The highlight here is a stretch of trail on the old Montpelier - Wells River Railroad between Country Club Rd and Rte 14. Once you start in from either end, it doesn't take long before you feel like you are deep in the woods. Thanks to efforts by several local trail groups, the towns of Plainfield and East Montpelier, and the generosity of land owners to make this trail available to the public.
- Along Rte 2 in Plainfield, the route is scenic, though at times the traffic can be heavy.
Map #6 East Montpelier (Rte 14 trailhead) to Montpelier (Gateway Park) (9.33 miles)
- Cross Vermont Trail Association is working now to explore ways to build a new, off road path connecting from Montpelier to Rte 14. Please call anytime if you would like to learn more about this effort. In the meantime, the approach to Montpelier from the east is on highways which are often congested, with high speed traffic.
- Once you get to Montpelier, though, a nice network of bike paths weave through the dynamic downtown area of Vermont's capitol city.
Map #7 Montpelier (Gateway Park) to Moretown (Lovers Lane) (6.58 miles)
- A good long stretch of pastoral dirt roads; past farms, along Winooski and Mad Rivers.
- Rte 100B is large road, but officially recognized as a scenic byway.
- Lovers Lane ('nuff said).
Map #8 Moretown (Lovers Lane) to Duxbury (River Rd) (5.07 miles)
- Rte 2 has some scenic moments along the Winooski River. (Though traffic can be heavy at times).
- Waterbury's greenway path is a solid place to go for a meditative walk.
Map #9 Duxbury (River Rd) to Richmond (Bridge St) (13.68 miles)
- Another good long run on an old time Vermont dirt road; along Winooski River.
- Trailheads for Camels Hump State Park (Honey Hollow area, and Long Trail.)
- Tucked by the river, a small recreation area with a big view.
Map #10 Richmond (Bridge St) to Williston (Central School) (7.62 miles)
- Johnnie Brook Trail (on Class IV road), pleasant pastoral trail.
- Calendar quality views looking back east to the ridge of the Green Moutains, and in some places west to Adirondacks, too.
Map #11 Williston (Central School) to Williston (Rte 2A) (3.63 miles)
- Classic "neighborhood to school to shops" bike path network. Nice to see.
- Nature trails, a well, such as along Allen Brook.
Map #12 Williston (Rte 2A) to Burlington (Lake Champlain) (8.75 miles)
- South Burlington has a great community path, connecting parks, schools, and neighborhoods; including some quiet natural areas.
- Burlington's Oakledge Park, Lake Champlain beaches, stone circles, and a really big treehouse!