The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is located on the right-of-way of the former St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad. Constructed in the 1870s, the Railroad was designed to connect the Great Lakes with the seaport of Portland, Maine. The western connection was never made but for over 100 years the Lamoille Valley Rail Road was a major east west route for people and goods to travel across the northern part of the state and New England. The Railroad brought outside goods to the state and helped transport dairy, forest, and textile products from Vermont to the rest of country. The railroad supported the blue-collar manufacturing industries along its path and contributed to the history of development in northern Vermont. The trains stopped carrying passengers in the in 1950’s and stopped running for good in the mid 1990’s. The rail corridor sat vacant for over 20 years…
Following years of planning and effort the conversion of the Railroad to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail came to life in 2016. Thanks to a collaboration between the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers and good old private citizens, not only do Vermonters have the luxury to view and enjoy these lost and forgotten sights but can take pride in showcasing this fresh and authentic countryside to travelers across the country. Currently 33 miles of trail is open for year round use https://www.lvrt.org/trail-maps. When finished, the trail will be the longest four-season recreational trail in New England at 93 miles. The trail will connect eighteen communities in five counties and some of Vermont’s most breathtaking scenery, diverse landscapes of field, working farmland, mountains and wetlands. The trail provides a safe and scenic alternative travel corridor that encourages you to not only view authentic Vermont in all its glory, but to slow down and experience it! LVBT operates on 17 miles of open trail between Morrisville and Cambridge highlighting stretches of sleepy cow farmlands, high cornfields, winding rivers and rolling mountain scenery. The trail sports shopping, breweries and restaurants, and takes you through four quaint villages for a chance to eat, explore, swim and take in the local art and history of the Green Mountain State.
