The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) in northern Vermont is a multi-use trail shared by hikers, runners, bicyclists, wheelchairs, and horses. In winter, snowmobilers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers also use the trail. The trail will ultimately be 93 miles long and as of 2022 approximately half has been completed, in 3 different sections.
The trail is relatively flat, having been a railroad bed, and the surface is compacted crushed stone. It is 10-feet-wide with 2-foot grass shoulders.
Information about the trail is available here, and an interactive map can be found here.
Important information for equestrians:
- Trailer parking is limited. Many of the parking areas shown on the official interactive map would not accommodate a horse trailer. Click on each “P” for parking and look for the trailer icon. If there isn’t one, don’t attempt to park there. Even the areas with the trailer icon could by difficult if there are many other cars in the lot. See the map below for areas where trailers are allowed to park.
- Remove all manure from parking areas.
- On summer weekends popular parts of the trail can be very busy with hikers, runners, and bicyclists, many of whom have dogs with them; keep this in mind if you have a nervous horse or you are a nervous rider.
- You are expected to kick manure off the gravel part of the trail to keep it clear for other users.
- There are some large bridges over rivers on the trail; keep this in mind if your horse does not like bridges.
- You might consider checking out the trail on foot or bicycle before riding there if you want to be sure it’s appropriate for you and your horse.
- The LVRT website does not mention driving, but given that all forms of non-motorized transport are allowed, a small horse-drawn cart or carriage should be allowed.
Please help us improve this page with information or photos that you might have by emailing VHCTrails@gmail.com.