Find the top rated hiking trails in Barre, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_198848_st.jpg)
_20906_st.jpg)
Takes you to all the stops in franconia notch. Holly and a fair amount of effort to ride. Especially northbound.
I cycled both directions of the Presidential rail trail from Gorham to Jefferson Notch rd. The trail is mostly cinder, but there are sections that are not in good shape. The trail is still a work in progress. The trail is often in a canopy of trees. This could be cooler on hot, sunny days but limits the view of the Presidential Range. The marshy sections were interesting. I was expecting a moose at any moment. There aren’t any services, so be prepared. Be aware of elevation change, no singe large hail but a continuous slope. Keep a god cadence.
I was involved with the development of this trail so my review is somewhat biased. The eastern half in Merrimack County (Danbury to Boscawen) is in beautiful shape (due to federal financing) with a nice stone dust surface. The western half (Grafton to Lebanon) is much more scenic but was done mostly by volunteers with some local funding so has a highly variable surface, great in areas and poor in others.
Highlights include the trail in Lebanon as it crisscrosses the Mascoma River, in Enfield where it runs several miles alongside Lake Mascoma and downtown, and all of Merrimack County thanks to its trail surface.
I dearly wanted to give it a 5-star rating but had to admit that it was a bit of a slog going through the central (and high point) towns of Grafton and Orange. Wish the state of New Hampshire would put some resources into this trail, which would truly make it a premiere destination and top-rated trail.
The Tri-Haul Trail has a big pile of large rocks about 15 feet long at each end. Had to walk our bikes through that. The middle of the trail has large white gravel that is doable if you have wide tires. The Bay Trail was fine and the rest of the Tri-Haul Trail was fine.
Top trail for us in our travels so far. Diversity of scenery, activity, and terrain complete this adventure. We started and finished at a midway point, Leddy Park, to avoid potential congestion on the Burlington side, proved to be a good strategy. The Causeway is unique, not too often do you encounter a bike ferry. This is a destination ride to be sure.
This trail has two very different parts, and you should choose carefully or you'll be disappointed. Many of the reviews here are for horse riding, including in winter, which requires very different conditions than biking. We biked in summer starting from Jefferson on Mountain Bikes (a trail/hybrid would work as well but not a road bike.)
First part: Jefferson - Gorham: gorgeous, well maintained, nothing but cyclists and some fishermen and hikers. The trail is well marked, well maintained and a real joy. It is varied, going through forests or near/over streams, with many opportunities to freshen up in a swimming hole. 5 stars.
Second part: Goram - Berlin: awful for biking. This is a road, not a trail, with ATVs buzzing up and down on it, covering you in dust, tearing the trail and making the ride very unpleasant, with paddles, cracks and bumps. Except for the occasional excitement of fearing for your life, there's not much there. You'll be biking next to a wide river with no swimming access. 1 star.
We started from Echo Lake parking lot, first going north all the way - not that interesting, and pretty steep. Then went south all the way to the end of the trail - much more fun. On the way back you'll have a lot of climbing, but it's pretty moderate and there are plenty of nice stops along the way. For a perfect ending, finish at the lake!
A group of biking friends and I biked the length of the LVRT from Swanton to Saint Johnsbury (June 29-July 1, 2026). We had been hoping to ride the trail for the past several years but put it off due to the severe damage to it from several years of flooding rains. The LVRT experience was well worth the wait. The trail was in great shape. The scenery was spectacular and the communities along the trail seem to fully embrace the trail and the riders it attracts. There are quality lodging and eating options within a few miles of the trail. Organizations like the Lamoille Valley Bike Tours and Vermont's various governmental agencies have done themselves proud in creating, maintaining and promoting this trail. Even the black flies and mosquitos seemed to encourage riders by ignoring us.
My friends and I have ridden quite a few trails over the past 20 years in both Europe and the US and this little 100 mile gem ranks right up there with the best. Thank you to all the private and public individuals and agencies who made this trail a reality. And, a special acknowledgement of the many property abutters who may have been skeptical when this trail was just a proposal but seem to wholeheartedly seem to support the LVRT now!
My wife and I rode this trail between the Echo all the way to the ferry and back, and we would have ridden the ferry if we didn't need to get back to return our bikes to the rental shop. Clear skies, temperatures in the low 80s, and we had a great time, even forgetting that we were lacking sleep after issues with flights. We hope to try it again some day when we wont feel so rushed.
There is a new trailhead with parking for about 20 cars near the west end of the trail (Swanton end) where the trail crosses Robin Hood Dr. better option than the Park & Ride a few blocks away which has fewer parking spots and several trailers stored in the lot.
There's another couple of miles of mostly paved trail that goes beyond the parking lot in Lebanon. That's an excellent section of the trail. It took us all the way to Glen Road in West Lebanon.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
Map Search
_0_st.jpg)
