The Best Motorcycle Rides in Vermont: A Rider’s Guide to the Green Mountains

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VT-100 is the ultimate “therapy” road. It traverses almost the entire length of the state, serving as the connective tissue between Vermont’s most famous mountain passes. I’ve ridden the full 200+ mile stretch multiple times, and the real magic lies in its versatility.

The Ride Experience

In the south near Wilmington, the pavement is often wide and inviting, offering high-speed sweepers that allow you to find a perfect lean-angle rhythm. As you push north toward Ludlow and Killington, the terrain tightens. You’ll experience a “visual narrative” of classic New England: white-steeple churches, pristine dairy farms, and the constant, towering presence of the Green Mountains to your west.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Pavement Quality: Generally excellent, as this is a major artery, but keep alert for frost heaves in the early spring. The section between Pittsfield and Hancock can get “bouncy” if the winter was harsh.
• The “Reveal”: Keep your eyes peeled as you descend into the Mad River Valley . The road opens up to a stunning vista of the “Green Mountain High” peaks that is worth the price of admission alone.
• Fuel-to-Fun Ratio: Unlike some remote western roads, Route 100 is dotted with historic general stores. I recommend fueling up in Waterbury before heading further north—it’s a great spot to grab a coffee and check your tire pressures before the terrain gets more remote.

Navigation & GPX

Don’t rely on spotty mountain cell service to find the best detours.

• Free Map: Click here for the Google Maps Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the optimized Route 100 GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

The Mad River Loop is one of the best motorcycle rides in New England, as it features all the scenic beauty of Vermont. VT-17 is especially technical as you ride through the southern tip of Camel’s Hump State Forest.

The Ride Experience

This loop is a roller coaster of elevation changes. You’ll start with the pastoral beauty of the Mad River Valley before the road abruptly tilts upward into the Appalachian Gap on VT-17. Here, the road narrows, and the corners tighten into legitimate hairpins. Once you crest the summit, you’ll drop down into a series of technical descents toward Bristol, where the scenery shifts back to rolling farmland and the cool, shaded canopy of the Green Mountain National Forest on VT-125.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality: VT-17 is generally well-maintained, but the extreme grades mean that “tar snakes” can be an issue on 90°F days. In the early season (May/June), watch the inside of the hairpins for lingering winter sand—it’ll wash your front end out before you can blink.
• Risk Assessment: The hairpins on the western side of the Gap are no joke. Many of them are blind and off-camber .
• Biker-Friendly Stop: A stop in Bristol offers the perfect “reset” point with great local cafes and ice cream.

Navigation & GPX

This loop has several intersecting backroads that can be confusing if you’re just glancing at a tank bag map.

• Free Map: Click here for the Google Maps Mad River Loop Route Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the Mad River Loop GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

If Route 100 is the spine of Vermont, Route 17—specifically the section known as the “Appalachian Gap”—is the beating heart of technical riding in the Northeast. This isn’t just a road; it’s a rite of passage. Every time I crest that summit, it reminds me why I started riding in the first place.

The Ride Experience

VT-17 is a tale of two worlds. The western side climbing out of Bristol is a series of rhythmic, climbing sweepers through dense forest. But once you cross the “Baby Gap” and head toward the main summit, the gloves come off. You are suddenly faced with hairpin turns at extreme elevation changes. The “visual reveal” at the summit is legendary—on a clear day, you can see across the Champlain Valley all the way to the Adirondacks in New York.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality & Grip: The pavement on the Gap is generally high-grip, but the sheer steepness of the 15% grades means you need to be precise with your rear brake trail-braking in the downhill hairpins.
• Micro-Climates: I’ve seen it go from 80°F in Waitsfield to 65°F and foggy at the summit in less than 10 minutes.
• Safety-First Mentality: This is a “commitment” road. Once you’re in the tightest hairpins, there is very little shoulder.

Navigation & GPX

• Free Map: Click here for the Google Maps VT-17 Route Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the VT-17 GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

The Molly Stark Byway is the high-speed gateway to the Green Mountains. Route 9 is about momentum and scale. It’s the kind of road where you can really settle into the machine and let the engine breathe.

The Ride Experience

The Molly Stark is a masterclass in elevation grade changes. Starting in the historic town of Bennington, the road immediately begins a long, sustained climb into the heart of the southern Green Mountains. The curves here aren’t tight hairpins; they are massive, sweeping bends that allow for a fun, spirited ride. The “visual reveal” at the summit of Hogback Mountain is one of the most famous in the state—on a clear day, the “100-mile view” stretches across three states.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality: Being a primary state route, the asphalt is generally thick and smooth.
• Risk Assessment: The descent toward Brattleboro features several decreasing-radius turns . It’s easy to carry too much speed off the mountain; remember to set your entry speed early so you aren’t trail-braking toward the double-yellow on a blind bend.

Navigation & GPX

• Free Map: Click here for the Google Maps Route Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the Molly Stark Byway GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

Route 8 is the “insider’s secret.” It’s short, punchy, and often overlooked by riders racing toward the bigger-name gaps. But for those of us who prioritize pavement quality and lean angle over tourist traps, this 17-mile stretch is pure gold. It’s the perfect connector for a multi-state loop coming up from Massachusetts or the Berkshires.

The Ride Experience

Route 8 is all about the “flow state.” It starts near the Massachusetts border and climbs steadily through the southern tip of the Green Mountains. Unlike the frantic hairpins of Route 17, VT-8 offers a rhythmic series of sweepers that feel like they were designed specifically for a motorcycle. The road carves through dense forest canopy, making it a cool, shaded sanctuary even in the peak of July heat.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality: This is some of the most consistent asphalt in Southern Vermont. Since it doesn’t see heavy commercial through-traffic, the pavement is remarkably smooth and free of the typical longitudinal ruts found on larger state routes. It’s a great road for setting a line and holding it.
• Micro-Climates: Watch out for “damp spots” in the shadows. Because of the heavy tree cover, the road surface can stay wet for hours after a morning dew or a light rain, especially in the tighter northern sections near Woodford State Park.
• Risk Assessment: Deer. Being a less-traveled forest road, the wildlife activity here is high. I recommend riding this during mid-day light; avoid dawn and dusk when the local deer population is most active.

Navigation & GPX

I love using this road to “bridge the gap” between the Mohawk Trail (MA-2) and the Molly Stark Byway (VT-9).

• Free Map: Click here for the VT-8 Google Maps Route Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the VT-8 “Southern Connector” GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

Welcome to Smuggler’s Notch. If there is one road in Vermont that feels like it belongs in the European Alps, this is it. It’s narrow, it’s vertical, and it’s arguably the most atmospheric 17 miles of pavement in the Northeast.

I’ve ridden this at dawn when the mist is still clinging to the giant boulders, and let me tell you—it’s a therapeutic experience for a motorcyclist.

The Ride Experience

This isn’t a road for high-speed sweepers; it’s a road for technical precision. As you climb out of Stowe, the road narrows until it’s barely wide enough for two cars to pass. You’ll weave between house-sized glacial boulders on the roadside. The “visual reveal” here is vertical—you’re looking up at 1,000-foot stone faces while navigating some of the tightest switchbacks in the state.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality: The pavement is generally solid, but because the Notch is so narrow and shaded, it stays damp and mossy in the corners. Expect some frost-shattered asphalt near the summit where the winter ice lingers longest.
• Micro-Climates: This is a classic “cold sink.” Even on a sweltering 90°F July day in Burlington, the Notch can be a damp 65°F. Dress in layers; the temperature swing as you enter the shadows of the cliffs is immediate.

Navigation & GPX

Because of the steep cliffs, GPS signals often “bounce” or drop entirely in the heart of the Notch. Having a pre-loaded, high-fidelity GPX file is the only way to ensure your nav doesn’t go haywire when you need it most.

• Free Map: Click here for the Smuggler’s Notch Google Maps Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the VT-108 “Notch” GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

After the tight, technical workout of Smuggler’s Notch, Route 15 is the high-speed “cool down” every rider needs. This is where you let the bike stretch its legs and soak in the pastoral soul of Vermont. It’s a road of long, sweeping curves and wide-open vistas that reminds you why riding is the ultimate therapy.

The Ride Experience

Route 15 follows the rhythm of the Lamoille River. While the mountain gaps are about verticality, this route is about horizontal flow. You’ll carve through expansive farmland with the Green Mountains at your back and the White Mountains of New Hampshire appearing on the eastern horizon. The views are classic Vermont: covered bridges, red barns, and historic main streets that look like they haven’t changed since the 1940s.

Technical Notes from the Saddle

• Surface Quality: This is a major regional artery and is generally kept in excellent condition . The pavement is smooth, allowing you to maintain a consistent flow with minimal braking.
• Flow State: The curves here are predictable and have a consistent radius. It’s the perfect road for practicing your smooth throttle transitions and looking far ahead through the sweepers.
• Fuel-to-Fun Ratio: Unlike the remote notches, Route 15 is dotted with small towns like Morrisville and Hardwick. These are great “rest and reset” points with easy access to high-octane fuel and local diners.
• Biker-Friendly Stop: I highly recommend a stop in Hardwick. It’s a rugged, authentic Vermont town with a great food scene that has become a “heartbeat” for the local riding community.

Navigation & GPX

• Free Map: Click here for the VT-15 Google Maps Route Link
• Pro Navigation: Download the VT-15 “Lamoille Sweep” GPX File (Patreon Exclusive)

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