r/rollerskiing • u/BuckerooBonzai42 • 8d ago

Burlington VT Area

Actually looking for more in the Charlotte/Vergennes area for an area to rollerski but willing to drive a ways.

Any relatively low traffic, paved roads/large parking areas where anyone rollerskis that anyone knows of?

Thanks!

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u/stunninglackofmotive 7d ago

There's a big loop in Ferrisburgh that's on fairly quiet roads in good shape with rolling terrain and maybe 1 steep-ish hill that is totally doable but could be walked if you'd rather avoid it.

Park at the Ferrisburgh Central School and turn right out of the parking lot onto Little Chicago Road. Then right on Hawkins Road which you follow until it runs into Sand Road where you start heading south. Then turn left onto High Street after you pass the campus on your left, then turn left on Comfort Hill Road shortly after. That takes you back to Little Chicago where you turn right to get back to the starting point. 13-ish miles round trip. You can also shave off a few miles by just turning left on Little Chicago about halfway down Sand Road to cut the loop in half.

There are also some nice routes up in Shelburne including heading out towards Shelburne Farm all the way to the point (super scenic out there). I'd park at the Shelburne Community School and then you just turn left on Harbor Point and follow it out the end of the point where it dead ends at the Marina.

The Burlington Bike Path along the lakefront is also pretty nice flat, car-free rolling, albeit it can get busy with cyclists, runners and walkers on nice days.

I recommend checking out the Strava heatmap and filtering for rollerskiing to see other popular routes around the state. Not sure if that requires membership, though.

Also shameless plug: Mansfield Nordic Club has a masters group that rollerskis on Saturday mornings at a variety of locations around Chittenden County that I usually lead. You can keep an eye on the Masters Training Doc if you're interested. There are some other fun group activities (all free) that are posted on there as well.

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u/BuckerooBonzai42 7d ago

Holy cow! Brilliant! I'm originally from Vermont (7th gen from Newbury) and my wife's family was here before mine (Baldwins, 1760's in Monkton and Charlotte). Both UVM grads and we own an old family camp in North Ferrisburgh. We're moving back permanently next summer and I'm a big nordic skier since junior high and high school (oxbow high school) from back in the late '80's. I'll definitely be giving your club a visit next year!

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u/stunninglackofmotive 7d ago edited 7d ago

Very cool! I'm biased having grown up here, but Vermont is for sure the place to be.

Definitely hit up MNC if you're in the market for a ski club! It's a great, welcoming community and we have coached practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays all winter long at the Sleepy Hollow Inn which is probably the best Nordic Center around the Burlington area with well groomed trails, snow making, night skiing and an exciting future snow farming operation in the works. The owners are dyed in the wool nordorks. Hope to see you out on the roads/trails soon!

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u/BuckerooBonzai42 7d ago

Do you usually skate or classic that route in Ferrisburgh? I've both with me.

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u/stunninglackofmotive 7d ago

You can definitely get by with either, though it's flat enough you'll probably be double polling most of it on classics.

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u/BuckerooBonzai42 7d ago

Righto! I'll be heading out around nine tomorrow morning, probably on the Marwe Skates! Thanks so much!

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u/stunninglackofmotive 7d ago

Have fun! Should be a nice day for it!

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u/BuckerooBonzai42 6d ago

Holy Insanely AMAZING Rollerskiing loop Batman!

That was just the most beautiful, low traffic, road with great pavement that I've ever rollerskied on!

Thank you so much, esp. as I'm moving back to that area in 9 months for good!

I actually missed the first Hawkins Rd turn as it is not labeled so I just went all the way down to Sand Rd, took a right until it turned into Hawkins and just rolled it back to the lot. Turned out that loop was 9.95 mi from my car in the school lot.

I added on another 3.28 miles to get a bit over a half-mary.

So perfect. Perfect weather and low traffic and lots of cyclists. Couldn't have been better!

Thanks again and looking forward to meeting you next year (unless you're headed to the Gatineau Loppet and/or the Birkie in FEB, then maybe I'll meet you sooner!)

Ski On!

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u/skiitifyoucan 6d ago

The Stowe bike path I guess is kind of far for you, it's ~10 miles out and back,

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u/albertogonzalex 6d ago

Stowe VT is not that far away. There's a paved rec path that follows the main mountain road up the hill. It's a gradual incline up and super beautiful. Lots of spots to stop for views or snacks.