Montpelier-East Montpelier
Route Description:
* Park in the City of Montpelier (public parking can be found
in several lots and on the street, but it's not always easy,
especially when the legislature is in session). After seeing
the various points of interest downtown, proceed north on Main
Street bearing right at the roundabout across from the former
Masonic Temple which now houses a medical clinic.
* Climb steadily out of town on Upper Main Street (on the
way you will pass the New England Culinary Institute on the left
- the school operates several fine restaurants in the City which
are well worth visiting!). After a sharp left hand turn, Main
Street becomes County Road, flattens out a bit and becomes a
bit more rural in character. About a mile and a half out of town
you will pass the Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks on the right where
a variety of local agricultural products, crafts and gifts may
be purchased.
* Continue on the County Road until its intersection with
Barnes Road on the right (3.2 miles). Barnes Road (unpaved) will
lead you through a residential area to the historic settlement
of East Montpelier Center.
* Turn left on to Center Road (4 miles). Shortly you will
pass the Old Meeting House (c. 1823), a National Register Historic
Site and community landmark, on the right. Take a moment to admire
this fine example of "Federal Vermont" architecture.
* Continue up scenic and historic Center Road pedaling on
dirt surfaces past tidy farmsteads and beneath the canopy of
majestic roadside sugar maples. Center Road appears in State
records as early as 1793 as "the road from East Montpelier
to Memphremagog" and as you travel upon it, you may believe
that time is standing still.
*At about 6.6 miles, turn right onto Sibley Road. Notice the
old farmhouse which soon appears on your left - it was built
in 1795 and is reputed to have been involved in the embargo of
the War of 1812 and the Underground Railroad. Further down the
road on your left, you will pass an impressive complex of agricultural
buildings known as the Sibley Farm. The Groton Mountains to the
east provide a splendid backdrop for this arresting scene.
* Shortly after the Sibley Farm, the road branches into a
"Y" at a grassy triangle. Take the left fork and continue
for 0.5 mile before turning left onto a rugged jeep trail which
runs uphill through a pasture within sight of the farmhouse at
the end of Foster Road. Stay on this trail as it winds through
the woods for about .6 miles. Turn right onto Chickering Road
at the end of the trail.
* In just over 0,5 mile you will come to a "T" intersection.
Turn right onto Guyette Road. One mile later turn right at another
"T" onto Snow Hill Road. The views from the height
of land on this road are inspiring - farms, fields, woods and
mountains form a patchwork landscape.
* Continue straight over pleasant, rolling terrain for almost
three miles. (Snow Hill Road will change to Dodge Road at a four-way
intersection.)
* At the end of Dodge Road (12.8 miles) turn left back onto
Center Road, through the hamlet of East Montpelier Center, past
the Old Meeting House and back onto pavement. Continue on Center
Road for about 1.5 miles to its intersection with the County
Road. As you approach this junction, great long-range views open
up to the south and west over the City of Montpelier.
* Turn left onto County Road and retrace your steps back down
Main Street to downtown Montpelier. Use caution on this steep
descent.
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and
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