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Exit 5 off I-89 to VT 64 west. Go about 3 miles to VT 12 north. Proceed to the Village of Northfield and park at Depot Square in the heart of town. From Montpelier (exit 8 off I-89) take VT 12 south to Northfield.
General Description: The Vermont Covered Bridge mountain bike tour in Northfield VT is divided between paved and unpaved roads with gradual climbs and descents. Awesome cycling during Vermont fall foliage season. Enjoy historic bridges amidst the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of Vermont's wooded hillsides in autumn. Bring your camera. Although a relatively short ride at 12 miles, this covered bridge trail will take you through diverse landscapes. There are cool forests, expansive mountain views, rolling farmland and the historic village of Northfield, where the bike tour begins and ends. VT 12 and 12A are paved state highways, but the rest of the route is unpaved and a mountain bike or hybrid bike is reccommended for this tour. Northfield has undergone periods of growth and decline, but remains a proud and thriving town today. You can extend your ride by following the optional route. It is equally divided between paved and unpaved roads, with climbs and descents that are gradual.
The Main Route: From Depot Square ride east on Wall St., across the railroad tracks and Dog River. 1.2 miles: After passing Terry Hill Rd., the road turns sharply to the right and up Dole Hill Rd. Climb steeply for almost a mile, past Norwich University Cemetery. There are good views of the Dog River valley from the top. Descend, bearing left at a grassy triangle. 2.8 miles: At stop sign turn left onto Smith Hill Rd. Descend to the intersection of Rt. 12A. 4.1 miles: Turn left onto Rt. 12A, pass under a trestle and take the first right onto Bull Run Rd. (4.4 miles). For the next 2.2 miles the ride takes you through a cool streamside forest over gently rolling hills. Turn left onto Winch Hill Rd. The turn comes just after crossing the fourth bridge over Bull Run. The climb up Winch Hill is very steep and may require some walking for the less fit. The good news is that the climb only lasts about 1/2 mile. Bear left at the top. After a mile the views to the west will be spectacular, with Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, visible on a clear day. After 3 miles Winch Hill Rd. drops back into the valley. 10.3 miles: Turn right at intersection with Rt.12A. 11.2 miles: Turn left at intersection with Rt.12. Pass Norwich University and continue down Main Street, returning to Depot Square for a total of 12.3 miles.
Optional Ride: Take Wall St. across the river. Turn right at intersection, and first left onto Union St., which becomes Union Brook Rd. as it leaves town. Ride uphill on Union Brook Rd. for 1.8 miles and turn left onto West Hill Rd. The road turns to dirt as you climb into beautiful horsefarm country. Descend the hill to an intersection (4.5 miles), bearing left along a wooden fence, across from a brown farm house. Bear left again at the next intersection (5.5 miles) onto Stoney Brook Rd. Descend 2.8 miles through the woods and through an historic covered bridge back to Rt.12A. Return to Depot Square for a total of 10.7 miles.
Historical Notes: Northfield Village The village has been on somewhat of a roller coaster ride since being chartered in 1781. In 1848 it became the headquarters for the Central Vermont Railway. Vermont’s governor, in an apparent vendetta, vowed to "make grass grow in the streets of Northfield" and moved the railroad headquarters to St. Albans. In 1866 Norwich University moved to Northfield and is still going strong. In the 1890’s the granite industry moved in, only to leave for nearby Barre during the Depression. The knitting and woolen industry and expansion of the University brought Northfield back again. The village lives on! Covered Bridges The optional ride takes you through the Moseley Bridge on the Stony Brook Road section. It was built in 1899. Two miles north of Northfield Village in the hamlet of Northfield Falls is an impressive collection of covered bridges. Four are located within a few hundred feet of each other. The Station Bridge, Lower/Second Bridge and Upper/Third Bridge were built in 1872 and are all located on Cox Brook Road off of VT 12. This is the only place in Vermont where one historic bridge can be seen from another, in this case the Station and Lower/Second Bridge. Just off of VT 12 on Slaughterhouse Road, .3 miles south of town, is the Slaughterhouse Bridge, also built in 1872.
For more information: Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission Phone: (802)-229-0389
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Historic Covered Bridge Trail 
