Gravel Ride: Gravel to Greensboro
The scenic route to Greensboro. Click through to view on ridewithgps.com (also available for GPS download).
This week's ride: Gravel to Greensboro. The name says it all for this ride, best suited to those with a bit of fitness and confidence. The ride starts at the Center, sending you up and over the Common. Make mental notes on where you want to visit after the ride - lots to see around here, especially Saturdays with Farmer's Market until 1:00pm. Down the hill, through the village and on toward Eligo.
But, we're taking the less traveled back side of Lake Eligo. Dirt and uphill, though not as steep as the paved road. Settle in to a good rhythm, you're going to be at this for a bit. It gets narrow at points, so keep your eyes open: while there aren't many cars, some do use this for transit yet.
You're rewarded with open views to the west as you climb higher. Enjoy the high meadows around you and the views of the greens from Jay to almost Middlebury Gap in the south, because soon you'll be turning left on Cook Hill and heading back in to the woods.
The road is little used - during the winter it becomes a snow machine trail. You'll climb a bit further, but soon you'll be dropping to the backside of Caspian. Turn right and head south around this noted vacation spot, going about a mile.
A left turn on to Breezy Avenue returns you to the pavement, and you're soon coasting in to Greensboro - conveniently about half way through your ride. Check out Willey's for some sustenance, or take a dip in Caspian to refresh yourself for the rest of the journey home. You'll continue north on Craftsbury Road (what Breezy Ave. turns into). Out past the Highland Lodge, where the route turns left on to North Shore Rd. (Had enough gravel?Stay on the pavement, and you'll drop to South Craftsbury road, just below the village - consult the map).
For those sticking with the dirty option, you'll travel along North Shore for about 1.5 miles, turning Right on to Richardson Road, with an eye-opening climb. Your descent is rewarded with nice views to the north and west of the greens, Belvidere and Jay. Soon you'll roll through the Circus Smirkus birthplace, at the intersection of the unsurprisingly named Circus Rd and Richardson.
Keep your thoughts on the road however, as the route descends a bit through a sandy bottom, before climbing a class IV section of road/snow machine trail. We actually cross and parallel this stretch of road with the Center's Grand Tour ski trail during the winter. An old cemetery, tree lined dirt roads - very New England stuff all around you as you arrive in East Craftsbury. You'll turn left on to the pavement.
Nearly home now! Bear right off the pavement, and tackle the brief climb that reveals the Black River valley at your feet. Stay focused on the ride however, you're going to be dropping a lot of vertical in a short space of time, teeing in to the Creek Rd at the bottom.
Cross the footbridge across the intersection from where Ketchum Hill deposits you on the Creek Road. You'll climb Young Road, turning right where it intersects King Farm Road. Descend past the sluice on Little Hosmer and either continue on via Mill Village Road to Lost Nation.
Distance: 24.2 mi
Elevation: 2317'
This will take from 90 minutes to almost three hours - especially if you swim and eat in Greensboro.
Watch as we post more great adventure rides around the Center and the NEK beyond! Check out our ridewithgps.com profile for more routes locally, all downloadable to your device, or with the printable cue sheets.