Welcome back to our blog segment, ‘Local Dirt’! This blog is our way of sharing some of our favorite Northeast Kingdom routes and new dirt roads, class IVs, and trails. In each edition we will provide adventure summaries, route suggestions, and mid-run photos to help inspire your next outing.

Today’s installment highlights a point to point back-road run from Craftsbury to Hardwick. Beginning at the Outdoor Center, the route takes you through Craftsbury Village to the quiet, hilly back-roads of Lake Eligo, Greensboro, and Hardwick. After a significant climb overlooking Lake Eligo, the road opens up to offer spectacular, sweeping views to both the West and East for miles of gently rolling terrain. To top it all off, the route promises the added bonus of friends, hot beverages, and warm pastries waiting at Hardwick’s Front Seat Coffee! Below we offer a summary of the route as run on October 29, 2019, followed by suggestions for future renditions.  

Distance: 13.5 miles
Max elevation: 1,498’
Elevation gain: 995′
Terrain: Hilly. Significant ascent in the middle third of the route, followed by flatter miles and a steep final descent.
Conditions: Most cloudy in the mid-40s, light wind.
Map and Strava

Route: From the Outdoor Center, head South on Lost Nation Road. After the steep downhill, turn left onto Mill Village Road at 0.5 miles. At 1.2 miles stay left to turn onto King Farm Road. Continue straight on King Farm, keeping left at the intersections with Strong Road and Dustan Road. At 3 miles, turn right onto Creek Road to run into Craftsbury Village. Turn left onto the paved South Craftsbury Road at 3.5 miles, passing the C Village Store on your left and the Craftsbury General Store on your right. Continue straight on South Craftsbury Road to run by Thompson’s Farm Stand, Pete’s Greens, Blackbird Bistro, and Whetstone Wellness – the full tour of downtown Craftsbury! 

At 5 miles, return to dirt as you turn off of South Craftsbury Road and left onto Lake Road. With Lake Eligo on your right, you will begin the steady climb overlooking Eligo. Keep right at the intersection with Harrington Road to continue onto Overlook Road. The road quickly narrows as you continue the uphill climb. Be sure to check out the views over Lake Eligo and the funky houses hidden away just off Overlook Road. Stay straight on Overlook Road past Lakeview Road and Cook Hill Road on your left as Overlook Road turns into Bridgman Hill Road. As you pass Cook Hill Road at 8 miles, the road opens up out of the trees, giving way to rolling meadows and farm fields. Enjoy running between cow-dotted fields with sweeping views in all directions! 

Continue straight on this plateau-esque stretch of miles on Bridgman Hill Road, passing Cobb School Road on the left and Morin Road on the right. At the intersection with Renaud Road at 11.2 miles, stay straight on Bridgman Hill Road to begin the long descent into downtown Hardwick. The road returns to pavement and becomes North Main Street at 12.9 miles. Continue straight through the blinking light intersection and over the Lamoille River before turning right onto Main Street. Front Seat Coffee will be on the left, at the top of the notorious intersection of Main Street and Route 15. Time to celebrate with some of Front Seat Coffee’s house-made pastries and fresh-brewed beverages! 

Heidi’s Helpful Hints:

1. Get out there and give it a go! Run it, ride it, walk it – whatever mode you choose, this is a phenomenal route. The photos from an overcast day don’t do the views justice. This is hands down one of the most beautiful runs I’ve done in the NEK!

2. Want to shorten it? Starting from Craftsbury Village makes the route ~10 miles. Beginning at the turn onto Lake Road makes the route ~8.5 miles and cuts out most of the highlighted route’s pavement.

3. Don’t underestimate the hills! Miles 6-8 are a steady, relentless ascent, with ~200’ of elevation gain each mile.

4. Check back for more loops in the back-roads of Greensboro between Lake Eligo and Caspian Lake in future Local Dirt installments. There are many more class IVs and dirt roads tucked away, ready to be explored.