The North Ridge Run
Region: Northern Vermont / Lamoille & Franklin Counties Distance: ~40 miles point-to-point Time: 1.5–2 hours riding Surface: Paved (numbered state routes throughout)
Start in Stowe and head north on Route 100. The road follows the valley north through Morrisville — straightforward, well-traveled, a good warm-up before the terrain changes.
At Morrisville, pick up Route 15 west toward Jeffersonville. The road runs through the Lamoille River valley, farmland on both sides, the river visible in stretches. The Green Mountains hold to the south. Jeffersonville sits at the base of Smugglers Notch, which is closed this time of year.
From Jeffersonville, Route 109 north moves through Waterville and into quieter country — smaller farms, fewer stops, the road narrowing as elevation builds toward Belvidere. At Belvidere Corners, pick up Route 118 and continue northwest into Montgomery Center.
Information Worth Knowing
Smugglers Notch
Route 108 connects Jeffersonville and Stowe through Smugglers Notch. At the time of posting (April 9, 2026) the road is still closed due to snow. It’s a very scenic and popular road and worth the ride, when it’s open. Check VTrans for current status if you're planning around it.
Leaving Montgomery Center
Three ways out depending on where you're headed:
Route 242 east toward Troy connects to I-91 at Newport, roughly 30 miles (My favorite)
Route 118 northwest toward Enosburg Falls connects to Route 105, roughly 45 miles back toward I-89 via Morrisville
Route 58 west runs toward Lowell and Route 100 *NOTE: the section through Hazens Notch is a dirt road and not recommended until summer.
Stops to consider
Stowe
Lots to explore, but important to fuel up and grab snacks as options are limited later on.
Jeffersonville
Midpoint. Smuggler’s Notch Distillery has Bourbon Barrel aged Maple syrup that you should definitely try.
Montgomery
Montgomery has more covered bridges than any other town in Vermont. So take ride through some and get some photos.
Please Note:
Surface & Conditions
Surface notes describe road type, not day-of-ride conditions. This route follows numbered state routes throughout and is likely fully paved. Route 58 west from Montgomery Center through Hazens Notch is a dirt road. Road conditions can change with weather, maintenance, and season. These notes reflect road type, not day-of conditions.
Use this information to decide what fits the ride you have in mind.
If you know roads or routes worth building a ride around, hit reply and tell me about it.
