Covered Bridge

This tour joints together a number of favorite back roads. It presents some of the finest views of the Green Mountains, and also travels through five covered bridges. Additional highlights include a round barn and the Warren Airport noted as one of the best soaring centers in the country. One can start the tour in any one of the seven towns visited. We will begin our travels in Montpelier at the State Capitol.

Leave the State Capitol and head to the center of Montpelier. Turn right onto Main Street and then left after crossing the bridge onto U. S. Rte. 2.

The Winooski River will be on your left, .3 mile from the Main Street bridge you will be taking a right onto Hill Street and following it up the hill into the country.

As you continue on, you will cross a bridge over Interstate 89 - there are excellent views of the Worcester Range and Camel's Hump from this point.

Continue straight at the next intersection and follow the road as it curves around Erhart Hill. Keep to the left and continue on through the beautiful countryside.

Take a right, passing through the Green Iron Bridge spanning the Dog River. You will be on Rte. 12 for only .3 mile before bearing left on Chandler Road. (If you have had enough of back road travelling, you can continue back to Montpelier on Rte. 12.) You will now be heading up the Dog River Valley along the west side of the valley. There is a lovely horse barn with fields trimmed by white fences. At .8 mile bear left at the fork staying on Chandler Road. After another 1.5 miles you will arrive at Cox Brook Road in Northfield Falls.

The first of the covered bridges spans the Dog River on your left. We will be bearing right heading up the Cox Bridge Valley but feel free to drive through the covered bridge first. The second and third covered bridges cross the Cox Brook and are all within a quarter mile of one another. The road turns to dirt after a couple of miles and then begins winding up the valley toward the crest of the Northfield Range. There are some very nice views of Camel's Hump and the two mountains named after the Revolutionmary War heroes Ethan and Ira Allen.

Continue down the hill, staying on the main road until you reach Rte. 100B in Moretown. The Ward Clapboard Mill, which manufactures wooden siding for houses, is directly in front of you. Turn left on Rte. 100B heading south. The road curves around a bend in the Mad River and you will want to be prepared for a left turn off Rte. 100B .5 mile from where you first joined it. This dirt road rises up a small hill crest and gives you a beautiful view of the Mad River Valley and the "Skyline Section" of the Green Mountains. The ski trails of Sugarbush, Sugarbush North and Mad River Glen are distinct along the Green Mountains. Travelling up the east side of the Mad River you pass through some beautiful farm country.

Carpenter Farm

The Carpenter Farm, reached after 2.3 miles, is a working farm whose farmhouse now doubles as an inn. Continuing a mile south, you pass through a covered bridge and then bear right after another .2 mile. You cross the Mad River and have a picnic area in the pines next to the river at the junction of Rte. 100.

Take a right heading north on Rte. 100 for .4 mile before taking a left on the Center Fayston Road. The road climbs steeply from the valley with some beautiful views unfolding behind you. At 2.6 miles from Rte. 100 bear left. There will be a house trailer immediately on your left. In about a mile the road crests bragg Hill and a spectacular view of the Green Mountains and the Valley ski areas presents itself. Keep left at the junction just past the barn at the Vasseur Farm. Continue down the hill until Rte. 100 is joined at the junction of Rte. 17. Taking a left on Rte. 100, one travels north from the Upper Village (also known as Irasville) to the lower village of Waitsfield.

We will be taking a right here to head east over a couple of bridges back to Montpelier. One could also return to Montpelier a bit more directly by continuing north down the valley on Rte. 100 and 100B.

The Waitsfield covered bridge crosses the Mad River and leads shortly to a fork in the road. We will bear right, heading up the hill on the Common Road. At 1.7 miles from Rte. 100 you will see a round barn on your left. The road continues up the hill to the area known as Waitsfield Common. There are pretty views across the valley here as the road now heads south on its way to East Warren. You will pass a large Equestrian Center 3.4 miles from the round barn. Another .7 mile will bring you to the 4 corners at East Warren.

To view the Warren Airport, take a right followed by the next right. Warren is one of the East's best soaring centers. Summer weekends often afford good views of soaring activity. You will want to call ahead if you are toying with the idea of taking to the skies as a passenger on one of the gliders.

At the four corners (assuming we didn't go to the airport) we will be taking a left onto the Roxbury Mountain Road. The road soon begins climbing and reaches another spectacular view just before the crest of the ridge. The views across the valley are an absolute must. The road continues over the ridge to the more rural Roxbury side of the mountain, and joins Rte. 12A after about 4 miles from the viewpoint. Take a left heading north on Rte. 12A. At 5.2 miles take a right on Lover's Lane which is the shortcut leading you to the base of the new Mill Hill Road. Continue across Rte. 12 and straight up this three-lane road. From the base of the hill you will travel 3.2 miles to the left turn onto the Berlin Pond Road. The turn is just before you get to I-89.

The Berlin Pond Road is the old Paine Turnpike, which was one of the early horsedrawn stage roads. This route leads over the high country, avoiding the valleys which often became mired in mud in the spring. Berlin Pond comes into view in about 5 miles and the junction of Cross Town Road in another 2 miles. Take a right, passing under the interstate to Berlin Street. Turn left and return to Montpelier.