Manchester, VT:

Riding, Rivers, and Rovers

Mountain bike part time in Manchester.

2 Riding Days • 2 Trail Networks • Off-Bike Activities • Lift-Served and XC

Ali Kaukas Photo

Play vintage pinball, experiment with angling and all-terrain driving, and plunge into a marble quarry, all with lift-served downhill and rolling cross country at your fingertips.

Known for its rich outdoor heritage—it's the birthplace of Orvis and Burton Snowboards—Manchester draws tourists with shopping and attractions for all ages and abilities. Mountain bikers can enjoy cross-country trails in nearby Dorset and head up to Stratton Mountain Resort for lift-served downhill riding. 

Itinerary

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

If you build it, they will come. Experience the Friedman’s pinball dream. (Courtesy Photo)

ARRIVAL DAY

Pinball Your Way Downtown

Although lodging options abound in Stratton, stay in Manchester for its central location and extra amenities. Enjoy the afternoon shopping along Main Street, where you’ll encounter both local shops and designer outlets. Save some time for Manchester’s more unique attractions, such as the unexpected Pastime Pinball Arcade, a playable pinball museum founded by Beth and Marty Friedman with the sole goal of making visitors happy—and it does. Find a new read in the lovely Northshire Bookstore and drop into the always-welcoming Depot Street Burgers for a hamburger, french fries, and a milkshake.

VIDEO: “Bermie Sanders” at Stratton (YouTube: Stratton Resort)

DAY ONE - MORNING

Wake Up, Then Ride Down All Day

Fill your belly at Up For Breakfast, a hole-in-the-wall eatery a story above the street, literally upstairs. (If you can’t find it, look for the red awning.) Drive twenty minutes to Stratton Mountain Resort for a day of downhill riding. If you’ve brought a cross country or hardtail bike, opt to rent something with a little more squish, as well as a full-face helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Intermediate and advanced riders won’t want to miss cruising down Bermie Sanders, a mile-long descent filled with jumps and—you guessed it—banked turns. Stop midday for a sandwich and soft drink from the Stratton Mountain Market and Deli, then squeeze in a final few laps on the hill.

Honeypie is hard to miss and worth the short detour. (Courtesy photo)

DAY ONE - AFTERNOON

Après-Ride: Sweet or Savory?

On your way down from the resort, hang a right on Route 30 and stop in at Honeypie, a retro gas station that’s been converted into a cute eatery, for an après ride treat. At the brainchild of Wesley and Chloe Genovart, whose nearby restaurant SoLo Farm & Table has been a James Beard Award nomineee, everything at Honeypie is homemade. Go sweet with a milkshake or creemee, or go savory with flash-fried cauliflower and a local beer. 

Seasonal creations are always on offer at The Crooked Ram. (Courtesy photo)

DAY ONE - EVENING

Sip Natural Wine in an Enviable Backyard

Back in Manchester, stop at The Crooked Ram for dinner. What started as a bottle shop in 2017 has since grown into a full-service restaurant offering three distinct dining experiences. Find a seat in The Yard, a covered outdoor beer garden with a sustainably-sourced, ingredient-driven menu, and expertly curated drinks list. Enjoy golden hour as an excellent playlist takes you away. Afterward, if you’ve still got an appetite for music, catch some live tunes and a nightcap at the Union Underground a mile down the road.

“Riding Raptor Lane is like discovering a secret garden.”

VIDEO: Riding Raptor Lane with a Side Order of History (YouTube Revel in the Ride)

DAY TWO - MORNING

Ride Through a Village Fit for a Movie Set

Hop in the car first thing and drive north to Dorset, a monochrome country village that is so tidy, you’ll swear you’ve seen it in a holiday rom-com. Have a cappuccino and a fresh-baked croissant (or a from-scratch breakfast sandwich) at the Dorset Bakery, then pop over to the Raptor Lane Trails for the day’s riding. Intermediate and advanced bikers will want to go to battle on Gettysberm, a highlight of the trail system. If you exhaust Raptor Lane’s nine miles of singletrack—or if you feel overwhelmed by all the options— you can also tack on a little tootle along the intermediate-friendly Humphrey’s Trail on the other side of the valley. 

The Dorset Quarry is a quintessential VT cool-off spot. (IG: DiscoverDorsetVT)

DAY TWO - AFTERNOON:

Get Lost in a General Store & Go For a Dunk

Before you leave Dorset, a stop at the H.N. Williams Store is a must. A general store in every sense, it doesn’t look like much from the road, but its insides are endless, with aisles including everything from ice fishing gear to children’s toys and fine wine. Along with whatever else you find, pick up some lunch items and go to Dorset Quarry for a picnic just down the road. In addition to being one of Vermont’s most famous swimming holes, it’s also the nation’s oldest marble quarry and has been the source of material for iconic buildings including the New York Public Library. 

Stay, Eat, Shop

WHERE TO STAY, EAT & SHOP

MANCHESTER, VT LOCATOR MAP
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  • There are lots of lodging options in Manchester, with everything from roadside motels to full-service resorts on offer.

    The Equinox Resort & Spa first opened in 1769 and offers spacious, luxurious accommodations in an elegant resort setting in the heart of town. 

    Stratton Mountain Resort has lodging options suitable for any size family or group. We recommend booking near the Main Base Lodge for convenient access to the village and chairlifts.

  • MANCHESTER:

    • The Yard is one of three dining experiences hosted by The Crooked Ram. Visit the open-air kitchen and bar for Neapolitan-style pizzas, New England seafood platters, charred vegetables, and peak-season salads.

    • Union Underground serves up live music, craft cocktails, and elevated bar fare. 

    • The Avocado Pit is a quick-stop spot for burritos, tacos, and salads made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

    • Depot Street Burgers is the friendly, go-to spot in Manchester for burgers, fries, and milkshakes. 

    • Zoey’s Double Hex boasts a big dining room and specializes in steaks, seafood, and hamburgers.

    • Up for Breakfast is a casual upstairs dining room serving breakfast plates that are equal parts classic and creative. 

    STRATTON:

    • Stratton Mountain Market and Deli is conveniently near the base of the bike park and slings delicious made-to-order sandwiches. 

    • Upper Standard Coffee Company is more than a coffee shop and roaster. The Stratton Village staple also serves pastries, Belgian Liège waffles, grilled cheeses, and boozy milkshakes. 

    • Honeypie is perfect for an apres ride treat - go sweet with a maple creemee, or go savory with flash-fried cauliflower and a local beer.

    • Grizzly's** is Stratton’s pub and bar in the base lodge, perfect for lunch, dinner, or takeout.

    DORSET:

    • The Dorset Bakery is a European-style café serving cappuccinos and croissants in the morning as well as soups and sandwiches in the afternoon. 

    ** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit

  • Bradley’s Pro Shop** is located right in the heart of Manchester, offering bike sales and service as well as apparel.

    Stratton Mountain Bike Park offers full-suspension bike rentals that are well-suited to gravity riding. Even if you bring a cross-country bike for riding Dorset, a rental is recommended. 

    Equipe Sport** has multiple locations in the Stratton area, offering rentals and sales, as well as service, apparel, and accessories.

    Four Mountain Bike Shop in Londonderry, is a full-service repair shop that also carries a limited selection of cycles for sale.

    ** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit

  • Pastime Pinball Arcade is a playable pinball museum with over sixty games spanning seventy-five years of arcade history. 

    Land Rover Experience welcomes drivers to hone their off-roading skills under expert guidance on a closed course through the Green Mountains. 

    Orvis’1-Day Fly Fishing School teaches you the basics of angling, both on Orvis’ fully-stocked casting pond and out on the famed Battenkill River.

    Northshire Bookstore is a family-owned, independent bookstore with a large collection of new, used, and rare books, plus a curated collection of vinyl records, stationery, and gifts made by local artisans.

    The 5.3 mile-long Mount Equinox Toll Roadis the longest privately owned, paved toll road in the United States. Offering sweeping valley views, it ascends 3,248 feet through four types of forest to the top of Mount Equinox.

    The H.N. Williams Store in Dorset is an unexpected delight. It doesn’t look like much from the road, but its insides are endless, with aisles including everything from ice fishing gear to children’s toys and fine wine.

    Dorset Quarryis one of the best swimming holes in the state—it’s cavernous, marble-lined, and an indescribable shade of blue-green that you must see in person.

    For more information, visit the Manchester, VT Tourism Website

  • You can save a lot of money by becoming a VMBA member before your trip! 

    Becoming a VMBA member supports mountain biking and trails throughout Vermont, as well as our local chapters. 

    Everyone is welcome. Individual memberships are $60, with discounts available for families and those under 25. 

    Join VMBA today for immediate access to the member benefits in this region, through our App**.

    EAT & DRINK

    BIKE SHOPS

    ACTIVITIES

    BIKE PARKS

    Local VMBA Chapter:

    **Please note that restrictions may apply to the above offers. Please consult the VMBA Member App for terms and conditions for each of these offers.

Trail Networks

ROUTES & RIDE TIPS

“Short Straw at Stratton is a really fun beginner flow trail and a good warm-up to start your day.”

Stratton Mountain Bike Park

Stratton Mountain Resort Bike Park

Trailforks Routes

Stratton Mountain Bike Park Website

Northshire Area Trail System VMBA Chapter

With 10 miles of singletrack and over 700 vertical feet of lift-served terrain, Stratton is an excellent place to enjoy the thrills of classic Vermont downhill. Designed and built by Sinuosity, the mountain’s trails feature both machine-built lines and hand-shaped features, creating ample opportunity for progression and excitement across all ability levels.

VMBA Members get 1 free day of DH at Stratton in 2025!

Stratton Bike Park Videos

Raptor Lane Trails

Raptor Lane Trails

Trailforks Routes

Raptor Lane Trails Website

Northshire Area Trail System VMBA Chapter

Built and maintained by the Northshire Area Trail System, Raptor Lane hosts nine miles of purpose-built mountain biking trails and also adjoins scenic hiking trails that run through Dorset’s Owl's Head Town Forest. The mountain biking trails range from beginner to intermediate and include dedicated, professionally built downhill trails. The trails are accessed from Raptor Lane in Dorset. Intermediate and advanced riders can park at the Hawk's Pass trailhead, while other riders can park a little further up the road. To get there, stay right on Raptor Lane and keep following the road. It will get steep and narrow then level out before you reach the upper biking parking.

Raptor Lane Trails Videos