Photo Courtesy of WAMBA
Riding, Rivers and Rovers
Mountain bike part-time in Manchester
2 Riding Days
2 Trail Networks
Off-Bike Activities
Lift-served and XC
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.
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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 offers spacious, luxurious accommodations in an elegant resort setting in the heart of Manchester.
Stratton Mountain Resort has lodging options suitable for any size family or group.
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The Yard @ The Crooked Ram
Neapolitan-style pizza, seafood, and peak-season salads.Union Underground
Live music, craft cocktails, and elevated bar fare.The Avocado Pit
Quick-stop spot for burritos, tacos, and salads.Depot Street Burgers
Go-to spot for burgers, fries, and milkshakes.Zoey’s Double Hex
Specializes in steaks, seafood, and hamburgers.Up for Breakfast
Breakfast plates that are equal parts classic and creative.Dorset Bakery
Fresh baked goods and European-style cafeHoneypie
Converted gas-station snack and creemee standStratton Market & Deli
Full-size sandwiches, soups and other goodiesSoLo Farm & Table
James Beard-nominated farm to table diningUpper Standard Coffee
Coffee and bites at the base of Stratton -
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.
Four Mountain Bike Shop in Londonderry, Vermont is a full-service repair shop that also carries a limited selection of cycles for sale.
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Pastime Pinball Arcade is a playable pinball museum.
Land Rover Experience gives drivers expert guidance on a closed course in the Green Mountains.
Orvis’ 1-Day Fly Fishing School teaches you the basics of angling.
Northshire Bookstore is a family-owned, independent bookstore.
The Mount Equinox Toll Road ascends 3,248 feet to the top of Mount Equinox.
The H.N. Williams Store in Dorset is an unexpected delight.
Dorset Quarry is one of the best swimming holes in the state.
For more information, visit the Manchester, VT Tourism Website
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You can save a lot of money by joining VMBA for your trip! Everyone one is welcome. Individual memberships are $60, with discounts available for families and those under 25. Your benefits can be used immediately from the VMBA App!
Join VMBA today for immediate access to these member benefits through our App.
First Run Ski Shop
15% Off accessories, service and repairs
20% Off a ski rental (walk-in only based on availability)Stratton Nordic Center
2 Free nordic day passes
50% Off a Fat Bike Rental
TrailForks Pro
30% OFF annual subscriptions – $5 of your subscription fee will be donated to VMBA Chapter.
Becoming a VMBA member supports mountain biking and trails throughout Vermont, as well as our local chapters.
Local VMBA Chapter:
Northshire Area Trail System (NATS)Additional conditions may apply for any of the above offers. Please refer to the VMBA App for details.
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 will. 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:
Apres-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. 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 quintessentially VT cool-off spot (IG: DiscoverDorsetVT)
DAY TWO - AFTERNOON:
Get lost in a general store and 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.
ROUTES & RIDE TIPS
“TK”
Stratton Mountain Bike Park
Stratton Mountain Resort Bike Park
Stratton Mountain Bike Park Website
Northshire Area Trail System VMBA Chapter
With ten miles of singletrack and over seven hundred 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.
Raptor Lane Trails
Raptor Lane Trails
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.