THE UPPER VALLEY

A 56-mile crushed gravel rail trail in one direction, and a paved 3 mile trail in the other, the Northern Rail Trail is our one-and-only “flat” run. Featuring granite mile markers, it travels the old rail bed from WRJ to Boston. Park at the CCBA just off the Lebanon green—and make sure to start or end your run at Lucky’s, the best spot for coffee in the UV. Venture off the trail to add some hills and avoid the dreaded out and back.

We’re lucky enough to have access to Dartmouth’s historic facilities. The premiere track in the area, you won’t find a spot to run faster. It’s also directly adjacent to the Leverone Field House, home of Dartmouth’s 200m indoor track. For sessions in the best weather—and sessions in the worst—you know where to find us.

A grass field with a mile long perimeter? Yes, please. This is our go-to double. Three to five loops of the field and call it a day. With plenty of variations and abutting miles of single-track trails in Boston Lot, this is a soft surface paradise.

Route 5 has always been a rolling road along the Connecticut River, but when the road got resurfaced in the Spring of 2021, it became a virtual drag-strip. This is where Ben completed all of his marathon-specific long runs and many of his marathon-specific sessions. If you find yourself at the Thetford end, do yourself a favor and stop in at Cedar Circle for their amazing farm stand and cafe.

The classic. Almost every run from town starts or ends through Pine Park. Connected to the now defunct golf course, Pine Park meanders next to the river and crisscrosses through overgrown fairways. Host to the Dartmouth Cross Country course, Pine Park is quintessential Dartmouth.

Begin in the hamlet of Etna and run on one of the best maintained dirt road in town. Rolling hills and beautiful estates dot the landscape. While the road is 3-miles long (hence the namesake), it connects to more dirt roads in Lyme, allowing you to easily turn it into a scenic long run. Stop by the Etna General Store on the way home for freshly made breakfast sandwiches.

Like to run trails? Oak Hill consists of 14km of double track trails (home to the Dartmouth Nordic ski team) and countless more single track. Connect to the newly opened Reservoir trails or take the class VI road to Pinneo Rd for more distance. The old adage is “enter Oak Hill, run about the trails until you are lost, then try to find your way home. Repeat if necessary.”

So many options. The majority all start at the Norwich Creamery. A truly vast network of trails spider off from the Brookmead Conservation Area. Want to skip the single track? Head up Turnpike or Upper Turnpike and enter a network of well maintained trails and logging roads connecting Norwich to South Strafford. Virtually limitless potential. Just make sure to stop in at the Creamery’s farm stand before you leave for local veggies, treats, and dairy.

Trail or roads? There are many choices stemming off Bragg Hill and all are worth the views from the top. Explore the trails off Happy Hill Road, or stick to the roads and take Kate Wallace to Tigertown and weave through the dirt roads of West Norwich. Easiest place to start is from Huntley Meadows, with your first decision being whether to run up Beaver Meadow Road, or take the Ballard Trail up to Bragg. Stop by Dan & Whits, the epitome of Vermont general stores, for a post run maple creemee, or virtually anything—their official slogan is, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

This is your portal to the great runs of eastern Norwich. With plenty of class IV roads to use as connectors, you can find yourself miles from your starting point in no time. While many landowners might try to hide entrances to class IV that traverse their property, remember that these are official state sanctioned public roads and all are welcome—just some are better maintained than others. Pro tip: These runs might be ones to skip in mud season when the thick sludge can swallow your shoes and slow travel to a walk. Hit up Hogwash farm stand for their delicious meat raised in the nearby pastures and say hello to Reba, their sheep-guarding donkey.

The best kept secret of the Upper Valley. An oasis for outdoor enthusiasts, the Greens encompasses over 35 square miles and features ~20 miles of internal dirt roads and ~30 miles of single-track trails. All surrounded by more dirt roads than you can shake a stick at. While the land is private, it is accessible to all. The owner, Bob Green, just asks that you be courteous, respect the land, and if you see him while out running, to give him a friendly wave. Reservoir Pond offers a great location for a post run dip, while Stella’s offers delicious sandwiches on your way back through Lyme.

A popular running and biking route for the locals, you can park at the Wilder WMA and head north towards Orford, or south toward Hanover. A great northern loop sets you up the river toward Orford before looping back on Breck Hill Road. A scenic southern loop sends you down river to Maple Drive before going up and over to Preston Road, then back through Lyme Center and to the river on E. Thetford Road. Our favorite “road track” is the flat stretch of road just north of the Edgall Covered Bridge and running across the town line into Orford.

Park at the Dartmouth Skiway for easy access to the great network of dirt roads around Lyme. Head up Acorn Hill Road, down Dorchester Road, or onto Grafton Turnpike for simple out and backs, or get adventurous and create vast loops by connecting through hidden class VI roads and small feeder trails. Just don’t be surprised to spot many a black bear, as the state’s largest black bear rehabilitation clinic is located just a mile south of the Skiway at Kilham Bear Center.

Parking under the Dam at Union Village gives you options. You can take Campbell Flats Road down the Ompompanoosuc River. Or you can run Buzzel Bridge Road up the river with the option of linking up to a network of single-track trails. If you’re not afraid of stacking some vert, there are dirt roads abound. Sweetland Farm is just around the corner. Hit up their farm stand to stock up on all the essentials.

“Pirouette Loop” or “From Old Pompy Bridge,” the name of this loop is hotly contested among the men of Northwoods. You can get with the times and use the most efficient moniker, or you can die on the hill that Ben has raised for himself. Does the route run along land used by Pirouette Farm? Yes. Does the route start from the old Pompy Bridge? Yes.

Post Mills is home to all the area summer camps that line Lake Fairlee. While quaint and quiet in the shoulder seasons, Post Mills becomes bustling during summer camp season—a fair warning to all. With lots of dirt road spurs in all directions, this is a great place to explore. Just remember that no trip to Post Mills is complete without a pilgrimage to the famed Vermontasaurus, which lives at the edge of the Post Mills airport.

With multiple starting points, the Taftsville Covered Bridge is a staple Woodstock run. Head up Happy Valley Road to Hartland Road, take High Pasture to Cloudland (and go by the Instagram famous Sleepy Hollow Farm), or just stick to the ever popular out-and-back on Old River Road.

Located right in downtown Woodstock sits the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park. With 20 miles of perfectly maintained carriage roads, the park is capped by its crown jewel: a beautiful 14-acre pond called The Pogue. With a 1km perimeter trail, the question is always: “How many laps of the Pogue today?” Once you have emerged from the woods, head out Route 12 to nearby Abracadabra for coffee and waffles.

Start from the Woodstock High School and either cross Rt 4 to enter Cox District and the roads and trails stemming off, or cross the Ottauquechee River and run toward South Woodstock. Both options have value; both options have hills. Either way, stop by the Woodstock Farmer’s Market afterward for sandwiches, fresh produce, and delicious baked goods.

A loop not for the faint of heart, but well worth the effort. While virtually absent of any flat sections, this run makes the post-run meal at the Hartland Diner that much more enjoyable. Weave yourself though all the connecting roads and spurs to create anything from 5 miles to 15. Did we mention the Hartland Diner?

If you go to Hartland to run, you go to the Hartland Diner afterward. But, not every time that you’re in need of a slice of Diner pie do you want to run the hills of Hartland—hence, Jenneville. While definitely not flat, it sure is a reprieve from the seemingly endless vertical of all other Hartland options.

If you can get yourself up the hill, you’ll find yourself on one of the most beautiful roads in the area. Make this a long run to take full advantage of all the dirt roads in the area and savor the downhill return.

In the shadow of Mount Ascutney, the highest peak in the area, Brownsville is horse country. This means, with the help of the GMHA (Green Mountain Horse Association), the area is littered with well-maintained dirt roads and trails. Just be mindful to announce your presence and avoid spooking the horses when you come upon them on the trails. Brownsville is also home to the Brownsville Butcher and Pantry, the local hot spot for food, craft beer, and local groceries.

A maze of dirt roads. Or is it amazing dirt roads? Park at the Grafton Pond boat launch and head in any direction. Back roads galore—so much so that even Ben, who used to live a few miles from the pond, hasn’t explored all the options. Swimming in Grafton Pond post-run is downright magical, with the calls of loons echoing off the trees.

Strafford, VT, home to the Justin Smith Morrill homestead (the first building to be declared a National Historic Landmark), is also the home to a vast network of rolling dirt roads. Start from practically anywhere in the valley carved by the West Branch of the Ompompanoosic and begin to climb.