The 10 hardest bike climbs in Vermont

Cycling Vermont -- lush surroundings and very steep short climbs.

Vermont is one of the best places to climb by bike of any US state.  Vermont has some extremely steep climbs and the ascents during fall colors are extraordinary.  Vermont also has the second highest concentration of Top 100 US Bike Climbs:

THE HARDEST BIKE CLIMB IN VERMONT

MT. EQUINOX

Ride 5.3 miles gaining 3,150’ at 11.3% average grade.

Gate open to cyclists once per year.

Mt Equinox is  a private road, open to cyclists only once each year during theMount Equinox Uphill Bike Climb  (2018 page) held in early August, and you are not permitted to ride your bike back down the hill after the race.  Views from the top of Mt Equinox are exceptional and unobstructed as it is the highest peak in the area.

Note:  The Mt. Equinox Uphill Bike Climb has not been held for several years and it does not appear one can bicycle this road.

VERMONT #2

MOUNT MANSFIELD

Ride 4.2 miles gaining 2,510’ at 11.5% average grade.

Like Equinox, only open for a race once per year.

Mt. Mansfield is the highest point in Vermont (4,395’) and is located in the Green Mountains subrange of the Appalachian Mountains.  The road is fully within Mount Mansfield State Forest (44,444 acres established 2002).

Mount Mansfield is nearly all gravel but manageable on a road bike.

VERMONT #3

MT. ASCUTNEY

Ride 3.5 miles gaining 2,236’ at 12.2% average grade.

Exceptional scenery during fall colors.

VERMONT #4

BURKE MOUNTAIN

Ride 3.3 miles gaining 2,117’ at 12.3% average grade.

There are seven Top 100 U.S. Climbs that average 10%+, and Burke Mt. at 12.7% outdistances its nearest competitor (#3 Mt. Washington) by 0.8%.  In other words, this is The Steepest Top 100 U.S. Climb!  

VERMONT #5

OKEMO

Ride four miles gaining 2,125’ at 10.2% average grade.

We ride through the runs of Okemo Mountain Resort much of the climb.  Okemo is a top rated ski mountain, ranking #1 in Vermont according to some reports (e.g. #1 of 12 in Planetware.com report).  This climb is named after the mountain it climbs.  Okemo is in the Green Mountains of Vermont, and has the largest vertical drop (3,344’ at the top to 1,144’ at the base = 2,200’ drop [or climb 😟]).  The word Okemo means “chieftain” in Chippewa.