Bennington and Pownal
8/7/2024
This might be the prettiest ride we have ever done -with apple orchards and multiple views of the Bennington Monument. We certainly didn’t take enough pictures!
We parked in Bennington, at a rec path parking area, a short ways south of Main Street. It was located at the end of Belvedere St, just off Morgan Street. Heading south on Morgan street, paved, we came to Middle Pownell Road. There was a detour sign there kicking us off Morgan and onto Middle Pownal. It ended up being a better route. Middle Pownal continued as a paved road, dropped low to cross a stream and then climbed a ways to Niles Road on the left. The scenery was got very good as we pedaled uphill on Middle Pownal Rd.
We decided to continue on Middle Pownal Road, rather than cross back to our original plan. It turned to a dirt surface and we got into some beautiful farm country with great views,
We then took a paved road to Washington Brook Road, then Barber Pond Road, also paved, then Old Military Road, which was gravel. Ladd Brook Road follows the brook and drops almost 1.000 vertical feet as it approaches Pownal. Beautiful glide next to the stream and through the forest!
At the end of that, you go through Pownal village, crossing US Route 7, then turning northwest on VT Route 346. You ride the pavement for a couple miles before getting back on dirt again on Cedar Hill Road. Uphill on Quarry Hill – dirt roads with shade from trees overhead. There is short downhill on pavement, with a view, then you continue uphill on Mt Anthony Road, gravel. It has less shade and more fields. Carpenter Road is next, a class 4, but the surface is fine for a gravel bike. It gains most of the 800 vertical you climb to the orchards at the top.
The top is a town road, flanked by apple orchards, against beautiful views in all directions. Going down the far side, it turns to pavement and passes the main yard of the apple growing operation. There are spectacular views in many spots all directions. At the bottom you turn left on Monument Ave, a paved road. Then, turn onto Dewey Steet, also paved, and through residential neighborhoods headed toward downtown. The ride zig zags through downtown to get back over to where we parked on Belvedere.
As part of this excursion, we decided to eat at Blue Benn Diner in Bennington, a mainstay of the village. This is a not-to-miss breakfast and lunch place, with a large selection of vegetarian choices. The classic booths have juke boxes at each table, and counter service.
