Charleston, Brownington, Derby, Holland and Morgan
9/18/2025
This was an epic ride! It was the make-up ride for the one we had to abandon two years earlier because of a broken cable mid-ride. See that ride link here Newport Ride Fiasco. So this ride finally got us caught up on the towns we had missed. All in all, it was a beautiful sunny autumn day, and this region of Vermont is Stunningly Beautiful! This really is one of our favorite rides ever!
We drove through West Charleston to get to this ride, passing the West Charleston Store and post office on the way.
We drove beyond the village center and parked beside a corn field on the side of the road, near the bottom of Dane Hill Road.
Dane Hill starts right out with a 400 foot climb, with views just getting better and better as you go up the hill.
Once you get to the top, you are rewarded with a fairly level high terrain on wide smooth gravel roads. There are beautiful fields surrounding, with some farms located on the far side of the hill.
You jog left then right on a couple dirt roads, then cross the town line into Brownington.
This section is nice gravel, as you head to Hinman Settler Road, a paved road with too much traffic for our tastes. Then you cross the town line into Derby. There are some nice views, apple orchards, quality residential developments, a couple of farms, and christmas tree growers.
Along the way you pass Brownington Pond Road and the pond boat access area. We were tempted to bike down to see the pond, but decided to keep pushing forward on our loop.
When Hinman Settler Road hits Route 105, you have just a short section until you turn east on VT Route 111.
There is a great grocery store on the corner of 105 and 111, the Derby Village Store, where we often stop for a chocolate milk.
Route 111 is paved and has traffic, but it’s a little wider than Hinman Settler Road.
Bates Road starts out steep up and continues gently up on gravel with some nice views while still in Derby.
When you cross the Holland town line you are at a higher elevation for views. There are some beautiful fields and well kept farms and residences way up here. It is truly a spectacular section to ride. We think this is one of the prettiest sections of the state and, really, this part is one of the best.
When you leave Holland, and as you turn south, you are riding downhill on Gore Road toward Morgan and the Route 111 crossing changing to paved. This is also a very beautiful section.
Between Route 111 and Route 105, on the way through Morgan and back to Charleston, the road is paved. You end up passing farms and trailers, and corn and hay fields. The shoulder was rather thin, but fortunately it is not a high traffic road.
You re-enter Charleston shortly before hitting Route 105. Not as scenic, entering the lower elevation. You ride through downtown W. Charleston on Route 105 back to the bottom of Dane Hill Road. Excellent ride! Epic.