Delaware & Hudson — gravel Poultney return
Vermont · Rail-trail
Join the signed northern-section rail trail toward Castleton for up to two miles. Use firm dry main tread and turn before rough ballast, washout or an uncomfortable bridge. Retrace at the outward cap, actual end or first barrier. Ordinary traffic-road detours and natural/technical branches are excluded.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Poultney · Vermont
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Improved railbed gravel/stone/cinder with built wooden bridges; not smooth pavement
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Local grades, bridge ramps, crossings and textured tread may require effort; no surveyed maximum grade. Winter snow/ice and wet-weather damage can make riding unsuitable.
- Starting location
- Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail public Bentley Avenue trailhead, Poultney, VT
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Public named facility/address locality reference, not an exact parking entrance or stall. Follow the separate written public start.
Delaware & Hudson — gravel Poultney return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-23. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail public Bentley Avenue trailhead, Poultney, VT.
Use only manager-designated public trailhead/old-station visitor parking under current signs. Bentley Avenue is the named public trail access; do not assume every nearby street, business or college space is available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 4 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: Join the signed northern-section rail trail toward Castleton for up to two miles. Use firm dry main tread and turn before rough ballast, washout or an uncomfortable bridge. Retrace at the outward cap, actual end or first barrier. Ordinary traffic-road detours and natural/technical branches are excluded.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Improved railbed gravel/stone/cinder with built wooden bridges; not smooth pavement. Local grades, bridge ramps, crossings and textured tread may require effort; no surveyed maximum grade. Winter snow/ice and wet-weather damage can make riding unsuitable.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-23. Source review, not a field inspection or same-day all-clear. State expressly permits bicycles. Use designated trailheads only: roadside intersections generally lack safe parking/sight lines. Poultney public parking is described by the old Depot Street station; no college parking permission assumed. Northern/southern sections are not joined by ordinary-road riding; VAST winter snowmobile season is separate. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.