Cycle the City and Intervale Trail

The route is approximately 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) long and typically takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete at a hiking pace. This duration can vary based on your speed and how often you stop to enjoy the scenery.

The Intervale Trail is primarily flat and considered an easy experience. While parts of the broader 'Cycle the City' route are paved, the section through the Intervale is largely unpaved. It features a pretty flat and grassy trail with doubletrack sections, which can become muddy, especially during wet weather.

The trail winds through the scenic Winooski River Valley, offering views of historic structures, working farms, and diverse wildlife. You'll pass through the Burlington Greenway, enjoy views from Waterfront Park, and experience the vibrant Church Street area. The route also traverses bottomlands along the Winooski River through the Intervale Center, a farmland cooperative, and connects to the Ethan Allen Homestead.

Yes, the trail is considered easy and is highly accessible and family-friendly. Its flat terrain makes it suitable for beginners, and it welcomes various users, including those with adaptive bikes.

The trail offers a refreshing outdoor experience year-round. However, be aware that the unpaved sections can become muddy during wet weather. In winter, it's popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. For hiking, spring through fall generally offers pleasant conditions, with birdwatching being particularly good during migration seasons.

While specific parking lots for this exact route aren't detailed, the trail is highly accessible within Burlington. Given its urban location and connection to the Burlington Greenway and Waterfront Park, parking can typically be found in public lots or on-street parking within Burlington, especially near the waterfront or downtown areas. Public transport options are also available in Burlington.

No, there are no permits or entrance fees required to access or use the Cycle the City and Intervale Trail. It is freely accessible to the public.

Yes, the Intervale Trail is generally dog-friendly. However, as it passes through natural areas and working farms, it's important to keep dogs on a leash and clean up after them to protect wildlife and maintain the agricultural environment.

Yes, the route also passes through significant sections of the Cycle the City and Intervale trail (62%), the Champlain Bikeway (34%), and the Island Line Trail (34%). You'll also find smaller segments of the USBR 7 (Vermont) and various sections of the Burlington Greenway.

The trail is an 'urban refuge' known for its diverse wildlife, especially birds. Birdwatching is popular, with opportunities to spot species like Mallards, Common Mergansers, Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, kinglets, warblers, and woodpeckers. The area's Silver Maple-Ostrich Fern Riverine Floodplain Forest also supports a rich natural community.

This specific route, 'Cycle the City and Intervale Trail', is designed as a loop, starting and ending in the same general area, making it convenient for exploration without retracing your steps.