14.5 miles /1.5 hours. Climb/loss: 415 feet.

A great sampler of the region, you’ll ride through neighborhoods in Brandon and Forest Dale villages before crossing to the west side of US 7 to get a glimpse of the Champlain Valley vistas that make cycle touring here so popular. A memorable valley on the Arnold District Road (down first, then up, so it’s not a hill, right?) will give you a little exercise before easing back into town.

• Head south on US 7: Grove St. becomes Conant Square, then Center St. 0.4 mi
• LEFT at Monument on Park St. (VT 73 East) and straight at stop sign. 1.1 mi
• LEFT on Country Club Rd. 0.5 mi
• CROSS VT 73 and head past the golf course on Town Farm Rd. 1.2 mi
• RIGHT at the cornfield on Newton Rd. 0.8 mi
• LEFT on North St. (VT 53) in Forest Dale (post office opposite; market behind). 2.0 mi
• CAREFULLY BEAR LEFT AT FORK on Fern Lake Rd. 2.3 mi
• CAREFULLY CROSS US 7 and continue on Leicester-Whiting Rd. 1.6 mi
• At stop, continue STRAIGHT on Swinington Hill Rd., becomes Arnold District Rd. 3.4 mi
• RIGHT on US 7 to Brandon Visitor Center, 4 Grove St. 1.1 mi