Where to Run
For the non-snowy months of the year, the TAM (Trail Around Middlebury) is an excellent option, which is a 25+ mile network of trails that winds through the farms, hills, and fields of Middlebury. The sections can range from dirt roads, to grass, to trails that require good footing. More information, and a map, can be found at The Middlebury Area Land Trust’s website.
If trails aren’t your thing, most of the roads in the area are suitable for running, and many are quite pretty indeed. I say “most” roads because it is a very bad idea to run on route 125 west out of campus (ie College Street, or the road that goes past the solar panels and organic gardens). This is because this road has a reasonably high traffic volume that can be moving at 60mph, no shoulder and flanked by ditches, and most crucially it has several sharp crested hills causing awful visibility. Route 30 (the road that goes past and beyond the golf course), and Route 7 (the main road across Otter Creek that goes to Burlington and Rutland) have quite high traffic volumes and as such tend to be unpleasant to run on, but both have better visibility and shoulders than 125, so they are safer. In town many roads have high traffic, but they will have sidewalks. All the other roads in the area are low traffic and tend to be nice to run on.
Suggested Routes
BiHall and CFA Loop
Distance: 1.4 Miles
Surface: Campus Paths
Description: A short loop around Campus.
Navigation: Go behind ADK past Hillcrest towards BiHall. After Battell Beach, turn sharply right at the path towards Battell. Go past Battell and Sunderland across rt 125 past the Library and Axinn. Cross rt 30 and go on the access road to the CFA parking lot. At the CFA, turn right up the hill towards 30 again. Cross 30 and go up the hill by Stewart, past Proctor to ADK.
Downtown Loop
Distance: 2.0 Miles
Surface: Road
Description: A quick loop through campus to downtown.
Navigation: Turn left out of ADK down 125 to Battell. Go past Battell and Wright Theater through the parking lot below Wright. Exit the parking lot and turn right on Shannon st, then quickly make a right on a footpath past the school. Cross Weybridge st and continue to Frog Hollow on Mill st. After the Storm Cafe, turn left onto the pedestrian bridge, then bear right until you exit the Marbleworks parking lot. Upon arrival on Maine st., turn left and circle around the downtown green until you hit South Pleasant st. Go down S. Pleasant, then when it ends take a left on Cross st. At the rotary, take 125 west and follow it up the hill back to ADK.
Otter Creek Loop
Distance: 2.3 Miles
Surface: Road, Trail
Description: A quick, yet pretty, loop that explores Otter View Park (which, surprise surprise, features views of Otter Creek) and a nifty trail behind BiHall.
Navigation: Turn left out of ADK down 125 to Battell. Go past Le Chateau and Atwater to the Atwater parking lot, and follow this lot out to Weybridge st. Turnleft onto Weybridge, and right before you hit Pulp Mill rd., turn right into the Otter View Park parking pull-off. Bear right out of the pull-off onto a well-groomed trail. After a few hundred feet take a sharp right onto another trail. This trail will lead to an elevated boardwalk over a marsh to the Otter Creek overlook. It’s quite a romantic spot; expect to find a couple or two here on weekend nights. After enjoying the view, retrace your steps to exit the park, turning right to continue along Weybridge st. After a few hundred feet you will start to go downhill; near the bottom of this hill there is a path on the left. Keep your eyes peeled; it is unmarked. Follow this path for a ways until it ends at the BiHall access road. Follow the road up the hill to BiHall, then turn right at BiHall up the hill to go back to ADK.
Covered Bridge Loop
Distance: 2.8 Miles
Surface: Road
Description: A loop connecting the Covered Bridge and the downtown footbridge.
Navigation: Go behind ADK past Hillcrest towards BiHall. Bear right at Freeman and follow the Freeman parking lot out to Weybridge st. Turn left on Weybridge, then right on Pulp Mill rd. At the stop sign, turn right to the Covered Bridge. There is also a pedestrian bridge here. After the bridge, keep right and follow Seymour st. for a bit to the railway underpass. Just before the underpass, keep right and start to follow signs to the Marbleworks. Go past the marbleworks to the pedestrian bridge over Otter Creek. After this bridge, turn right onto Mill st., then up a steep hill then left onto Weybridge st. At Twilight Hall, turn right onto 125, and follow it back to ADK.
Organic Gardens Loop
Distance: 3.1 Miles
Surface: Trail, Road
Description: A campus favorite with a lesser known variation at the end, this lovely loop takes you through some of the college’s farmland and woods.
Navigation: From ADK cross 125 onto Hillcrest rd, then immediately turn right into the parking lot. At the far end of this lot a paved path starts, and bear right at the path intersections to go down to the Mods parking lot. At the Mods parking lot, cross 125 again to the Solar panels, and pick up the Organic Gardens trail. At the Organic Gardens, look for yellow signs for the TAM, and turn right onto this path. Follow the TAM signs through fields and woods until you hit a road: Weybridge rd. Turn right here, and go up and over a hill. Near the base of a second hill, there is a path off the right of the road. Keep your eyes peeled; it is unmarked. It is before the first house. Follow this path for a ways until it ends at the BiHall access road. Follow the road up the hill to BiHall, then turn right at BiHall up the hill to go back to ADK.
Golf Course to Mods Loop
Distance: 3.3 Miles
Surface: Gravel, Trail
Description: My personal favorite 3-ish mile run, this loop takes you around the cross-country course with great views of the Green Mountains, and through a fun stretch of trail below Ridgeline. Great for groups as well, as the most of the run is both off-road and wide enough for 2-3 to run abreast.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run beyond to the back of the turf-field to where it meets the wood. Slightly to the right of here there will be a wide gravel path leading into the woods, usually with some soccer goals near it. Follow this path, bearing right when the yellow-marked TAM intersects with it. Follow the signs for the TAM (sometimes also marked as the Red Kelly Trail on this section) around the Golf course for close to 2 miles. There are a few moderately large hills on this section. After the Golf course parking lot, continue to follow the TAM across rt. 30 onto a much narrower trail. After a few tenths of a mile, there will be a junction at the bottom of a hill with switchbacks. The TAM continues to the left, but turn right to get back to the Mods (the mobile homes near the solar panels). At the Mods, turn right up the hill at the first paved path you see, then immediately bear left to continue up the hill to Proctor and ADK.
Baseball to High School Loop
Distance: 3.3 Miles
Surface: Road, Gravel
Description: A loop with some nice views of Otter Creek.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run to the left of the CFA into the parking lot, then out of the parking lot past the track. When the Parking lot access road ends, cross South st., and turn right. In a few hundred feet, just past the baseball field, the TAM will branch off to the left. Follow the yellow signs for the TAM around the Baseball and Softball fields, over train tracks, over a footbridge and along Otter Creek, to Creek rd (the first road you encounter). At Creek rd., turn left and cease following the TAM. When Creek rd. ends on rt. 7, turn left on 7, then take the first left (Charles rd.). Follow this past the high school, and when it ends, turn left on Cross st. across Otter Creek. At the rotary, take rt. 125 west, and follow it back to ADK.
Chipman Direct Loop
Distance: 4.0 miles
Surface: Gravel, Road
Description: A short but challenging loop over Chipman Hill, with good views of campus from halfway up the hill.
Navigation: Turn right out of ADK onto rt. 125, and follow it through downtown until it intersects rt. 7. Bear left on 7, and after a couple blocks, turn right at the traffic light onto Elm st. When Elm st. ends, turn left on onto High st. Just before High st. feeds into 7, turn right onto a gated poorly paved rd. This road climbs steeply for a bit until it goes past some picnic tables, with good view of campus off to the left. From here the road continues less steeply up and over the top, and eventually down past another gate onto a properly paved road. At the bottom of this road, turn left, then immediately sharply right onto Washington St. Go past Shaws through downtown, and back onto 125 West, and follow it back to ADK.
Extended Organic Gardens Loop
Distance: 4.1 miles
Surface: Trail, Road
Description: A slightly longer version of the Organic Gardens loop that picks up the TAM at the Mods.
Navigation: From ADK cross 125 onto Hillcrest rd, then immediately turn right into the parking lot. At the far end of this lot a paved path starts, bear left immediately on this path, and follow it down to the Mods (the mobile homes near the solar panels). Go past the Mods, and and onto a path that goes into the woods. After a few hundred feet, keep going straight at the intersection with the TAM. Follow the yellow TAM signs around fields for a mile or so, and then over rt. 125. Across 125, continue straight onto the TAM “Wet route.” (At times this route can be very overgrown and marshy. If this is the case you can turn right at this intersection onto the “Dry route,” which cuts about .2 miles off the loop). Follow the TAM around more fields and woods for close to a mile, turn left at the rejoining with the “Dry route,” and continue until you hit a road; Weybridge rd. Turn right here, and go up and over a hill. Near the base of a second hill, there is a path off the right of the road. Keep your eyes peeled; it is unmarked. It is before the first house. Follow this path for a ways until it ends at the BiHall access road. Follow the road up the hill to BiHall, then turn right at BiHall up the hill to go back to ADK.
Extended Covered Bridge Loop
Distance: 4.4 Miles
Surface: Road
Description: A longer version of the Covered Bridge loop that also goes through the residential areas of town.
Navigation: Go behind ADK past Hillcrest towards BiHall. Bear right at Freeman and follow the Freeman parking lot out to Weybridge st. Turn left on Weybridge, then right on Pulp Mill rd. At the stop sign, turn right to the Covered Bridge. There is also a pedestrian bridge here. After the bridge, keep right and follow Seymour st. under the railway, straight through a 4 way stop onto Elm st. When Elm st. ends, turn right onto High st., which becomes Buttolph dr. at Shaws. Follow Buttolph dr. for a bit, and when it ends, turn right onto Monroe st., right onto 7, then immediately left onto Charles Ave. Follow road this past the high school, and when it ends, turn left on Cross st. across Otter Creek. At the rotary, take rt. 125 west, and follow it back to ADK.
Baseball to Hannafords Loop
Distance: 4.6 Miles
Surface: Road, Gravel, Trail
Description: A longer version of the Baseball to High School Loop, that also includes a brief stretch of trails behind the middle school.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run to the left of the CFA into the parking lot, then out of the parking lot past the track. When the Parking lot access road ends, cross South st., and turn right. In a few hundred feet, just past the baseball field, the TAM will branch off to the left. Follow the yellow signs for the TAM around the Baseball and Softball fields, over train tracks, over a footbridge and along Otter Creek. At the first road you encounter turn left and then immediately right to stay on the TAM. At the next road, the TAM turns left to go past the middle school. Beyond the middle school as the trail enters the woods, turn right onto the “long loop.” After a bit you will hit rt 7; turn left here and leave the TAM, going past Hannafords and eventually turn left onto Charles Ave. Follow this past the high school, and when it ends, turn left on Cross st. across Otter Creek. At the rotary, take rt. 125 west, and follow it back to ADK.
Golf Course to Organic Gardens Loop
Distance: 5.0 Miles
Surface: Gravel, Trail
Description: This partial combination of the Golf Course and Organic Gardens Loops makes for a lovely loop completely devoid of roads.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run beyond to the back of the turf-field to where it meets the wood. Slightly to the right of here there will be a wide gravel path leading into the woods, usually with some soccer goals near it. Follow this path, bearing right when the yellow-marked TAM intersects with it. Follow the signs for the TAM (sometimes also marked as the Red Kelly Trail on this section) around the Golf course for close to 2 miles. There are a few moderately large hills on this section. After the Golf course parking lot, continue to follow the TAM across rt. 30 onto a much narrower trail. After a few tenths of a mile, there will be a junction at the bottom of a hill with switchbacks. Turn right here to stay on the TAM, and follow it around several fields to the junction with rt. 125. Cross 125, then turn right onto the “Dry route,” and follow this to the Organic Garden. At the Organic garden, bear right and pick up the trail leading to the solar panels. At the panels, cross 125 again, and enter the Mods parking lot. Take the first path on your left up the hill, bearing left at junctions to follow it up the hill to ADK.
Battell Woods Loop
Distance: 5.5 Miles
Surface: Trail, Gravel, Road
Description: A personal favorite of mine, this loop explores the beautiful Battell Woods.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run to the left of the CFA into the parking lot, then out of the parking lot past the track. When the Parking lot access road ends, cross South st., and turn right. In a few hundred feet, just past the baseball field, the TAM will branch off to the left. Follow the yellow signs for the TAM around the Baseball and Softball fields, over train tracks, over a footbridge and along Otter Creek. At the first road you encounter turn left and then immediately right to stay on the TAM. At the next road, the TAM turns left to go past the middle school. Beyond the middle school as the trail enters the woods, turn right onto the “long loop.” After a bit you will hit rt 7; turn left here then cautiously cross rt. 7 when traffic permits. Shortly the TAM turns right off of 7. Continue on the TAM through fields for a few tenths of a mile, and then into Battell Woods. In Battell Woods there are many trails. If you are feeling adventurous you can explore these trails (you can’t get too far off track in Battell Woods, as the woods aren’t that big), otherwise continue to follow the signs for the TAM, taking the dry route at the intersection. Eventually you will find yourself at a paved road: Seminary st. ext. Turn left off the TAM here and follow the road for a few tenths of a mile to a 4 way stop. Bear left here onto Washington st., then go past Shaws, straight through downtown, and onto rt 125 west. Follow 125 through the rotary and back to ADK.
Exchange and Happy Valley Loop
Distance: 5.8 Miles
Surface: Road, Dirt road
Description: A mostly paved loop that goes through Middlebury’s “industrial area” and around the base of Chipman Hill.
Navigation: Turn left out of ADK onto rt 125 and follow it into downtown. Just before 125 intersects with 7, turn left onto Seymour st. At the first 4-way stop go straight onto Exchange st. Continue on Exchange st. for about a mile and half, going past the Cabot Cheese and Woodchuck Hard Cider plants. At rt 7, go straight over onto Happy Valley rd, which quickly becomes dirt. Continue on Happy Valley for a mile, and when it ends turn left onto Washington st. ext. Continue on Washington st. ext. for over a mile, going straight through the 4 way stop onto Washington st. Continue past Shaws, through downtown, and back onto 125 west back to ADK.
Morgan Horse and Sheep Farms Loop
Distance: 6.1 miles
Surface: Road, Dirt road
Description: A reasonably low traffic loop on paved and dirt roads that goes through some lovely farm country. This loop is also roughly the northern half of the Middlebury Maple Run Half-Marathon.
Navigation: Go behind ADK past Hillcrest towards BiHall. Bear right at Freedman and follow the Freedman parking lot out to Weybridge st. Turn left onto Weybridge st, then right onto Pulp Mill Bridge rd. After a few tenths of a mile, bear left onto Morgan Horse Farm. Continue on this road for about one and half miles past the eponymous farm. At the first notable intersection, turn left onto Hamilton rd. Take the next left onto Sheep Farm rd, which is dirt. Sheep Farm rd gradually rises in elevation and then falls over the next one and a half miles. When the road ends, turn left onto Weybridge st (rt 23). After a bit, turn left onto Freedman way, and retrace your steps up the hill back to ADK.
Battell and Means Woods Loop
Distance: 6.2 Miles
Surface: Trail, Gravel, Road
Description: A slightly longer version of the wonderful Battell Woods loop that also includes Means Woods.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run to the left of the CFA into the parking lot, then out of the parking lot past the track. When the Parking lot access road ends, cross South st., and turn right. In a few hundred feet, just past the baseball field, the TAM will branch off to the left. Follow the yellow signs for the TAM around the Baseball and Softball fields, over train tracks, over a footbridge and along Otter Creek. At the first road you encounter turn left and then immediately right to stay on the TAM. At the next road, the TAM turns left to go past the middle school. Beyond the middle school as the trail enters the woods, turn right onto the “long loop.” After a bit you will hit rt 7; turn left here then cautiously cross rt. 7 when traffic permits. Shortly the TAM turns right off of 7. Continue on the TAM through fields for a few tenths of a mile, and then into Battell Woods. Continue to follow the signs for the TAM, taking the dry route at the intersection. Eventually you will find yourself at a paved road. Turn right and then immediately left to follow the TAM into Means Woods. In Means Woods be on the lookout for where the TAM turns off the disused dirt road onto a narrow trail. When the trail empties out onto a small road, follow the TAM onto a larger road, Washington st. ext., and then turn left here to leave the TAM. Follow this road straight through a 4-way stop onto Washington st., then go past Shaws, straight through downtown, and onto rt. 125 west. Follow 125 through the rotary and back to ADK.
Full College TAM Loop
Distance: 6.6 miles
Surface: Gravel, Trail, Road
Description: This beautiful loop fully combines the Golf Course and Organic Gardens loop, displaying the large quantities of fields and woods that make u
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run beyond to the back of the turf-field to where it meets the wood. Slightly to the right of here there will be a wide gravel path leading into the woods, usually with some soccer goals near it. Follow this path, bearing right when the yellow-marked TAM intersects with it. Follow the signs for the TAM (sometimes also marked as the Red Kelly Trail on this section) around the Golf course for close to 2 miles. There are a few moderately large hills on this section. After the Golf course parking lot, continue to follow the TAM across rt. 30 onto a much narrower trail. After a few tenths of a mile, there will be a junction at the bottom of a hill with switchbacks. Turn right here to stay on the TAM, and follow it around several fields to the junction with rt. 125. Cross 125, then turn right onto the “Dry route,” and follow this to the Organic Garden. At the Organic garden, bear right and pick up the trail leading to the solar panels. At the panels, cross 125 again, and enter the Mods parking lot. Take the first path on your left up the hill, bearing left at junctions to follow it up the hill to ADK.
Foote and Ridge Loop
Distance: 7.5 miles
Surface: Road, Dirt road
Description: A longer road loop that goes around the back of Battell Woods and past the middle school.
Navigation: Turn right out of ADK onto rt. 125, and follow it through downtown until it intersects rt. 7. Bear left on 7, then shortly turn right onto Seminary st. Continue straight through the 4-way stop onto Seminary st. ext., past the entrance to Battell Woods, then bear right at the fork in the road onto Foote st. Follow Foote st. for close to two miles, then turn right onto rt 7, carefully crossing when there is a gap in traffic. Take the 2nd left onto S. Ridge Dr, a dirt road which turns into Middle road, and follow it for over a mile, going over a hill, past the middle school, and turn left onto 7 when this road ends. (I am not positive whether or not S. Ridge Dr is plowed during the winter; if it isn’t the left side of 7 is wide enough to safely run down all the way back to town.) Continue on rt. 7 into town, and take a left onto Cross st. At the rotary, take rt. 125 west back to ADK.
Chipman via Battell Woods Loop
Distance: 7.6 miles
Surface: Road, Gravel, Trail
Description: A challenging longer run through Battell Woods and up Chipman Hill via trails. Explores some lovely woods and very satisfying to complete.
Navigation: From ADK, cross rt. 125 and run down Hepburn rd past Proctor to the CFA. Run to the left of the CFA into the parking lot, then out of the parking lot past the track. When the Parking lot access road ends, cross South st., and turn right. In a few hundred feet, just past the baseball field, the TAM will branch off to the left. Follow the yellow signs for the TAM around the Baseball and Softball fields, over train tracks, over a footbridge and along Otter Creek. At the first road you encounter turn left and then immediately right to stay on the TAM. At the next road, the TAM turns left to go past the middle school. Beyond the middle school as the trail enters the woods, turn right onto the “long loop.” After a bit you will hit rt 7; turn left here then cautiously cross rt. 7 when traffic permits. Shortly the TAM turns right off of 7. Continue on the TAM through fields for a few tenths of a mile, and then into Battell Woods. Continue to follow the signs for the TAM, taking the dry route at the intersection. Eventually you will find yourself at a paved road. Turn right and then immediately left to follow the TAM into Means Woods. In Means Woods be on the lookout for where the TAM turns off the disused dirt road onto a narrow trail. When the trail empties out onto a small road, follow the TAM across a larger road and into a field. Loop around the field into the woods, where you will begin the long climb up Chipman Hill via switchbacks. Watch the TAM markers closely; at one point there is a 3 way intersection where you have to turn a very sharp right to stay on the TAM. Eventually you will encounter a dirt road; turn left here to stay on the TAM. Continue up and over the top, and eventually down past a gate onto a properly paved road. At the bottom of this road, turn left, then immediately sharply right onto Washington St. Go past Shaws through downtown, and back onto 125 West, and follow it back to ADK.