​"St. Johnsbury: Best small town for outdoor adventure"
— National Geographic Adventure​

St. Johnsbury was named "the best small town for outdoor adventure" by National Geographic, and you'll find adventures here for every taste and ability. Scroll down for listings of outdoor & indoor recreational amenities, guides & services, and wellness opportunities.

​​Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

​Trailhead: 534 Main St.

​St. Johnsbury is the beginning (or end!) of the four-season, multi-purpose Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, which passes through northern Vermont's woods and farmlands and is perfect for walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, x-c skiing, and snowmobiling. The entire 93 mile length of the trail was completed in 2023, and an in-town extension will bring the trail right into the downtown in 2026! Make sure to check the trail map for summer construction projects, and call the Welcome Center if you have questions about overnight parking.

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Gravel Biking Routes

The Northeast Kingdom is home to some of the best gravel bike routes in the state. Search "St. Johnsbury" on the NEK Gravel website for mapped routes that start in town and take you on excursions through the area's beautiful back roads.

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Mountain Biking Trails at NVRH

Caledonia Trail Collaborative maintains mountain biking trails open to the public in St. Johnsbury, near campus of NVRH.

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​​St. Johnsbury Town Forest

Trailhead off of Almshouse Rd.

Within walking distance of downtown, 97 acres of forest features a scenic trail network with views of town and the Moose River. Check out the new intermediate/advanced mountain biking trails developed by the Caledonia Trail Collaborative! Picnic pavilion at trailhead.

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Observatory Knob Hiking Trail

Trailhead off of Mt. Pleasant St.​

Hiking trail easily accessible from downtown, with gorgeous views of the surrounding vista. Elevation: 1099 ft.

​Park at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, walk back along the road to find the informal trailhead leading you uphill.

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Kiwanis Public Pool

74 Barker Ave.
(802) 748-5031

Free public outdoor swimming pool, operated by the local chapter of Kiwanis. They offer free swimming lessons for children from infants to 15 years old and open swim times for families.

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Public Tennis Courts

Barker Ave.​

Three free public hard surface tennis courts, operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Off Barker Ave. behind the St. Johnsbury School, turn right and parking is on the right.

Downtown Walking Routes

Prepared by NVRH and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, find twelve walking routes in downtown St. Johnsbury that are mapped and easy to follow. You can find printed maps at the Welcome Center, Boxcar & Caboose Bookstore, and outside of Northern Express Care, or click the link below for a PDF.

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Gold Crown Lanes

212 Hastings Hill
(802) 748-2205

16 lanes of ten-pin bowling, available with bumpers for children. Also home to the Lamplighter Lounge and Sports Bar, plus an arcade, and pool tables.

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​​St. Johnsbury Country Club

4357 Memorial Dr.
(802) 748-9894

Open seasonally to members and the public, this 18-hole golf course was designed by Willie Park, Jr. and Geoffrey Cornish. 

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Outdoor Skating Rinks

 Main & Winter Streets and
Portland & Concord Avenues

Community volunteers operate two free outdoor skating rinks in the winter: one at the 'Four Seasons Park' on Main Street and the other at the Buck Park on Portland Street. Heating huts and lights at each. Follow @StJRec on Facebook for updates on when ice conditions permit the rinks to be open.

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Guides & Services

Bike Gear Lending Library

NEK Prosper has expanded their Gear Lending Library into the summer! Register for free bike, helmet, and bike lock rentals for youth and adults. Bike pick up is during business hours at RecFit St. J on Perkins Street.

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E-Bikes From All Around Rental

All Around Rental can supply your e-bike needs for a few hours, or up to a week. They'll even deliver the bikes to locations within a 15 minute drive of their St. J Center location.

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Land Animal Adventures

Gravel bike tour company based in St. Johnsbury. Check out our Calendar page to see when the next weekly meet-up event hosted by Land Animal Adventures is taking place. 

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LINK Vermont

Follow LINK (open seasonally) to find a DIY bicycle repair and maintenance facility, with support from trained bike mechanics. LINK also hosts training events and popups.

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Winter Gear Lending Library

Introducing the NEK Prosper Winter Gear Lending Library! Register for free snowshoes for all ages from toddler to adult, and trekking poles and MICROspikes in adult sizes. 

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Fitness & Wellness

Heart Space Healing Collaborative

515 Bay Street
​(802) 626-3398

Yoga studio and healing collaborative featuring dozens of local holistic wellness practitioners.

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Popups in the Park

NEK Prosper! offers FREE fitness classes in parks around St. Johnsbury and local towns during the months of July and August.

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RecFit Fitness Center

49 Perkins St.
(802) 751-2305

Non-profit community health and wellness center featuring a full-service gym, free weight and Nautilus equipment, cardio equipment, group fitness classes,  personal training, indoor tennis court, pickleball courts, racquetball court, pool tables, and ping pong.

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Fitness Jungle

156 Eastern Avenue 

Fitness studio featuring Inferno Hot Pilates, TRX, and Mat Pilates, as well as art workshops.

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Fitness Unbound

2000 Memorial Dr., Suite #5
(802) 274-3277

24-hour fitness facility with equipment and personal training.

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Tai Chi in the Park

49 Winter St.
(802) 748-5182

Weekly outdoor Tai Chi class held in the Four Seasons Park on Main Street, sponsored by the NEK Council on Aging.

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