Our Communities
The Missisquoi Valley Railroad has been connecting our communities since 1883! As you travel along the rail trail, we invite you to stop and explore the amazing sights, shops, and amenities we have to offer! Browse our interactive map below to discover community amenities and Trail Friendly Businesses along the route and read on further below for more information about each town along the trail.
Saint Albans
Known as “Rail City,” St. Albans has been home to the New England Central Railroad for more than 100 years. It has a vibrant downtown that reflects the railroad’s influence. Visit downtown to shop at local businesses, tour Taylor Park or the St. Albans Historical Museum, and take a self-guided walk. The city hosts frequent festivals and special events, including the Vermont Maple Festival in April, Christmas in Taylor Park, and a Saturday farmer’s market (May-Oct.) in Taylor Park.
Visit www.stalbanstown.com (Town) and www.stalbansvt.com (City).
Sheldon
Sheldon acquired considerable importance as a summer resort in the 1800s due to the town’s abundance of mineral springs. Springwater was bottled for distribution and was marketed as a remedy for cancer, scrofula, and other diseases of the blood. Sheldon Springs became a mill town in 1894 when Joseph Shipley began producing ground wood pulp at the Missisquoi Mill. The ownership of the mill has changed throughout the years, but the mill itself remains a stable employer for the rural community. The trail parallels Sweet Hollow Road and travels through the village of Sheldon Springs. South of the village, trail users must cross VT 105. Always use extra caution on VT 105. Services are available in the village along VT 105.
Visit www.sheldonvt.com.
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Enosburg Falls
Enosburg Falls was a unique community in the 1800s due in part to Dr. B.J. Kendall’s medicinal cure for horse and cattle spavin, which along with the completion of the Missisquoi Valley Railroad, propelled the sleepy village of Enosburg Falls into a center for business and residential development. In the 1900s and continuing today, the dairy industry became very important to the town. Enosburgh became known as the “Dairy Capital of the World” with a bustling and vibrant downtown known as Enosburg Falls. Since 1956, the annual “June Dairy Days” festival has celebrated Enosburgh’s agricultural heritage. Held the first weekend in June, the festival provides activities for all ages, including live music, cow paddy bingo, garden tractor pulls, the “Milk Run” footrace, and a parade.
Visit www.villageofenosburgfalls.org (Village) and www.enosburghvermont.org (Town).
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Berkshire
Berkshire was one of six towns authorized by the legislature in the spring of 1780 as a way to raise money to supply Vermont's troops. Since that time Berkshire has thrived as a dairy and agricultural center and retains much to the traditional agrarian landscape, with agriculture and forestry a vitally important element of the community’s character. Family dairy farms and rural homesteads are woven together with the foothills and forests of the Green Mountains, the historic village of East Berkshire, and the views seen along the trail to create a unique sense of place.
Visit: www.berkshiretownvt.weebly.com.
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Richford
Early settlers in Richford were wilderness pioneers who smuggled products to Canada as their principal livelihood in the early 1800s. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s opened world markets for the sale of virgin mountain timber and local produce. Social and economic ties to Canada continue today as Richford’s residents work to create a community with economic opportunities and strong local pride. The Town hosts concerts and festivals, such as Old Home Days and Hometown Harvest. The Town is currently working to extend the trail into the village, and eventually to the Canadian border. For now, cyclists can make an on-road connection to Canada following directions to la Route verte.
Visit: www.richfordvt.org.
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