Riding Vermont’s Stone Trail on the 2024 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S and Low Rider ST.
Words by Adam Fitzgerald & Gregory George Moore
Photography by Peter Cirilli
Just over a hundred miles from the New England coast, nestled in Vermont's rugged Green Hills, is the Stone Trail, a historic road trip with scenic byways quite literally carved through ancient mountains. The legacy of this place is alive in the quarry towns scattered about the countryside, their history coursing underfoot through veins of granite and marble— the very rock that built America.
For the past 250 years, Vermont's abundant deposits of granite, marble, and slate have cemented this area's position as a cornerstone in the quarrying and manufacturing industry. Entire towns were constructed around these industries. Marble from nearby Danby and Dorset quarries have been used to build some of our country's most cherished national monuments, such as the Supreme Court, New York Public Library, Jefferson Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.
These quarries, along with over 90 other destinations, make up what is colloquially known as Vermont’s Stone Trail. Travelers are invited to visit museums and sculpture parks, or explore old quarries on foot, by bicycle, or, in our case, behind the handlebars of the 2024 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S and ST.
Carving through Vermont's fertile landscape on the Low Rider S and ST awakens the senses. The sound of the Milwaukee Eight V-twins echoes through the valleys and covered bridges as we breathe in the scent of this unspoiled land. Cutting through the winding green corridors of the Stone Trail, the soul of these industrious towns is palpable. Barre is a working town that continues to thrive today much in part due to the 600-foot-deep granite quarry— the largest deep-hole, granite quarry in the world operating since 1885. Remnants of the past are perched upon hundred-foot cliffs of granite— wooden ladders, ropes, and pulleys that were used before modern equipment became available. It’s a reminder of painstaking work, hauling rock from below the earth and moving it hundreds of miles before cars or highways even existed.
Back on the trail, imminent rain gives us an excuse to seek shelter in one of Vermont’s historic general stores along the Stone Trail. The Warren Store was once a stagecoach inn and boarding house. This community grocer and general store serves as a hub for the people of Warren much as it did almost 200 years ago. There are no big box grocery stores here, no chain coffee shops or soulless franchises. Waiting out the rain and chatting with locals, we’re reminded that life has been this way here long before us and will remain long after we leave.
When the storm clouds clear, we get back on the road and ride to the Arlington Inn, a 175-year-old bed and breakfast located along the Stone Trail that is now owned and operated by Buzz Kanter, the former publisher of American Iron Magazine, a publication that heavily covered Harley-Davidson culture for over 30 years. As a man who has a penchant for ancient things, Buzz greets us aboard his pristine 1936 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead “61”— a motorcycle so pivotal (and rare) that it influenced the very modern Harley-Davidson cruisers we are riding today.
We explore merely a fraction of the Stone Trail but at every turn find more than we expect. Many of the hands that chiseled this place into existence may be gone, but what they built endures. Each mile in the saddle is a visceral way to learn the Stone Trail’s story — a story told through its people, both past and present — and to become part of the very bedrock of this extraordinary place.
Pack it: Swingarm 3-in-1 Leather Jacket
Vermont weather can change around every bend, so it’s best to choose a jacket with options when riding along the Stone Trail, and the Harley-Davidson Swingarm 3-in-1 Leather Jacket provides versatility you need. The outer jacket and inner fleece hoodie can be worn separately or combined for ultimate warmth, while perforated leather insets and multiple vents keep you cool when needed.
Eat. Sleep. Drink.
EAT
Warren Store | Warren, VT: Continuing the long tradition of the New England Country Store, The Warren Store serves as the perfect lunch stop while riding the beautiful VT Route 100.
Crooked Ram | Manchester, VT: Curating the best coffee and food in the area, this place will wow you with their Nordic-inspired atmosphere and knowledge of wine, beer, and snacks.
Copper Grouse | Manchester, VT: Located in the Taconic Hotel, the Copper Grouse restaurant treats its guests to contemporary tavern fare made from locally sourced ingredients.
SLEEP
Arlington Inn | Arlington, VT: Buzz Kanter, the former publisher of American Iron Magazine, owns and operates this inn with beautifully historic accommodations.
Taconic Hotel | Manchester, VT: Enjoy good eats and luxurious rooms at this notoriously dog-friendly hotel in the heart of historic downtown.
The Pitcher Inn | Warren, VT: Across the street from the Warren Store is the inviting, warm embrace of the quaint and luxurious Pitcher Inn, which captures that quintessential New England charm.
DRINK
Lawson’s Finest Liquids | Waitsfield, VT: Lawson’s flagship craft beer, Sip of Sunshine, should be enjoyed in the taproom nestled in the upper Green Mountains in the Mad River Valley.
Barr Hill Gin | Montpelier, VT: Situated on the aptly named Gin Lane, Barr Hill Gin is a craft distiller dedicated to creating some of the finest spirits in New England using raw honey.
Ye Olde Tavern | Manchester, VT: Built in 1790, the oldest tavern in Vermont serves as a conduit to America’s storied past and is the perfect place to have a pint and reflect on the day’s ride.