Need suggestions for short camping tour with young kids

[VermontRich]

I am looking to do a self supported camping bike tour with my 5 year old and possibly two year in late october or november of this year.
Can anyone suggest a good bike path option for this where we can camp along the way?  We could hotel it if need be but would rather camp.
We live in Vermont and suspect heading south would be a good idea.  depending on our plan we could ride 10-15 miles a day, or if we have the kids on tag alongs and trailers, perhaps a bit further per day...fun kid stuff along the way would be good too.
Thanks,
Rich

[FredHiltz]

The Great Allegheny Passage http://www.atatrail.org/ is worth a look. We saw a few families when we rode it. Their camping page shows campgrounds at about the distances you are looking for. The kids will enjoy crossing valleys on high trestles, long dark tunnels, occasional trains, and ice cream in the towns. The grades are easy. The surface is mostly crushed limestone.

Fred

[VermontRich]

Hey Fred, I'll check it out - thanks!

[indyfabz]

While I don't know how far camping is spaced along it, look into the trail through Pine Creek Gorge in PA:

http://www.visittiogapa.com/railtrail.html

These folks provide shuttle service over the entire length of the trail, so you could ride one way and have your car waiting for you at the end:

http://www.pinecrk.com/

Or you could ride both ways. I have used their shuttle service in the past for backpack trips. There are two state parks with camping (one has primative camping only) near the northern terminus of the trail, which is in Ansonia. As you can see, you could also do some canoeing if you have the time. Nearby Wellsboro is worth a look. Some of the streets are lits with gas mantle lamps.

Another option closer to home is the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, which runs between the St. Albans and Richford and passes near Lake Carmi State Park, which is nice:

http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/top5bikecarmi.htm

I stayed at Lake Carmi as part of ACA's Green Mountains Loop. You will have to do a few little hills to get from the trail to Lake Carmi. The trail is only 26 miles, so that might be too short. On the other hand, it could be a good test run for something longer. You could ride from Ritchford to Lake Carmi, then to this place in St. Albans, which looks neat:

http://www.vtfpr.org/parks/htm/burton.htm

I think the kid(s) would enjoy the ferry ride.