Vermont is the sixth-smallest state in the country, but despite its diminutive size, the Green Mountain state is renowned as one of the best mountain bike destinations in the nation. Everywhere you go, you’ll find trails climbing the rolling mountainsides and winding through the hollows in the deep Vermont forests. While the state boasts perfectly manicured flow trails thanks to its dark black dirt, riders looking for tech will also find plenty of steep, raw lines filled with exposed root webs, chundery rock gardens, and steep rock slabs.
Much of the state’s trail riding acclaim is thanks to the tireless work of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) and its 28 chapters. VMBA is one of the largest statewide MTB advocacy groups in the USA, with around 9,000 members. With a population of less than 650,000 in the entire state, that means the equivalent of nearly 1.5% of Vermont residents are VMBA members.
Even though Vermont is sparsely populated, many areas suffer from a lack of public land on which to build. Some of the best trail systems in Vermont, including those featured on this list, have been built on private land through collaborations between the local advocacy groups and landowners. While it’s not always an easy solution, overall, Vermont riders have been incredibly successful in building world-class trails, despite what some might see as substantial headwinds.
With one or more trail systems located in virtually every small town, and more trails being built every year, Vermont boasts an endless array of singletrack to explore. Here are five of the best trail systems to get you started.
Mount Peg, Woodstock
When the Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association (WAMBA) asked the historic Woodstock Inn for permission to build trails, they kicked off an unlikely partnership that’s transforming one of Vermont’s wealthiest towns into a must-ride mountain bike destination. The luxury resort owns the land where Woodstock’s marquee trail system is located, and thanks to their support, Mount Peg has become one of the state’s premier trail networks — a fact confirmed by multiple riders we spoke with across Vermont who consistently listed it as one of their favorites.
Mount Peg is home to an intricate network of trails spread along a steep hillside, with about 15 miles of high-quality singletrack that’s all killer, no filler. WAMBA got started in 2015, with most trail construction beginning in 2017, and the locals designed many of these trails during the height of interest in enduro mountain biking. As WAMBA co-founder Seth Westbrook explained, they specifically built the trails to offer “enduro-style downhill,” maximizing the descents as much as possible. The trails pack in multiple descents boasting 500 vertical feet — impressive considering you can pedal straight from downtown into the trail system.
The network delivers plenty of trail diversity, with both tech and flow lines. Woodstock’s best tech trails include Trap Line, James Jungle, Schist Creek, and Hardstyle — steep, fast descents with old-school root webs and narrow singletrack that make the most of exposed slabs and rugged rock gardens. When it comes to flow, Sir Bermsalot stands out as the most popular trail in the system, with massive berms, mid-sized table tops, shark fins, hip transfers, berm transfers, and big gaps. The wide, smooth Village Trail on city land provides adaptive-friendly access right from downtown, connecting to the bulk of the network on the Inn’s property and welcoming riders of all abilities.
Full story: “How an unlikely partnership is turning Woodstock, Vermont into a must-ride MTB destination“
Perry Hill, Waterbury
Perry Hill in Waterbury “arguably offers up some of the finest trails in the state,” according to VMBA. By “finest” it seems like VMBA means “gnarliest,” as Perry Hill is renowned as one of top tech trail systems in Vermont. Joe’s and Six Flags are steep double black diamond lines, while Small Axe and Disneyland are a bit more accessible as mere single black diamond trails. The longest trail on the mountain, Rastaman, is renowned as yet another technical test piece. Riders will also find a few intermediate and beginner lines in the trail system, such as the S’Mores flow trail, but Perry Hill definitely leans into its strength as a challenging MTB destination.
“If you are VERY GOOD, this place is for you,” writes Singletracks trail reviewer jstack11. “After a long ascent, the trail down is not for the faint of heart. […] Do not attempt if you are not in great shape, and a very good technical rider.”
Singletracks reviewer Bob Wellington noted that Perry Hill has some great diversity, saying, “This is one of the most fun trail systems I’ve ever ridden. The terrain here is insanely cool, and there’s some good variety as well. We first rode S’mores, which is a super fun machine-built flow trail with rollers and berms, and it makes for a good warm-up run. After that, we rode Burning Spear to Rastaman, and the rocks […] were extremely awesome.”
Full story: “Waterbury, Vermont, makes an astonishing $1 million per year from visiting mountain bikers“
Kingdom Trails: Moose Haven, East Haven
The Kingdom Trails were Vermont’s original mountain bike trail system development, and thanks to that early start, the Kingdom has long been hailed as the best MTB destination in the state. Trail connectivity in the region took a hit in 2019 when three private landowners revoked access to their land, shutting down some of the favorite trails in the system and severing key connections.
You can’t keep mountain bikers down, and the Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) (distinct from VMBA) has been developing new trails to offset those losses. Many of the newest builds have taken place in the Moose Haven trail system, located in the far northern reaches of the Kingdom. Today, Moose Haven is home to a fantastic mix of lengthy downhills boasting 800 feet of vertical drop — some of the longest downhills in the region.
Black Bear is a true crowd pleaser. This intermediate flow trail offers massive berms, fun rollers, tabletops, doubles, and more. There’s even an entertaining rock roll/drop about halfway down. While the trail was originally built more than five years ago by Knight Ide and his trailbuilding company, Ide Ride, it is regularly reworked each spring to keep the trail in top shape.
Moose Haven is home to a few tech trails, as well as the Kingdom’s newest jump line: the black diamond Flying Monkeys. Also built by Ide Ride, Flying Monkeys features massive wooden drops over 10 feet tall, a wooden cannon feature, and large, steep doubles. The trail splits in several spots, providing pro-level features via alternate lines.
Full story: “Kingdom Trails in Vermont boasts 19 new trails that have opened in the last 5 years“
Slate Valley Trails, Poultney
The Slate Valley Trails (SVT) VMBA chapter manages over 60 miles of MTB trails across Pultney, Wells, and Castleton, Vermont. But when most people refer to the “Slate Valley Trails,” they’re talking about a 40+ mile network just outside of Poultney that spans from the Fairgrounds Trailhead to the Endless Brook Trailhead.
“The network truly has something for every rider,” said Courtney Behnken, Director of Operations. “From fast, flowy green trails like Cotton Candy to more technical chunk such as Dwight’s Drop and Hunker Down, every type of mountain biker can find something to enjoy.”
About 80% of these trails were hand-built, “giving them an organic, ‘meant-to-be’ feel—as if they’ve always belonged in the landscape,” said Behnken. “Designed with sustainability at their core, these trails have stood the test of time and continue to ride beautifully year after year. They’re meticulously maintained by SVT’s professional trail crew without losing the character and craftsmanship that make them unique. Riders consistently rave about the exceptional trail quality. SVT has made maintenance a central part of its mission, because while building trails is the first step, ensuring they remain here for everyone to enjoy for the next 100 years is the true challenge—and one SVT embraces wholeheartedly.”
Killington Bike Park, Killington
With over 30 miles of lift-served MTB trails, Killington Bike Park is known as the “Beast of the East.” Killington has claimed that it’s the largest bike park on the East Coast, and while there might be some debate about how exactly that’s quantified, it’s impossible to argue with the vast array of MTB trails on offer at this established resort.
Three summer lifts transport riders to various starting points on the mountain, topping out at 3,050 vertical feet above the base. Despite Killington’s renown, it’s not uncommon to ride right onto the lift, allowing you to turn lap after lap without standing in line. For those who like to earn their turns, a climbing trail also leads to the top of Killington Peak.
Like any bike park worth its salt, Killington serves a great mix of both flowy jump trails and gnarly tech lines, as well as trail difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert. Riders seeking a respite from rocks and roots will enjoy trails like Step It Up and Sideshow Bob, while advanced riders will find plenty of New England-style gnar on trails like Scarecrow and Goat Skull.
As of the time of this writing, lift tickets start at $68/day, or $132 for three days. If you’re renting a bike too, you’ll get discounted prices on lift tickets. And while you might be tempted to pedal to the top to save money, that will still cost you $55
Full story: “Killington Bike Park: A Mountain Biker’s Trip Guide“
Runners-up
- Cady Hill, Stowe
- Velomont Trail: Heart of the Greens Loop, Rochester
- Ascutney Trails, Brownsville
- Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton
- The Driving Range, Richmond
Tell us: What is your favorite mountain bike trail in Vermont?
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