2,625-foot Moosalamoo Mountain is the tallest mountain in the Moosalamoo NRA, and it makes for a ripping mountain bike ride! To get there, pedal down the road to pick up the Oak Ridge climb to reach the top of the Moosalamoo Mountain Trail. Expect a long grind up, but the rocky, narrow singletrack is rideable the entire way. Trail work by the ACBC transformed a root-filled fall-line hiking trail that was "almost unrideable for most riders," according to Board Member Ashar Nelson, into a tough but achievable MTB climb. Technically, joining Oak Ridge partway up via a gated forest road is the preferred route for mountain bikers, as the lower section of Oak Ridge hasn't been improved and is "pretty raw" old school Vermont mountain biking 1.0.
After reaching the junction with the Moosalamoo Mountain trail, riders can push for the summit to find an overlook with a break in the trees. On the final push to the top, expect that Vermont mountain biking 1.0 flavor, with a serious hike-a-bike slog on narrow, steep, and overgrown trail. But the reward awaits: a sign denoting the top of 2,625-foot Moosalamoo Mountain, with a short detour to a little view through the trees.
After all that work, it's time to descend! The top of the unimproved trail is raw and technical, but as riders drop into the improved section of Moosalamoo Mountain, the singletrack opens up, providing a fast rip down the mountainside. A few corners feel like they have a small amount of berm to hold riders in. Overall, the trail feels like a natural backcountry singletrack, despite providing a consistent swoop and flow throughout. The descent pops out right back at the trailhead — a fantastic way to finish a big ride in the Vermont backcountry!
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