Mountain Biking at Vermont Ski Areas
Updated: 7/7/2022
Vermont is home to some of the best mountain biking and lift served mountain biking in the Northeast. Over the last few years, Vermont ski areas have been seriously ramping up their mountain biking operations. New additions to parks, new trails, and new features are popping up across the state. Check out the info below for all things MTB.
Bolton Valley
Bolton Valley’s long established network of raw, rowdy and ripping downhill trails is already the stuff of legend; from the VTFR days of lift service some 15 years ago to the burgeoning community of enduro enthusiasts that have pedaled up to get down for the last 10+ years – the network of trails has long attracted the region’s best riders looking to progress their skills.
With help from Gravity Logic, Bolton Valley's new flow and beginner/intermediate trails are ready for action this season.
Find out more at BoltonValley.com.
All mountain biking information can be found at BoltonValley.com.
Burke Mountain
Burke Bike Park has some of the most interesting single-track trails in the Northeast. With thirteen downhill and seven cross-country trails, the park (consisting of expert jump, excavated and flow trails) has something for everyone. Burke is adding to new single-track trails from the CCC Road providing for different descend options from the summit into the bike park. Additionally, FreeRide got a complete overhaul last Fall and will be open. Keep in mind this trail is every bit of the triple diamond it boasts so be sure to use caution your first time down. Our other serious routes from the top are Rude Awakening and Upper J-Bar. Visit SkiBurke.com for details.
Kingdom Trail Association
Kingdom Trails is a year round non-motorized trail network for all ability levels in the Northeast Kingdom. Over 90 landowners make it possible including Burke Mountain, the single largest landowner on the network. The 100+ mile trail network is directly accessible from Burke Mountain with some sections of trail intersecting with the Burke Bike Park in the summer months.
Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center is conveniently situated mid-mountain, has safe and secure bike storage which comes free with every guest room, and summer bike trails accessible directly from our doors bringing the phrase "bike-in bike-out" to it's truest form. During the winter months fatbiking is only a few miles away at Darling Hill.
The Community Area Bike Shuttle, C.A.B.S. is a free shuttle service provided by the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, Kingdom Trails, and Burke Mountain transporting guests and their bikes from the Hotel to popular trail head locations on Darling Hill and East Burke Village.
Kingdom Trail tickets can now be purchased in any Burke Mountain ticket outlets, including Hotel or the welcome center which is located just down the road in the East Burke Village.
Visit KingdomTrails.org for details on the extensive mountain-biking network.
Killington Resort
As the largest lift-serviced mountain bike park in the East with free overnight camping and miles of trail networks around town, you’ll find there’s something for everyone at Killington Bike Park. Boosting over 30 miles of trails, three unique mountain areas make up our gravity-fueled bike park offering a range of options from flowy beginner terrain to advanced technical terrain to skills parks. Overnight parking available in our Vale parking lot.
Killington's Learn to Mountain Bike package, private lessons and day camps are available and great for first timers to the experienced rider. Our talented Bike Park instructors will help you get to that next level.
Open from Memorial Day weekend through October, Killington is the perfect stop for mountain bike enthusiasts. Full operations schedule can be found at Killington.com.
Mount Snow Resort
Since opening its lifts to mountain biking 34 years ago, Mount Snow has been putting smiles on dirt-covered faces every summer. The Mount Snow Bike Park’s terrain and trail system is rooted deep in the heritage of downhill mountain biking, with the resort hosting dozens of major events over years. In the past few years the ops team has been progressively integrating features like berms, ladders, man-made surfaces and dirt jumps into Mount Snow's trail system; staying ahead of what has become expected of the new age bike park. Mount Snow is home to Gateway, which is one of the longest introductory downhill trails in the East. Anyone who is already comfortable on a mountain bike now has the opportunity to let gravity do the work without having to be an expert.
Okemo Mountain Resort
Lift served mountain biking returns to Okemo this summer with lower mountain flow trails accessed by the South Ridge Quad. Upper mountain bike trails will be closed this summer due to lift and trail construction taking place on the mountain. The trails from the top of Quad A are flowing descents that move through open terrain and pockets of forest, across the naturally undulating topography. These trails are fun for a variety of abilities and can be ridden on all types of mountain bikes, providing novice riders with a great introduction to mountain biking that’s also fun for advanced riders. Operations are based at Okemo’s Sugar House mid-mountain lodge where riders can rent bikes, purchase gear and enjoy the expanded outdoor deck for a bite to eat and a beverage between runs. Visit Okemo.com for more information.
Visit Okemo.com for details.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Smugglers' Notch Mountain Bike Center has it all. Spread over three acres, the park features a flat ground skills park, a pump track, and a downhill skills park. The downhill skills park is accessed by a Wonder Carpet conveyor lift, which runs daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. In addition, The Bike Shop offers an array of over 40 bikes for rent and features great gift options, including Smuggs branded merchandise and apparel. All program offerings run by our Mountain Bike School meet at the MTB Center & The Bike Shop. Stop in the bike shop to grab a trail map!
All information can be found at Smuggs.com.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Cady Hill Forest is Stowe’s flagship trail network. It’s diverse terrain, great views, easy access from Town and the Stowe Rec Path, and trails that cater to just about any level of rider make it one of the most ridden trail networks in the northeast. For a comprehensive guide to mountain biking in Stowe visit Stowe.com.
Stratton Mountain Resort
The Stratton Bike Park features 5.81 miles of downhill mountain biking trails with the same look and feel that Vermont Mountain biking is famous for. Designed and built by Sinuosity, the Vermont-based company is respected for its eco-friendly practices and unique layouts. Sinuosity has selected the natural terrain of the mountain and woven it together with machine-built and hand-shaped features to create fun and flowing lines designed for progression and excitement. A day at the park offers lift-serviced downhill mountain bike trails for beginner to advanced riders, with the compliment of full suspension mountain bike rentals, helmet & pad rentals, professionally guided mountain bike lessons, and a full-service bike shop, all located in the main Base Area. Drop into the Bike Park this summer, and experience the trails of Stratton in a whole new way. Visit Stratton.com for details.
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush offers twenty miles of lift-served downhill, cross-country and freestyle mountain biking terrain leading to the base of Lincoln Peak. In addition, the Vermont Mountain Bike Association has connected nearly sixty miles of mapped trails to Sugarbush's own trails including technical trails throughout the Valley and less technical terrain at Blueberry Lake. Guided bike rides and rentals are available for ability levels. Sugarbush also offers e-bike rentals for the surrounding cross-country terrain at the mountain and beyond. Visit Sugarbush.com for details.
More information about mountain biking at Sugarbush can be found at Sugarbush.com.
Saskadena Six Ski Area
Outdoor recreation, fresh air, and exercise are now more important than ever, and we are proud to develop and showcase the incredible resources we have available to us. We continue to offer mountain bike rentals at the resort and will tailor different riding and recreational experiences based out of our new Activity Center, housed adjacent to the Woodstock Inn.
This season, we are focusing on our partnership with VMBA (Vermont Mountain Bike Association) and specifically our local chapter WAMBA (Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association). The local availability of world-class riding includes vast networks at Saskadena Six, Mount Peg, and the Aqueduct trails which are free to the riding public. We encourage you to explore membership or donations and help support the grassroots, non-profit organization that builds, maintains, and promotes these amazing places to recreate. This summer season, we will not offer lift-serve downhill mountain biking, but with easy pedal access, you can earn your turns and still feel the flow we've become so famous for.
All our trails are free to use, please respect other users and adhere to all posted policies.
Trapp Family Lodge
One of the best ways to explore the Vermont countryside is to get out and ride! The Trapp Family Lodge's 2,600 acres feature an extensive mountain bike trail network with two skills parks. Ride our 8 miles of expert and intermediate single track, or more than 20 miles of double track through mountains, fields and forests. Ride Hop Over or Lager Lane to the von Trapp Brewery Bierhall... the best trailhead ever!
We offer high-quality bike rentals through Giant Bicycles as well as repair services and riding lessons.
Purchase your Mountain Biking Season Pass here.
The Trapp Family Lodge mountain bike trails connect with an even more extensive Stowe trail network. We're aligned with the Stowe Trails Partnership which manages three distinct trail pods: Cady Hill Forest, Adams Camp, and Sterling Forest (in addition to several connector trails, including Alex’s Trail in Dumont Meadow). Each of these pods is distinct in character, with widely differing trails, views, and terrain. Many of the trails are situated on lands permanently protected under conservation easements held or managed by the Stowe Land Trust, and owned by the Town of Stowe.
All Mountain Bike information including rentals, passes, and lessons can be found at TrappFamily.com.
Stay up to date at TrappFamily.com.
