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What Makes Mountain Biking in Vermont Special

May 22nd, 2025 | by Keaton Smith

Mountain biking in Vermont is special. Not only because of the thick roots, tight turns, and dark green tree canopies that are characteristic of our favorite trails here, but because of the groups and people that make mountain biking possible. 

Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) serves as the unified voice for mountain biking in Vermont. There are 28 VMBA Chapters across the state, and these are the local groups responsible for building, maintaining, advocating for, and riding their local trails! 

We are launching our VMBA x Bivo collab bike water bottle todayavailable online now! For every bottle sold, Bivo will donate $4 to VMBA in support of their amazing efforts.

VMBA helps us all recognize both the work that went into the trail building and maintenance and the partnerships and generosity of landowners whose gift makes the trail possible in the first place.

If you've never visited Vermont to ride, take a look at VMBA's new and super robust Visitor's Guide to VT mountain biking, which shares detailed recommendations of where to ride, stay, eat and explore!

Now, here’s an interview with VMBA’s Executive Director, Nick Bennette, about VMBA and its plans for the year!

Mountain biking in Vermont is special. Not only because of the thick roots, tight turns, and dark green tree canopies that are characteristic of our favorite trails here, but because of the groups and people that make mountain biking possible. 

Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) serves as the unified voice for mountain biking in Vermont. There are 28 VMBA Chapters across the state, and these are the local groups responsible for building, maintaining, advocating for, and riding their local trails! 

We are launching our VMBA x Bivo collab bike water bottle todayavailable online now! For every bottle sold, Bivo will donate $4 to VMBA in support of their amazing efforts.

VMBA helps us all recognize both the work that went into the trail building and maintenance and the partnerships and generosity of landowners whose gift makes the trail possible in the first place.

If you've never visited Vermont to ride, take a look at VMBA's new and super robust Visitor's Guide to VT mountain biking, which shares detailed recommendations of where to ride, stay, eat and explore!

Now, here’s an interview with VMBA’s Executive Director, Nick Bennette, about VMBA and its plans for the year!

Across Vermont MTB trails, we often see Ride with Gratitude signs posted on trailheads. Why is gratitude so important when mountain biking in Vermont?

Approximately ¾ of trails in Vermont are on private land. And ½ of VMBA’s trails are on private land. So half of our trails are graciously hosted by private landowners and the security of that access is not guaranteed. It's not like public land.

 I think folks can easily get into the mindset of trails being something that just happened or that just exist and it can feel easy to take them for granted. Unlike ski areas or a lot of paid recreation access, there's nobody charging admission to the mountain bike trailheads in Vermont.

It’s a rarity to see people who aren’t riding with respect, but VMBA’s energy is directed to driving education to ensure that those trails are used respectfully and also helping to preserve access.

How do you share the message of gratitude to riders in VT?

We've seen our ambassador program flourish over the last couple years. We have 12 ambassadors representing VMBA, helping to educate users and lead by example. Our ambassadors are amazing out there in terms of striking conversations with folks and sharing about VMBA.

How much does it cost to build and maintain trails?

Trails take constant energy for our Chapters to maintain. 

VMBA and its Chapters steward close to 1,000 miles of trail, and a lot of our Chapters' energy goes to maintenance. 

It costs approximately $7 to $10 per foot to build a trail, and that same trail costs $1-2 per foot a year to maintain. Meaning, it can cost $5,000 - $10,000 to maintain one mile of trail. 

While some of that you can do with volunteers, a lot requires investment from materials and professionals. So that’s one of the reasons that we're so deeply grateful for partners and support is that idea of investing in infrastructure.

How do you fund new trails and projects?

In 2025, we already have given $60,000 in trail grants and we have really great projects. 

Many of those are for new trail construction, but with almost 1,000 miles of trails and 50+ trail networks, we are now being really deliberate in ensuring we’re funding projects that create a new experience, creating something that doesn’t exist, or improving existing trails without changing their character. 

We’re just being really thoughtful about focusing on creating a new, high quality experience that’s highly sustainable and serves a really good purpose.

How are trail grant recipients selected?

The grants are awarded by a committee of Chapter representatives. So it's the Chapters awarding grants to the other Chapters and everyone is incredibly thoughtful about really ensuring that these are high quality projects. 

In the application, we ask if projects have considered adaptive compatibility as well as ensuring there is a landowner access agreement that’s written and signed.

What are some projects you’re excited about this year?

Ludlow Area Sports Trails - This is VMBA’s youngest Chapter, and they just completed the first phase of a trail system called the Back 40 in Ludlow, VT.

Perry Hill Trails- We’ll be improving the sustainability and user experience getting to the beginner and intermediate trails in Waterbury, VT

Cady Hill- Will create a new access trail into the forest, one that is lower grade and better for youth programming and adaptive access in Stowe, VT

Moosalamoo National Recreation Area - We’ll be creating a connection between two loops that previously weren’t connected. Now, there will be a 20 mile, backcountry feel loop in this recreation area in the Goshen VT area.

What’s your favorite trail network?

It's really hard (impossible!) to pick a favorite, but I'd go with my home zone of Perry Hill in Waterbury. I live in town and help coach my son’s mountain bike team. The middle school is a three minute ride from Perry. Waterbury is an amazing community, I love it here, and the ability to knock out a couple laps out at lunch is great. There’s something special about the place you can ride to right from your house or from your office.

Across Vermont MTB trails, we often see Ride with Gratitude signs posted on trailheads. Why is gratitude so important when mountain biking in Vermont?

Approximately ¾ of trails in Vermont are on private land. And ½ of VMBA’s trails are on private land. So half of our trails are graciously hosted by private landowners and the security of that access is not guaranteed. It's not like public land.

 I think folks can easily get into the mindset of trails being something that just happened or that just exist and it can feel easy to take them for granted. Unlike ski areas or a lot of paid recreation access, there's nobody charging admission to the mountain bike trailheads in Vermont.

It’s a rarity to see people who aren’t riding with respect, but VMBA’s energy is directed to driving education to ensure that those trails are used respectfully and also helping to preserve access.

How do you share the message of gratitude to riders in VT?

We've seen our ambassador program flourish over the last couple years. We have 12 ambassadors representing VMBA, helping to educate users and lead by example. Our ambassadors are amazing out there in terms of striking conversations with folks and sharing about VMBA.

How much does it cost to build and maintain trails?

Trails take constant energy for our Chapters to maintain. 

VMBA and its Chapters steward close to 1,000 miles of trail, and a lot of our Chapters' energy goes to maintenance. 

It costs approximately $7 to $10 per foot to build a trail, and that same trail costs $1-2 per foot a year to maintain. Meaning, it can cost $5,000 - $10,000 to maintain one mile of trail. 

While some of that you can do with volunteers, a lot requires investment from materials and professionals. So that’s one of the reasons that we're so deeply grateful for partners and support is that idea of investing in infrastructure.

How do you fund new trails and projects?

In 2025, we already have given $60,000 in trail grants and we have really great projects. 

Many of those are for new trail construction, but with almost 1,000 miles of trails and 50+ trail networks, we are now being really deliberate in ensuring we’re funding projects that create a new experience, creating something that doesn’t exist, or improving existing trails without changing their character. 

We’re just being really thoughtful about focusing on creating a new, high quality experience that’s highly sustainable and serves a really good purpose.

How are trail grant recipients selected?

The grants are awarded by a committee of Chapter representatives. So it's the Chapters awarding grants to the other Chapters and everyone is incredibly thoughtful about really ensuring that these are high quality projects. 

In the application, we ask if projects have considered adaptive compatibility as well as ensuring there is a landowner access agreement that’s written and signed.

What are some projects you’re excited about this year?

Ludlow Area Sports Trails - This is VMBA’s youngest Chapter, and they just completed the first phase of a trail system called the Back 40 in Ludlow, VT.

Perry Hill Trails- We’ll be improving the sustainability and user experience getting to the beginner and intermediate trails in Waterbury, VT

Cady Hill- Will create a new access trail into the forest, one that is lower grade and better for youth programming and adaptive access in Stowe, VT

Moosalamoo National Recreation Area - We’ll be creating a connection between two loops that previously weren’t connected. Now, there will be a 20 mile, backcountry feel loop in this recreation area in the Goshen VT area.

What’s your favorite trail network?

It's really hard (impossible!) to pick a favorite, but I'd go with my home zone of Perry Hill in Waterbury. I live in town and help coach my son’s mountain bike team. The middle school is a three minute ride from Perry. Waterbury is an amazing community, I love it here, and the ability to knock out a couple laps out at lunch is great. There’s something special about the place you can ride to right from your house or from your office.

Check out the new VMBA x Bivo bottle here!

Check out the new VMBA x Bivo bottle here!

Each bottle comes with a red dirt cap, the color of the VMBA membership strap this year.

For every bottle sold, Bivo will donate $4 to VMBA. Let's work together to keep mountain biking in Vermont wonderful!

Each bottle comes with a red dirt cap, the color of the VMBA membership strap this year.

For every bottle sold, Bivo will donate $4 to VMBA. Let's work together to keep mountain biking in Vermont wonderful!

What Makes Mountain Biking in Vermont Special + New Collab Bottle

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