Vermont
Green Mountain Flow: How to Experience Vermont by Bike
The picturesque landscape of Vermont is a wonder of the northeastern United States. Its stunning fall colors, historic cities, and quaint towns attract people from all over the world.
When most people think of Vermont, quaint and quiet outdoor experiences may be among the first that come to mind. While there is no shortage of relaxing farmstays, cozy inns, and peaceful outdoor attractions throughout the state, Vermont is also a place where visitors are never far from trail networks tailor-made for mountain bikers.
The Green Mountains that span the length of Vermont are famous for spectacular skiing, with more than 20 unique areas throughout the state. During the warmer months, the entire landscape is teeming with a variety of bike parks and meticulously maintained trail systems that make the state a bucket-list destination for mountain bikers.
Thanks to the contributions of community volunteers and members of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association who build, maintain, and advocate for trails, mountain biking in Vermont is about as diverse as it comes.
Sprawling farmland and mountainous landscapes create a dream scenario for pavement-free excursions on two wheels, including a wide variety of downhill bike parks and an incredible wealth of less-traveled yet incredibly fun trails, including plenty of options for adaptive mountain bikers.
Northern Vermont Mountain Biking
Northern Vermont is home to some of the top-tier biking venues in the state, many of which are situated within reasonably short drives to charming towns and attractions.
Bolton Valley Resort
Bolton Valley Resort is home to 28 unique downhill trails, including the Ebascootcha beginner trail, five blue intermediate trails, and more than 20 highly technical black and double black diamond trails to get the heart rate soaring.
Nestled in the mountains between Burlington, Montpelier, and Stowe, Bolton Valley is an ideal location to set up a home base to shred through the day and venture out to explore surrounding areas in the evenings.
Visitors also can stay at the resort and enjoy post-ride beverages and snacks at the James Moore Tavern, or take a short drive into Waterbury to sample Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at its factory, or enjoy a nice dinner at Prohibition Pig, which offers a variety of smoked meats and craft beer.
The Driving Range
The Driving Range is one of the most unique mountain bike trails out there. Just down the road from Bolton Valley Resort, The Driving Range is Vermont’s first fully adaptive mountain biking network, with 100% of its trail system accessible for adaptive bikes.
The community strongly supported building this trail network to create a system where people on adaptive bikes can ride without worrying about impassable obstacles or unfavorable conditions. While the network is completely adaptive, it is not tame. The Driving Range offers 13 different trails, including two black diamond and three double black diamond trails with serious features.
Burke Mountain Bike Park
Located in Northeastern Vermont, Burke Mountain offers a healthy mix of 12 downhill trails ,including expert jump lines and excavated flow trails, along with 10 cross-country trails for folks who want to mix it up between gravity and hammering the pedals.
The bike park sits near the expansive Kingdom Trails network, which has more than 100 miles of trails ranging from easy-to-navigate singletrack to lines that challenge even the best riders.
Beyond biking, Burke Mountain offers plenty of opportunities for fun and relaxation, such as horseback riding at D-N-D Stables or spending a peaceful afternoon taking in the views at nearby Lake Willoughby.
Central Vermont Mountain Biking
Killington Bike Park
Killington Bike Park sits in Central Vermont, which is about a 20-minute drive west of Rutland. The park includes more than 30 miles of pristine downhill trails cutting through three distinct mountain areas: Snowshed, Ramshead, and Killington Peak. A high-speed lift serves each area, allowing riders to relax and easily enjoy run after run.
Riders of every level can enjoy Killington. Snowshed offers a good amount of beginner-to-intermediate terrain. Killington Peak includes more New England-style trails with technical sections filled with rocks and roots, while Ramshead has signature freeride trails.
WAMBA’s Mt. Peg
Mt. Peg marries classic Northeastern singletrack with a handful of manicured freeride trails. This network consists of about 3 miles of trail that offers fast and flowy descents. The area also has a skills area with progressive drops that have ample run-in and out, along with nice, forgiving sloped landings that make progressing to larger features easier.
The Woodstock Inn and Resort owns Mt. Peg, making it a great place to stay while visiting.
Woodstock also has a bustling downtown packed with entertainment and culture. Pentangle Arts Woodstock Town Hall Theater hosts live music, dance, theater, film screenings, and more. The town also is home to the charming Middle Covered Bridge, one of 100 covered bridges located throughout the state, which perfectly represents the unique style of covered bridges for which Vermont is famous.
Just outside of town, visitors can learn about local agriculture at Billings Farm & Museum. The working farm highlights scientific farming history and offers interactive exhibits, classes, and experiences.
Marsh-Billing Rockefeller National Historical Park, the state’s only national park, is less than a mile outside of town. The park boasts 400-year-old hemlocks, sugar maples, and covered bridges.
Mad River Rider’s Blueberry Lake (Family-Friendly)
Blueberry Lake is a family-friendly section of the larger Mad River Valley trail system. It has gentle grades and flowy, sweeping turns that are ideal for youngsters or beginners to build their confidence. The trail network consists of about 7 miles spread across 13 different trails, all of which are beginner or intermediate.
Blueberry Lake trails are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and were designated as an International Mountain Biking Association Model Trail-Gateway in 2013.
Blueberry Lake itself provides the perfect venue to cool off after a day of mountain biking in the sun. Riders also can enjoy a sandwich or coffee from the “almost world famous” Warren Store. The nearby Sugarbush Resort provides family-friendly fun including a scenic chairlift ride, golf, and swimming.
Southern Vermont Mountain Biking
Slate Valley Trails Endless Brook
Slate Valley Trails Endless Brook Trailhead includes 15 miles of intermediate to advanced hike and bike trails. These trails feature a ton of climbs, along with fast descents featuring berms and rollers. The trail also includes benches with stellar views of Lake Saint Catherine, where riders can take a break or grab a snack.
As always, riders need to be sure to take care of the trails and leave no trace. Be aware: these trails are 100% on private property. However, the landowners’ generosity and partnership with Slate Valley Trails have made them available to the public.
Stratton Mountain Downhill Bike Park
Stratton Mountain lies in Southern Vermont, about 20 miles from Manchester. It is home to a more than 10-mile system of sweeping downhill trails designed by Sinuosity, a leading trail-building organization in Vermont.
At the base, visitors can enjoy time at the village, or play a round of golf at the Stratton Golf Course. Other key features of Stratton aimed at outdoor enthusiasts include indoor and outdoor climbing walls, scenic lift rides, mountain top yoga, and guided UTV tours.
More on Vermont Mountain Biking
Vermont holds 1,400 miles of mapped mountain biking trails to sample, including the venues outlined above.
The Vermont Mountain Biking Association has compiled an exhaustive list of trail networks, complete with maps and information on trail conditions online at VMBA.org. By checking conditions before heading out onto the trails, riders can ensure they ride responsibly, and avoid sites where they could cause damage, or put other riders or the future of mountain bike access in certain areas in jeopardy.
Also, riders can find information on trails that offer adaptive riding at the organization’s dedicated adaptive riding webpage.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – Despite warm temperatures on the way, skiers and snowboarders are celebrating the snow this holiday weekend. Our Calvin Cutler has a look at the conditions and the future of Vermont’s independent resorts.
If you ask just about anyone why they visit the Smugglers’ Notch Resort, you’ll likely get two answers: the conditions on and off the trail, and the local vibe, being one of the last independent ski resorts in Vermont.
Skiers and riders were swinging into the holiday weekend on ski lifts Friday, taking advantage of an early winter bluebird day to get in a few turns with friends and family.
“A little icy in some spots, but the sun warmed it up and it’s nice now,” said Tosh Moser of Cambridge.
Smuggs received about half a foot of fresh snow this week, allowing them to open 44 trails and their Madonna II lift in time for the crucial holiday weekend.
But temperatures are expected to rise this weekend which could melt away conditions.
“We’ve seen a great start to the season this year, better than last, especially this time last year, so we should be able to fare just fine,” said Caleb Kessler, the social media manager at the Smugglers’ Notch Resort.
As one of the last locally owned resorts in Vermont, Smuggs is an outlier in the ski industry which is undergoing consolidation, as big companies like Vail and Alterra buy up local resorts and pump in cash for new amenities and big infrastructure upgrades, like new snowguns that allow resorts to open earlier and close later. It’s sparking concern from many small American ski towns that their history and culture are fading away.
“You go to some of the bigger company-owned resorts, it’s different people, everything is different there,” said Wyatt McAdoo of Cambridge.
Last year, news of Smuggs considering a first-of-its-kind gondola to the Stowe Mountain Resort reverberated through the ski and ride community. The plan has since been scrapped.
Despite the corporate headwinds, Smuggs is sending the message that its size, culture and vibe set it apart.
“Being small and independent allows us to make decisions more quickly, more easily, be more nimble and gives us our personality as a resort,” Kessler said.
Despite the rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast, skiers and riders at Smuggs are hoping for a long season ahead.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
The H5N1 bird flu was found in a backyard flock in Vermont, the state’s agricultural agency said Thursday.
The small flock of 24 non-commercial birds in Franklin County was quarantined and put down. The first bird death happened on Dec. 18 and the owner notified authorities on Dec. 19 as more birds died.
“Low risk to human health”
The agency said bird flu “is considered to be low risk to human health,” but the people who came in contact with the infected birds and their surroundings are being monitored by the Vermont Department of Health. There have not been any human cases reported in Vermont or New England from this current outbreak of bird flu in the United States.
The Vermont case of “highly pathogenic avian influenza” is not the same strain that’s currently affecting dairy cattle in other parts of the country, the agency said in a statement. This is Vermont’s fourth case of bird flu in a domestic flock since 2022.
“Despite the low risk to the public, the virus remains deadly to many species of birds,” the agency said. “All bird owners, from those who own backyard pets to commercial farmers, are strongly encouraged to review biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.”
Bird flu cases in the U.S.
On Dec. 18, the Centers for Disease Control reported that a person in Louisiana had the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S. That person was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, the CDC said.
There have been 65 reported human cases of bird flu in the country, according to the CDC. Most have come from California and were linked to exposure to infected cattle.
Besides the Louisiana instance, all known human H5N1 cases in the U.S. have been mild, with patients reporting conjunctivitis and upper respiratory symptoms.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s homicide rate continues an upward trajectory, topping numbers not seen in nearly three decades.
In 2024, police investigated cases throughout the state, as far north as Orleans and as far south as Brattleboro.
As many cases continue to wind through the legal system, Vermont’s homicide numbers in 2024 are the third highest since 1991. And for the third straight year, homicide numbers topped 20.
“Are we seeing more homicides than we have in past years? Yeah, but I think it ebbs and flows. You know, we go from last year to this year and we’re seeing different kinds of homicide cases in general,” Vt. State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau said.
So far this year, Vermont has 23 homicide deaths. Last year, the state saw 27. And in 2022, there were 25. All three years are well above the 10-year average of 17.
Of the 23 homicides, nearly half involved the use of a gun. And of the cases investigated by state police, six are known to be drug-related, involving both suspects and victims from out of state,
Dan Trudeau with the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit says domestic violence cases are up.
“There is definitely an increased component of mental health issues with involved suspects,” he said.
This year, Vermont saw a rise in cases classified as parricide, or killing one’s parents, which criminologists say are rare.
“Typically those comprise about 1%-2% of all murders nationwide… And we’ve had at least three cases of that in Vermont,” said Penny Shtull, a criminologist at Norwich University.
One happened in Pawlet, where Brian Crossman Jr., 23, is accused of killing his father, stepmother and 13-year-old stepbrother.
Another was in Enosburgh, where Jordan Lawyer, 29, is accused of killing his father and injuring his mother.
And in Montpelier, Matthew Gomes, 29, is accused of killing his parents.
“In general we have an adult that may have longstanding conflict with their family are more likely to sever that relationship than to kill family members, so we suspect mental illness to be a factor,” Shtull said.
One case this year in St. Johnsbury remains unsolved, added to the list of four still unsolved from last year. Trudeau says while tips filter in from time to time, investigations can be complicated.
“There’s a lot of unreliable witnesses, there’s a lot of uncooperative involved people… And oftentimes very little physical evidence,” he said.
Trudeau says in most cases, the incidents are isolated and victims and suspects often know each other. But they still serve as a reminder for the public to remain vigilant.
In the last three years, only four cases have either gone to trial or ended with plea agreements.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Mega Millions numbers for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024
Homelessness climbs more than 50% in Massachusetts as businesses leave Brockton for safety concerns
NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. forecast for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024
‘Strong Tornadoes Possible’ Across Mississippi Saturday
Ranking the top 25 Missouri girls high school wrestlers (12/27/2024)
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Trump says fate of TikTok should be in his hands when he returns to White House
Olive oil, milk and cereals: How did food prices fluctuate in 2024?
Costco egg recall for salmonella receives FDA's most severe designation
Joe Biden poses with Hunter's Chinese business associates in newly surfaced photos: 'Incredibly damning'
Health worker displaced by Israeli attacks in Gaza dies of ‘extreme cold’
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
Technology7 days agoGoogle’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News1 week agoNovo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics1 week agoIllegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment1 week ago'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle1 week agoThink you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
Technology3 days agoThere’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
Technology1 week agoFox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
News4 days agoFrance’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister