News!
Northeast Kingdom Trail Network Named Best in North America - March 25, 2009
Kingdom Trails recently was voted THE 2008 BEST TRAIL NETWORK in North America through Bike Magazine Reader’s Poll. Additionally, the Sidewinder Trail, one of the more popular routes on Kingdom Trails, was named the Best Flowing Trail. Bike Magazine is an international publication with a large subscriber base and commercial distribution featuring mountain-bike related articles. The reader’s poll had 11 categories, with an outright winner and two runner-ups per category. “We are very excited and pleased to be recognized for our efforts, especially by the riders themselves” cites KTA’s Executive Director Tim Tierney. “This will highlight that there is good riding in Vermont, not just in the Western states. Our staff and volunteers have worked hard to provide a quality experience while maintaining the trails in a sustainable fashion. Bringing economic stimulation to the region is good for the Northeast Kingdom. Nowhere else do 45 contiguous landowners generously permit this type of trail system for non-motorized recreation. This is truly a community effort.”
Kingdom Trails Association (KTA) plans to open its trail system to mountain biking in early May. Last summer, the village of East Burke was yet again busy with mountain bikers, coming to ride the world renown Kingdom Trails. With users coming from as far as England and California, the association witnessed another increase in annual usership totals. In 2008, 2200 households signed up for unlimited use of the 110-mile multi-use non-motorized trail system. Also, KTA sold over 9,000 day use passes. All told there were over 32,000 user visits coming to enjoy the trails in all seasons. KTA just finished their fourth season of grooming Nordic Trails in East Burke. The amount of cross-country skier and snowshoers are slowly increasing yet the bulk of visitors come here for the mountain biking. KTA’s membership base, while still strongly comprised of Vermonters, is also largely made up of folks from New England and Quebec Province. With approximately 35% of the users coming from Canada, KTA is very much a large attraction to our northern neighbors.
Tierney attributes several reasons why the trails are so popular; Design, variety, maintenance and location. The trails utilize a variety of terrain and wend through forest and field on the shoulder of Burke Mountain as well as the wooded and pastoral setting on Darling Hill between the two branches of the Passumpsic River. John Worth, a co-owner of East Burke Sports since 1988, has designed all the singletrack on the system. “We try to build exciting trails using natural terrain features” states Worth, “but also making them to have less impact on the surrounding environment. I don’t like to force a trail through an area, so I spend a lot of time scouting and identifying where the best layout can be.” Such is the case with the Sidewinder Trail, which serpentines the side- slope of a natural drainage in an area containing well draining sandy soils.
The large increase of users visiting the trails last summer prompted KTA to place hardening and treadway structures throughout the entire system. “Our trail maintenance crew really works hard to keep these trails safe, fun and more importantly, less resistant to impact.” Tierney says, “ Our crew led by trail manager, CJ Scott, has vastly improved the system with bridging and drainages.” The KTA veteran trail crew built over 500 feet of new bridging just last year and also completed the standard sign making, drainage cleaning, blowdown removal and brushing tasks. This summer, plans are in the works for a trail to link the village of East Burke to Burke Mountain, eliminating a road route. A new advanced trail will be constructed on Burke Mountain as well. Kingdom Trails is known for having trails for all levels of ability. The past several years’ efforts have been made to satisfy riders on both ends of the spectrum. There are “Freeride Trails” on Burke Mountain where riders must wear armor and have special bikes. KTA also constructed a “Pump Track” which is a dirt track complete with rollers, berms, and bumps, which is heavy utilized by children and even seasoned riders.
Volunteer groups play a large role in both conservation and education efforts. A group of locals maintain the more advanced trails on Burke Mountain and 15 trained individuals perform Bike Patrol duties. The Bike Patrol conducts light maintenance but primarily interacts with riders encouraging proper use and safety. This summer Kingdom Trail Association will run programs for children to help them discover the joy of mountain biking. “Mountain biking tends to be an elitist sport, and it is sometimes difficult for less privileged kids to get out on bikes. This new program is a great way to introduce an activity a child may otherwise not had an opportunity to try,” says KTA’s Trail Manager CJ Scott. Scott has worked for KTA since 2002.
As always, word of mouth and great publicity draws riders to experience this unique recreational trail system. The trails are located on a mix of private and public land. Several routes are in The Darling State Forest, with permission from the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation. The Town of Burke allows some paths by the village including an interpretive loop along the Passumpsic. The majority of the trail system is made possible by permission from private landowners and businesses making it unique community collaboration. Kingdom Trails’ operations are funded by membership, donations and trail fees. Many trail projects are funded through grants and foundations such as the Connecticut River Joint Commission, The Davis Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation and the Windham Foundation. KTA strives to remain an affordable recreational outlet. The Green Season (Spring summer and Fall) Membership is $50 individual and $100 for a Family Pass. Winter rates are the same but you receive a 25% discount if you join KTA year round. Day Passes are $10 for anyone 16 and older. Children 8 to 15 are $5. Anyone 7 or under or over 70 are free. “The cost of maintaining and managing the trails has increased and we are putting a lot of money back into the trails, but we really want folks here to enjoy the lodging and eateries of the region so we keep the rates low.” says Tierney.
Kingdom Trails was established as a non-profit membership organization by a group of visionary residents and area business leaders. The organization’s goal is to encourage recreational use of the Northeast Kingdom that is both ecologically sensitive and promotes the natural beauty, as well as stimulating the economy of Vermont’s least developed region. A volunteer Board of Directors leads the organization and operations and trail management are completed by two year-round and five seasonal staff members. All trail users are required to purchase a membership and get involved. Kingdom Trails publishes separate summer and winter trail maps. More information can be obtained by calling