By Outbound Hotels
Despite its small size, Vermont boasts more than 1,000 miles of mountain biking trails that will satisfy every kind of adventurer. Here are our favorite mountain biking trails near Stowe, Vermont.
Ski slopes, maple syrup, and hoppy IPAs top the list of things Vermont is best known for, but in the past decade, mountain biking has jumped into the rankings. Now the whirr of two wheels is just part of the summer soundtrack, a telltale sign that there’s a trail network nearby. The small state includes more than 1,000 miles of trails, organized in over 60 networks, that range in intensity from family-friendly double track to lift-access downhill. For MTB travelers looking to spend every day of a trip riding as many of them as they can, Stowe is a perfect place to call base camp.
It’s not just Stowe’s central location that makes it ideal for mountain bikers. Multiple trail networks start and end right in town, while others are an easy (and scenic) drive away. There are also rail trails nearby for those who want to minimize adrenaline and elevation gain. On top of that, Stowe is loaded with restaurants and breweries for refueling, as well as bike shops like Pinnacle Ski & Sports for tune-ups and rentals. As far as lodging goes, Outbound Stowe offers easy access to all of it—and it’s hard to beat a tiki drink by the pool at its on site bar and restaurant Eastside after a day riding Stowe mountain biking trails. Ski Town Gravel Grinders are also available to rent there, perfect for both mellow rides and off-the-beaten-path adventures. (Special rental pricing for hotel guests starting at $25.)
The 8 Best Mountain Biking Trails Near Stowe, Vermont
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 11
- Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
- Access: Free
Directly across the street from Outbound Stowe, you’ll find the entrance to the biking trails at Cady Hill Forest. This is Stowe’s most popular trail network, and one of the most-used mountain biking trail systems in the Northeast. Here, 23 machine-made trails thick with features wind through 320 acres of hardwood forest and up and down a central ridge that defines the area. Climbs to the top are relatively gradual, but there are nice views to be had at Green Chair (a good excuse for a breather). The Cady Hill trails are shared with hikers and trail runners, though a few, including the fast-paced Florence, are mountain bike-only.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 28
- Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
- Access: $15/day
The Trapp Family Lodge’s network of mountain biking trails runs through forest and field across the resort’s 2,600 acres. With eight miles of single track, two skills parks, and 20 miles of double track, there’s something for every type of rider (and plenty for beginners to chew on). Plus, the picnic tables at its Bierhall, accessible from Lager Lane and Hop Over, isn’t a bad spot to finish a ride. The trail network also connects to Adam’s Camp for riders looking to combine the two into a day of cross-country riding.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 5
- Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Access: Free
A short cruise up the Mountain Road (or Stowe Rec Path) from Outbound Stowe will bring you to Ranch Brook Road and one of the entrances to Adams Camp, a 513-acre swath of forest conserved by the Stowe Land Trust. The multi-use trail system contains a smaller length of double track and single track for cross-country mountain biking, but it’s nearly as popular as Cady Hill thanks to a mix of technical and flowy trails. Adams Camp connects with the trails at von Trapp Family Lodge for a longer day out (just remember you’ll need a day pass to ride those), and e-bikes aren’t permitted.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 9
- Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Access: Free
The Stowe mountain biking trails at Sterling Forest are part of more than 1,500 acres of land conserved by the Stowe Land Trust with permanent public access for generations of hikers and riders. Compared to Stowe’s other trail networks, Sterling Forest is more remote, located 6.5 miles north of downtown. Its trails are a little more technical than those closer to town, with plenty of the roots and rocks that characterize a lot of Vermont’s mountain biking. They’re also relatively shorter, so riders could (and should) cover all the ground up here in a single ride.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 10
- Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
- Access: Free
A 25-minute drive will get you from Outbound Stowe to Perry Hill, a trail network in the town of Waterbury. The pump track at its base is good for warming up, and a quick, steep climb takes riders up to a central nexus from which the area’s trails branch out. Perry Hill has everything from easy cruising to technical rock lines—a range that will keep riders of all ability levels happy, with space to level up. Bicycle Express, a bike shop, is minutes away from the trailhead if you have any issues and Prohibition Pig or the Reservoir make excellent post-ride meal stops.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 69
- Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
- Access: Day ticket ($20+) or season pass ($100+) required
Roughly 30 minutes from Stowe, Bolton Valley is a small ski resort with a top-tier bike park that’s open Wednesday through Sunday. Bolton has invested heavily in its still-growing trail network, working with the renowned trail builders at Gravity Logic to create trails for every skill level, including cruisy beginner courses, feature-loaded technical fare, downhill flow, and jump lines. A day ticket is required for access—with different pricing for uphill riders and those looking for lift service—but Bolton’s base area has all the amenities a biker might need, which frequently includes live music at the end of the day.
- Trail map
- Rideable miles: 100+
- Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
- Access: Various ticket options starting at $20/day for adults
The result of a unique array of agreements between nearly 100 private landowners and a charitable non-profit organization (plus a Vermont state statute that safeguards access to private land for recreational use), Kingdom Trails is one of the most unique mountain biking trail networks in North America. It’s also frequently rated the best, which riders traveling to visit from across the country. Traversing field and valley, expertly maintained, and full of features to ride on, the trails would take days to explore in entirety. Kingdom Trails is up in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, an hour and a half from Stowe, but it’s a trip worth taking for any mountain biker visiting the area.
