The Vermont Mountain Biking Association (VMBA) has been diligently working with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to expand mountain biking opportunities throughout Vermont.  The USFS recently announced that through their partnerships with VMBA and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), they will be allocating approximately $154,000 in 2011 towards trail improvement activities that will include developing increased mountain bike access in the Green Mountain National Forest.

This is great news for regional biking opportunities! The funds will be used to create a nine-mile loop trail in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area in Goshen, Vermont. The trail will also be accessible from the Blueberry Hill Ski Center in Goshen and from Branbury State Park. The new trail will offer a popular and unique destination, due to the combination of trail sections along the shore of Silver Lake, a ridgeline trail with panoramic western vistas on Chandler Ridge, lush vegetation and fascinating geology in Leicester Hollow, and camping facilities at Silver Lake campground, with access from Branbury State Park.

“The Forest Service is enhancing mountain biking opportunities where it is sustainable and compatible with other activities. Diversifying recreation opportunities increases public use of federal land; engages our youth in enjoying the outdoors; and helps drive economic activity.” said Holly Knox, Green Mountain National Forest, Northern Zone Trails Coordinator.

In 2008, the USFS designated portions of several existing trails in the greater MMBC region for use for mountain biking.  Manchester District Ranger Alex Sienkiewicz also designated forest trail 385, or corridor 7, between Highway 11/30 to forest road 30 and forest trail 369, North Backwood Trail, from the Town of Stratton to forest road 341 as a multiple use trail suitable for mountain bike use. Maps are available on the USFS web site.

Mountain bike use of the USFS trails is seasonally restricted to the time period from June 1 to November 1 to minimize impacts on soil resources. Like last year, the MMBC will be organizing group rides to explore the USFS trails – stay tuned for group ride notices!

VMBA’s director Patrick Kell and local MMBC members are working with the USFS to establish mountain biking trails in the Stratton area and is on the list of projects to be reviewed by USFS during the summer, 2011.  STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
*Article reprinted  from the VMBA website.