Ride Like Royalty in the NEK
Many say the trails rule in Burke.
3 Riding Days • 2 Trail Networks • Riding-Focused • All Skill Levels
Gretchen Powers Photo
Gretchen Powers Photo
Mountain bikers of all skills and abilities can find magic in the woods in and around Burke.
Following a long history of logging and dairy farming, the last decade has brought a boom of development for mountain biking in the region, with large trail networks and a mountain bike park quickly making it one of the state’s most popular riding destinations.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Bike parking is the name of the game at Kingdom Trails. (Courtesy Wildflower Inn)
ARRIVAL DAY
Enter the Kingdom
Pull off Darling Hill Road and into the complex of red and white buildings that is the Wildflower Inn. Located in the heart of Kingdom Trails, the Wildflower Inn will be your hub for a weekend of trail riding and rural relaxation. If you need to rent a bike, wander next door to Village Sport Shop to get set up, then pedal out of the meadow and into the woods to start getting acquainted with the terrain. For dinner, keep it simple and enjoy a meal at The Wildflower Restaurant and Pub.
VIDEO: An example of intermediate riding at Kingdom Trails. (YouTube: LFP)
DAY ONE - MORNING
Check-in at MTB HQ and Hit the Trails
Roll out of bed and onto your bike. Pedal downhill a little over two miles to the tiny hamlet of East Burke, population 1,700. Access to the riding here requires a trail membership, so stop by the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center to purchase one and get some route recommendations specific to your group. Grab breakfast and coffee at Cafe Lotti, where you’ll likely see other bikers enjoying the sunny outdoor seating. When it’s time to ride, the East Burke Intermediate Loop is a great introduction to the area.
Coffee or beer? The Hub’s trailside service window serves both. (Courtesy photo)
DAY ONE - AFTERNOON
Sip a Mid-Ride Espresso
Return to East Burke and stop into the Northeast Kingdom Country Store. Admire the beautifully restored historic building and browse the local gifts while your sandwich is being made. When it’s time to saddle up again, head back up Darling Hill Road toward the Wildflower Inn. On the way, hit the West Darling Hill Loop, an 8.6 mile, mostly intermediate loop containing the highlights of this zone including everyone’s favorite, Sidewinder.
If you need a boost, stop mid-ride at The Hub for an optimally-placed espresso and snack.
Tiki Bar or Tiki Barn? It’s both. (Courtesy Photo)
DAY ONE - EVENING
Après the Tiki Way
Clean up at the Wildflower and then make your way back to East Burke to enjoy dinner and some après at Mike’s Tiki Bar. A hive of activity, you’ll be amongst your people–mountain bikers of all stripes gravitate to Mike’s. Share trail stories and a local brew, then order up a wood-fired pizza or a stacked plate of nachos.
“Kingdom Trails is one of the other places besides Blueberry Lake that has true beginner terrain. This is a great place to explore no matter your skill level. Anyone from a first-timer to an advanced rider can have fun.”
VIDEO: East Haven Flow (YouTube Skills with Phil)
DAY TWO - OPTION 1
Ride East Haven Trails
If you have a rack and a desire to drive, pack your day’s sustenance and motor seven miles to East Haven. Find a spot in the community building parking lot and unload your bikes. From here, Moose Haven makes for a great intermediate loop. Alternatively, East Haven 2 Laps offers a longer outing and allows you to hit both Black Bear and Stormin Norman for some amazing downhill flow. There’s no food or water out here, so make sure you’ve properly provisioned for your day.
VIDEO: A tour of Kingdom Trails. (YouTube Singletrack a 2)
DAY TWO - OPTION 2
Take a Big Tour with Bailout Options
If you don’t want to drive, consider riding the Epic, an advanced cross country route that traverses 19 miles and climbs about 2,000 vertical feet. Epic features all of KT’s best technical trails and make for a big day, but its lollipop shape means that you can stop in town for water and food or bail early if you’re feeling tired.
Tomassoni’s outdoor bar service is also known as “The Sloshie Shed”. (Courtesy Photo)
DAY TWO - EVENING
Tiki Take Two, Gastro Pub, or a Sloshie?
After a big day of riding, it can be hard to resist returning to share your stories with other riders at Mike’s Tiki Bar. (To be sure, nobody will judge you if you go back, but you may get a high-five.) Have a drink there and then sneak behind the Northeast Country Store to the Burke Publick House for a creative mountain gastropub experience.
Or, sit down to some flame-kissed pizza at Tomassoni’s Bistro and Hazel’s Taproom, which has indoor seating and the outdoor “sloshie shed” featuring cool-downs and cold taps.
“East Haven is machine built and faaaaast. If you love berms, this is the place for you.”
VIDEO: Rooty, rocky, steep, and unbelievably fun. (YouTube Dusty Trails MTB)
DAY THREE - MORNING
Pocket an Artisinal Pastry and Point It
After a few days of pedaling, it's time to get a gravity assist. Head to Burke Mountain, stopping at Auntie Dee Dees for breakfast and a coffee. Pocket an artisanal pastry for a mid-morning snack, then continue on to Burke Mountain Bike Park for the day’s riding. The Burke Mountain Bike Park has both cross-country and downhill trails. While the former can be approachable for riders of most ability levels, the latter can challenge even the best. Pre-ride everything, and be careful about your speed: many features on the mountain require a bit of finesse to get right.
You can almost imagine the glacier that scoured the landscape. (Courtesy Photo)
DAY THREE - AFTERNOON:
Take a Gander at Willoughby Gap
At the base of the hill, brake (and break) for lunch at The View Pub, which serves elevated bar food from the second story of the Burke Mountain Hotel. As you eat, admire the strange geologic formation that is the Willoughby Gap, which looks like a bite taken out of a ridge of trees. On the left is Mount Hor and on the right, Mount Pisgah; in between is a space likely eroded by an ancient valley ice lobe, long melted away - where the water of Lake Willoughby still remains. Get out for a few more laps, then hit up Clementine’s Creamery for a hand-scooped ice cream cone or maple creemee on your way out of town.
WHERE TO STAY, EAT, & SHOP
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The Wildflower Inn** is an outdoor recreation resort located in the heart of Kingdom Trails. On-site resources provide all the gear and intel you need for your stay, and the mountain biking begins right on the hotel’s property. With pet-friendly rooms available, you can even bring your pup.
The Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center** is located at the base of the Burke Mountain Bike Park and features 116 suites and an outdoor pool.
The Village Inn is just steps from Kingdom Trails and offers a guest kitchen, common space, and a jacuzzi.
The Burke Mountain Campground sits at the base of Burke Mountain and offers 25 sites, including five lean-tos.
Adventurer’s Home** is a three-bedroom short-term rental that sleeps eight in the heart of East Burke.
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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Cafe Lotti** serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and soups from a converted nineteenth century church.
The Orange Rind begs you to relax into one of their 25 specialty cocktails, 20 craft beers, and a comfort-food munchies menu.
The Hub welcomes riders from the top of Darling Hill with a variety of well-deserved libations, including beer, wine, cider, and—for those needing a boost—coffee.
Mike’s Tiki Bar is a welcoming outdoor gathering place, perfect for kicking back and enjoying a cold one as the clouds go by.
Northeast Kingdom Country Store has everything you’d expect from such a place—groceries, gifts, sandwiches, wine, and beer—plus delicious pizza.
Auntie Dee Dee’s is a go-to for artisan pastries, naturally leavened breads, sandwiches, and more.
Burke Publick House is a gastropub featuring creative cuisine in a casual setting.
Tomassoni’s Bistro and Hazel’s Taproom serves pizza, pasta, salads, desserts, and more in a homey dining room.
Clementine’s Creamery serves delicious maple creemees and hard ice cream from a quaint building with a view of the Passumpsic River.
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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Village Sport Shop is conveniently located on the campus of the Wildflower Inn and rents a variety of bikes that are well-suited to the surrounding trails.
East Burke Sports is a full-service bike shop offering rentals, sales, and service.Burke Mountain Bike Shop** has you covered for DH bikes and equipment. Conveniently located at the base of the Burke Mountain Bike Park.
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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You can save a lot of money by becoming a VMBA member before your trip!
Becoming a VMBA member supports mountain biking and trails throughout Vermont, as well as our local Chapters.
Everyone is welcome. Individual memberships are $60, with discounts available for families and those under 25.
Join VMBA today for immediate access to the member benefits in this region, through our App**.
STAY
Burke AirBnB
10% Off your bookingBurke Mountain Resort
20% Off your stayThe Wildflower Inn
25% Off accommodations, Sun-Thu, 10% Off accommodations, Fri-Sat.
EAT & DRINK
Cafe Lotti
10% Off your purchaseBurke Mtn Bike Shop
50% Off a bike rentalBurke Mtn Retail
(Trailside & Vertical Drop)
10% Off all retail itemsGreen Mtn Pro Tune
10% Off service
$25 round trip flat rate shipping
BIKE PARK / TRAIL ACCESS
Burke Mountain Bike Park
Two 50% off DH MTB Day Ticket (per member)Kingdom Trails Association
One Free Day Pass* (must be redeemed at KTA office)
**Please note that restrictions may apply to the above offers. Please consult the VMBA Member App for terms and conditions for each of these offers.
ROUTES & RIDE TIPS
“The Burke Bike Park is serious business. You have to know at what speed to hit the jumps and you can't trust trail speed here. Pre-riding and inspecting everything is a must. J-Bar and DH are REAL.”
Kingdom Trails
Kingdom Trails
The Kingdom Trails are a special place to ride: most of the trails here—and there are 126 miles of them—are on private property that more than 100 landowners make available through the 501(c)3 non-profit Kingdom Trail Association (KTA). Pedal with gratitude as you enjoy endless opportunities for riders of all skill levels.
Burke Mountain Bike Park
Burke Mountain Bike Park
Burke Mountain Bike Park Website
Burke Mountain Resort VMBA Partner
Burke Mountain Bike Park is a great compliment to the Kingdom Trails. Riding the Sherburne Express High Speed Quad and shuttling the Burke Toll Road allow mountain bikers to lap a variety of dowhill terrain, while cross country trails near the bottom can sate any rider’s thirst for pedaling.