BURKE, VT
Ride like royalty in the Northeast Kingdom
3 Riding Days
2 Trail Networks
Riding-Focused
All Skill Levels
Ride like royalty in the dense forests of the state’s most remote region.
There is something at once magic and magisterial about Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Hearing its name, one easily imagines a remote land filled with forest elves and fairies and perhaps ruled over by a sylvan queen. In actuality, the Northeast Kingdom—a three county region in the upper righthand corner of Vermont—is a place defined by its natural beauty, self-sufficiency, and its inhabitants’ shared sense of stewardship over the land. 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. Thanks to a dedicated partnership of local trail managers and land owners, bikers of all abilities can find magic in the woods there. And many say the trails rule.
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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.
Burke Mountain Hotel
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Cafe Lotti serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and soups from a converted nineteenth century church.
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.
The Northeast Kingdom Country Store has everything you’d expect from such a place—groceries, gifts, sandwiches, wine, and beer—plus delicious pizza.
Auntie Dee Dees is a go-to for artisan pastries, naturally leavened breads, sandwiches and more.
Trattoria Sorellina is an upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of East Burke.
Tomassoni’s Bistro serves pizza, pasta, salads, desserts, and more in a homey dining room.
Clementines Creamery serves delicious hard ice cream from a quaint building with a view of the Passumpsic River.
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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.
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You can save a lot of money by joining VMBA for your trip! Everyone one is welcome. Individual memberships are $60, with discounts available for families and those under 25. Your benefits can be used immediately from the VMBA App!
Killington Bike Park
One FREE downhill mountain bike lift ticket (valid Sun - Fri.)Base Camp Bike Shop
25% off one bike rentalMountain Meadows Lodge
15% Off your reservation*Gifford Woods State Park
Current KMBC members can obtain a Day Use Season Pass to Gifford Woods at no cost. Join VMBA and select KMBC as your chapter, or as an add-on chapter.
Join VMBA today for immediate access to these member benefits through our App.Becoming a VMBA member supports mountain biking and trails throughout Vermont, as well as our local chapters.
Local VMBA Chapter:
Killington Mountain Bike ClubAdditional conditions may apply for any of the above offers. Please refer to the VMBA App for details.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Kingdom Trails is a mecca for riders from the northeastern US and Canada.
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. With over ten miles of mountain bike trails on resort property and another fifteen miles accessible via contiguous trails on neighboring land, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get acquainted with the terrain. For dinner, keep it simple and enjoy a meal at The Wildflower Restaurant and Pub.
Open fields and wooded trails await.
TK
DAY ONE:
Eat in a nineteenth century church
Roll out of bed and onto your bike. Pedal a little over two miles to the tiny hamlet of East Burke, population 1,700. Access to the riding here requires a trail pass, so if you didn’t buy one the day before, 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.
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 you wait for your sandwich from the deli counter. When it’s time to saddle up again, head back up Darling Hill Road toward the Wildflower. On the way, hit the West Darling Hill Loop, an 8.6 mile, mostly intermediate loop containing the highlights of this zone. If you need a boost, stop mid-ride at The Hub for an optimally-placed espresso and snack.
Après the right 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 certainly see other mountain bikers. Share trail recommendations and a Vermont-brewed beer, then order up a wood-fired pizza or a stacked plate of nachos.
TK
DAY TWO:
Ride all day
If you don’t want to drive, consider riding the Epic, an advanced cross country route that traverses nineteen 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.
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.
Tiki take two?
After a big day of riding, it can be hard to resist returning to Mike’s Tiki Bar. (To be sure, nobody will judge you if you go back, but you may get a high-five.) If you feel called to something more upscale is in order, try Trattoria Sorellina for some tasty Italian food or sit down to some flame-kissed pizza at Tomassoni’s Bistro.
If you’re looking for progression, the Burke Mountain Bike Park can deliver fun challenges at every stage of your journey.
DAY THREE:
Pocket an artisanal pastry
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.
Take a mealtime 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 Pisgah and on right, Mount Hor; 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 Clementines Creamery for a hand-scooped ice cream cone on your way out of town.
ROUTES & RIDE TIPS
“Kingdom Trails is one of the only other places besides Blueberry Lake that has true beginner terrain. This is a great place to explore no matter your ability level. The cross-country biking is approachable and I'd say anyone from a lower intermediate to an advanced rider can have fun. There's also East Haven and Victory nearby that are rad, and IMO the better biking in the area for advanced riders. Victory is more natural flow but is super fun and enduro style. East Haven is more machine built and faaaaast. If you love berms, this is the place for you. The Burke Bike Park is serious business, with a trail that was re-built a few years ago by a pro rider for the EWS. The jump trails are not what I'd refer to as "gimme" jumps, you have to know at what speed to hit them and you can't trust trail speed here. Pre-riding and inspecting everything is a must. J-Bar and DH are REAL.” - TK
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.