Ride the Heart of the Greens
The Velomont Trail’s first multi-day segment awaits
2 Riding Days • 38 Mile Loop • Hut-to-Hut Adventure
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective
The Heart of the Greens Loop captures the Velomont vision and turns it into reality: purpose-built singletrack trails connecting rural communities and trail networks, with backcountry huts along the way.
Plan ahead for your food and lodging, then lean into the local vibe.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
The Stable Inn is part of the Vermont Huts Association. (Courtesy Photo)
ARRIVAL DAY
An Earnest Vermont MTB Village
Arrive in Rochester early enough to stop by Green Mountain Bikes for any last-minute gear needs and trail condition updates. For thirty years now, they've been in Rochester doing the good bike work, and the staff knows these trails better than anyone. They can provide valuable beta about current conditions, and if you’re a VMBA member you’re eligible for a discount at the shop and one free palm-reading.
Check into the Stable Inn. They are pet-friendly and rider-centric. Cell service can be spotty in this region, so use the wifi to download your maps and bring a paper back-up just in case. Walk across the road for a local twist on southern soul food at Maple Soul.
VIDEO: An Intro to the Velomont Trail. (YouTube: VT Huts Association)
DAY ONE - MORNING
Start your Velomont Adventure
Fuel up at the Rochester Cafe with a short stack and make sure you have everything you need for your upcoming hut stay - food, sleeping bag and headlamp, at a minimum. Mac’s market, between the Cafe and the Stable Inn, will have anything you’ve forgotten. Head south on Route 100 to start your journey into the Heart of the Greens. The route quickly transitions from pavement to the purpose-built singletrack that makes this trail special.
The views are a beautiful reward for the climb. (Photo: Jason Duquette-Hoffman)
DAY ONE - AFTERNOON
Climb High, Descend with Joy
The new Velomont singletrack sections are machine-built with perfectly graded climbs that are challenging but rideable, designed specifically for mountain biking rather than repurposed hiking trails.
The route climbs steadily through mixed terrain, rewarding you with incredible views as you gain elevation. After soaking in the views from the vista just north of the trail's high point, begin your fast descent down to Chittenden Brook, enjoying the rolls and rollicks as you hoot and holler your way through the lush Green Mountain National Forest.
Bring a group! The Chittenden Brook Hut sleeps 10. (Courtesy photo)
DAY ONE - EVENING
Rest at Your Backcountry Base
If you’ve planned correctly, the Chittenden Brook Hut is your home for the night. This ADA-accessible hut sleeps 10 and is located at roughly the halfway point on the loop. Part of the Vermont Huts program, the Chittenden Brook hut must be reserved online, and be forewarned - it’s popular, so book early! The good news is that you will have the entire hut to yourself and it’s well-equipped with mattresses, stove and cooking utensils, solar lights and a vaulted privy. Water is available from the nearby creek and should be boiled. If you’re a bikepacker, you also have the option of camping at the Chittenden Brook Campground (next door) instead.
“This 38-mile loop features 5,930 feet of climbing across 54% singletrack, 27% gravel, and 19% pavement. Even if you've ridden in Vermont before, Heart of the Greens offers something new: machine-built singletrack climbs and descents of more than 1,500 feet that send you high up the local peaks to drop you into the next town.”
The 100 Berm Tunnel Ridge Trail is a highlight of day 2. (YouTube: Madbush Falls)
DAY TWO - MORNING
Complete the Loop
Wake up refreshed and tackle the second half of the loop. The terrain continues to deliver classic Vermont singletrack with technical challenges that keep things interesting without being overwhelming. The singletrack is not particularly technical, and the climbs are nicely graded, making the Heart of the Greens accessible to intermediate riders while still providing enough challenge to keep experts engaged.
Sandy’s is always worth a stop. Cozy interior, breezy porch. (Courtesy photo)
DAY TWO - AFTERNOON
Victory Lap Back to Rochester
The famous Tunnel Ridge trail is your final reward on the this loop, dumping you out with a well-earned sense of accomplishment back in downtown Rochester. Celebrate at Sandy's Books & Bakery. This beloved local institution combines a friendly mixture of bookstore (new and second hand), bakery and cafe with super-fresh food where nothing is baked from frozen or mixed ahead of time. You've just experienced the future of Vermont mountain biking and helped support a trail system that connects rural communities through purpose-built singletrack.
WHERE TO STAY, EAT & SHOP
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ROCHESTER:
Stable Inn** is a community- and sustainability- minded lodge offering abundant common space (including two kitchens) and a variety of room types to fit your party’s needs.
Chittenden Brook Hut** is one of the trailside standouts in the Vermont Hut system. Book a night or two if it’s available.
Chittenden Brook Campground is tucked way back in the National Forest, offering primitive sites and access to trails.
Liberty Hill Farm & Inn** offers an agritourism experience, complete with savory meals and cozy rooms.
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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ROCHESTER:
Sandy’s Books and Bakery specializes in the two best things. All the baked goods are fresh, and the books are variously new, used, or collectible.
Maple Soul serves farm-to-table cuisine with a soul food twist. Stop here for a seasonal salad, a pork chop grilled to perfection, and some cheese grits.
Rochester Cafe serves breakfast classics in the morning plus burgers and sandwiches in the afternoon. Stop by for pizza night on Thursdays and Fridays.
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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A BYOB approach is recommended for this itinerary. Bring something versatile, reliable, and ready to pedal.
Green Mountain Bikes** (Rochester)
** Offers a VMBA Member Benefit
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Heart of the Greens Loop (Rochester)
Tunnel Ridge Trail (Rochester)
Rochester Valley Trails (Rochester)
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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
Liberty Hill Farm & Inn
10% off reservation for 2-night stay, weekdaysThe Stable Inn
10% Off your stay (not applicable on $100 rooms)Vermont Huts
10% Off a stay at Chittenden Brook Hut
BIKE SHOPS
Green Mountain Bikes
10% Off parts, clothing, labor, demos and accessories
Free E-Bike battery charging
One free palm reading
Local VMBA Chapters:
**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
“One major tip for this area: download your maps for offline use. There’s no cell service on some of these trails.”
Heart of the Greens Loop
Heart of the Greens Loop (Velomont)
Heart of the Greens Loop Website
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective VMBA Chapter
The Heart of the Greens Loop is the first completed multi-day segment of the Velomont Trail, a collaborative project of several Vermont organizations with the goal of connecting a series of single track trails and backcountry huts along the entire length of Vermont.
This is the classic overnighter for the hardy trail rider looking to pack as much into two days as possible. Stuffing 38 miles and over 5000’ of vert into two days is a tall order, but it’ll all be worth it when you roll into the cozy Chittenden Brook Hut on Night 1 for a solid night's sleep before another big day to get back into town.
Tunnel Ridge Trail
Tunnel Ridge Trail (Velomont)
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective VMBA Chapter
Tunnel Ridge is popularly known as the longest flow trail in Vermont, beckoning to riders with over one hundred expert-built berms. You have to earn your turns here–climbers will love it.
If you’re staying at the Stable Inn, you can start and end your ride from there–ask them for details. Otherwise, park at Bingo and climb Swan Dive toward Tunnel Ridge.
After experiencing Tunnel Ridge, you’ll want more, so plan to come back again to ride the full Heart of the Greens Loop.
Rochester Valley Trails
Rochester Valley Trails
Rochester Valley Trails Website
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective VMBA Chapter
Nicknamed “RAWchester” by locals, this growing trail system traverses mountainous terrain and includes about twenty miles of mostly multi-use trail. Notable for its rake-and-ride steeps, you’ll also find machine-built flow trails here, as well as a family friendly loop and a pump track.
You can ride some of the more rugged trails right from the village, but we recommend driving to the USFS Rochester Ranger Station for a more organized experience. There’s plenty of parking and a cool little pump track at the trailhead. Hop on a section of the Velomont trail by easing out on Sap Boiler and then riding up Old Gents to the Sugar Tree Knob summit. From there, Old Gents becomes one way, and it’s the fun way: downhill. Keep left to stay on Old Gents and by the time you get to the bottom, you’ll probably want to take another lap!