HIDDEN VERMONT
Ride like a local on under the radar trails
3 Riding Days
6 Trail Networks
Riding-Focused Days
All Skill Levels
Skip the resort town bustle in favor of a quiet weekend enjoyed among the trail systems, public parks, and restaurants best loved by Vermont’s discerning —and, let’s be honest, maybe a bit spoiled—locals.
Tucked in the shadows of Vermont’s big resort towns are communities of riders who have created endless miles of world-class mountain biking right out their back doors. These trail networks are nestled in the forests of Richmond and Waterbury and strung along the slopes of two local (and beloved) ski areas: Bolton Valley and Cochran’s. Running through it all is Interstate 89, which makes transit easy and gives visitors quick access to Burlington for a day or night on the town. Best-suited to riders who bring their own bikes and who are willing to do a bit of driving each day, this itinerary makes for an unforgettable (and under-the-radar) weekend of eating and riding.
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The Best Western Plus in Waterbury offers 15% off a one-night stay to visitors with an active VMBA membership.
Pick Bolton Valley Lodging for a resort experience complete with pickleball courts, a pool, and fantastic trails right out your back door.
Camp, rent a cabin, or shack up in a lean-to at Little River State Park, where there’s plenty of opportunity to picnic, swim in the Waterbury Reservoir, and ride the park’s machine-built flow trails.
Dark Star Cabin and Crow’s Nest Hut? (Vermont Huts sidebar?)
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Prohibition Pig in Waterbury specializes in smoked meats, classic cocktails, and local craft beer.
KC’s Bagel Cafe in Waterbury is known for its New York-style bagels but also serves a solid deli menu of sandwiches, soups, baked goods, and more.
The Village Market in Waterbury is a full-service supermarket stocked with items from local vendors and small businesses.
The Reservoir in Waterbury is a tap house and restaurant with a beer list that reads like a record of the state’s best hits.
Maxi’s in Waterbury serves a large menu of breakfast classics best topped with one of its homemade hot sauces.
The James Moore Tavern serves smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, and other pub favorites from the base of Bolton Valley Resort.
Stowe Street Cafe in Waterbury is a community hub for locally sourced coffee, food, and art. Stop by on Saturday or Sunday for their sought after sticky buns.
Sweet Simone’s Bakery and Cafe recently expanded beyond its drool-worthy pastry case to add a savory side to the business, including an Italian provisions section with a rotating selection of sandwiches, pizzas, and other deli items.
Stone Corral in Richmond is a family-owned and -operated brewery specializing in German, Belgian, and British styles.
Stop into the On-Farm Market at Maple Wind Farm for pasture-raised meats and eggs as well as other highlights from Vermont-based producers.
The Jericho Center Country Store was founded in 1807 and is one of Vermont’s longest running country stores. Stop in for Vermont-made goods, a deli sandwich, and a real maple creemee.
Palmer Lane Maple is a local maple syrup producer with a reputation for making some of the best maple creemees around.
Hatchet Tavern serves craft cocktails and a New American menu from inside a modern bar with shuffleboard.
For recommendations suited to die-hard foodies, look to The Boston Globe’s celebratory survey of Waterbury’s food scene.
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Which to highlight? No input from WATA or RMT.
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Picnic, take a dip in the Waterbury Reservoir (one of the state’s largest bodies of water), or ride the machine-built flow trails at Little River State Park in Waterbury.
Try your hand at disc golf with the free pitch and putt course at Bolton Valley Resort.
Take the kids to the playground at the Waterbury Village Green.
Check out some Vermont-made soft goods at Class 4 Designs and Mola Hoods in Richmond.
Float the Winooski River—either bring your own tubes or rent them from Umiak Outdoor Outfitters.
Take the kids to the kid-friendly progression bike path at Richmond Elementary School.
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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!
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 Chapters:
Additional conditions may apply for any of the above offers. Please refer to the VMBA App for details.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
There’s no shortage of delectables to be discovered in Waterbury.
ARRIVAL DAY:
Belly up to smoked brisket
Slow down for a night’s stay in Waterbury, which has a cute downtown historic district, an outsized food scene, and convenient proximity to the downhill riding at Bolton Valley (where you can also stay for a more resort-y experience). Pop into the lively Prohibition Pig for supper and stack your plate high with smoked brisket, mac & cheese, and duck fat fries. Top it off with an Old Fashioned (or another classic cocktail) and rest easy for tomorrow’s riding.
If you’ve heard of Perry Hill, you’ve probably heard of “Joe’s.”
DAY ONE:
Ride WATA’s longest trail
Roll over to KC’s Bagel Cafe for a big breakfast sandwich or a New York-style bagel schmeared with one of their 13 flavors of house-made cream cheese. Pop over to Perry Hill for the morning’s riding. After warming up on the pump track near the parking lot, climb up Scotch Tape, Permission, and Burning Spear: you’re now at the top of Small Axe, WATA’s longest trail. Take a break on the descent to give your hands a chance to catch up on the fun.
Swim in the reservoir, eat at The Reservoir
Stop into The Village Market in Waterbury to fill your load up with lunch supplies, then head over to Little River State Park for a picnic by one of the state’s largest bodies of water. Created in the 1930s as a flood control project, the reservoir is designed to catch up to nine billion gallons of snowmelt and runoff before it washes into the Winooski River Valley each spring. After lunch, pedal up for a few laps on the park’s machine-built flow trails, then take a swim in the lake to cool off. For dinner, head over to The Reservoir (the other reservoir) for comfort food and sample a pint of creative craft beer.
If you’re up for a downhill challenge, head to the upper trails at Bolton Valley - best experienced with friends!
DAY TWO:
Punch a free ticket to the Bolton Valley bike park
Wipe the sleep from your eyes and pad over to Maxi’s for a big plate of classic breakfast food. (Be sure to try all of their house-made hot sauces.) Don’t worry if you feel sluggish upon leaving: today’s a day for lift-served riding. Drive up to Bolton Valley Resort, where your VMBA member benefit gets you a free ticket to the bike park. Bolton first opened to mountain bikers in 2021, and already the resort has built a solid variety of trails, with flow, tech, and jump options all on offer. A few trails cater well to beginners, but note that the park in general appeals best to riders with more advanced skills.
Give disc golf a spin
Once you’re ready to put your bike away, don’t leave Bolton just yet. There’s a nine hole chip ‘n’ putt disc golf course at the base of the Vista Quad chair lift, so why not stay a while? If you need to fortify yourself with a creemee or craft brew, stop into the BV Mountain Market—they’ll take care of you. Afterward, après at the nearby James Moore Tavern, where you can look back on the hill and recount stories from the day. Alternatively, if you’re up for it, drop back down to Waterbury to get your foodie on at one of its renowned restaurants.
I don’t know where this is, but it looks fun.
DAY THREE:
Test your mettle on OG Vermont tech
Visit the Stowe Street Cafe first thing in the morning for food, locally-sourced coffee, and warm community feelings. If it’s Saturday or Sunday, you’re in luck: you’ve arrived just in time to snag one of their sought after sticky buns. Peruse the local art around the shop while you wait, then load into the car for a quick drive up to Richmond. Ride the trails at Cochran’s Ski Area all morning. This zone doesn’t skimp on climbing, but descending Skully's will make all that uphill huffing worth it. And—pro tip—unless you're a masochist, ascend Jimmy Cliff instead of IPT for a more welcoming way to the top.
Go big (in a way that’s true to you)
Fuel back up at Sweet Simone’s in Richmond, where you’ll find decadent pastries (that’s the sweet part) as well as a newly expanded savory section that includes deli sandwiches. For the afternoon, choose one of two options:
If you’re interested in jumps, check-in at The Driving Range, a bike-park style progressive trail system purpose-built to help all riders build their skills and find new thrills. Designed from the beginning with the needs of adaptive mountain bikers in mind, The Driving Range is an inclusive place equally exciting for everyone. And with some of the biggest jumps in the state, that includes the pros, too.
If you prefer to keep it mellow, choose Chamberlain Hill, where an approachable climb earns you three lengthy descent options: Shimmy (the easiest), DL, and Full House.
After your ride, head to Stone Corral for seasonal, old-world style beers and an eclectic menu of homemade food. From there, it’s just a skip over to I-89, which can speed you back home for an early bedtime.
ROUTES & RIDE TIPS
“Suffer through Cochrans' quad-burning climbs, but trust me - bombing down Scully's or Graveyard makes every pedal stroke worth it. Take Jimmy Cliff up instead of that soul-crushing IPT climb. Bolton's lower trails let you get your flow on, but the summit trails will have you questioning your line choice and bike handling skills - in the best way possible. And don't sleep on The Driving Range - I've watched riders progress from mellow rollers to sending Vermont's biggest jump line (though I still scout those gaps every time). Perry Hill is your go-to when you need an enduro fix, especially now that Six Flags got that sweet makeover. And when I'm looking to rail berms without the grunt work, I head to Little River where Knight Ide's masterful trail building never disappoints. Pro tip: grab that VMBA membership for free entry.” - Louise Lintilhac, Waterbury
Perry Hill
Perry Hill
Waterbury Area Trail Alliance VMBA Chapter
What it lacks in quantity, this ten-mile trail system near Waterbury makes up for in quality. Fun climbs and a little bit of everything—including both fast and technical descents—have given this area a reputation across the state.
Little River State Park
Little River State Park
Little River State Park Website
Waterbury Area Trail Alliance VMBA Chapter
Located on the edge of Waterbury Reservoir, this system combines approachable singletrack ascents with two machine-built flow trails. Get ready to lap.
Bolton Valley Resort
Bolton Valley Resort
First opened in 2021, this new bike park includes over 900 feet of vertical descending. While there are a few beginner-appropriate trails down low, the upper park includes some of the gnarliest riding in the state and caters best to more advanced riders.
Cochran’s Ski Area
Cochran’s Ski Area
Richmond Mountain Trails VMBA Chapter
Nine miles of trails traverse this ski area as it lies dormant in the off-season. Go here for old-school New England tech, lung-busting climbs, and a few notably fun descents.
The Driving Range
The Driving Range
Richmond Mountain Trails VMBA Chapter
This bike park-style trail system is an adaptive mountain bike network and meant to be lapped. It includes progressive features including ladder bridges, drops, and rollers, and some of the biggest jumps in Vermont, meaning everyone can find a place to push their limits here.
Chamberlain Hill
Chamberlain Hill
Richmond Mountain Trails VMBA Chapter
Accessible via a pleasant ride across a farm field, this area includes an approachable climb that leads to three stunning, long-duration descent options.