Mad River Valley, VT - Ride Hard and Relax in Nature
Terrain:
20% Beginner
55% Intermediate
25% Expert
Good For:
Riding Focus
Rent & Ride
Guided Tours
Ride hard in a distraction-free valley where singletrack, swimming holes, and sips of sunshine abound.
Trail Networks:
Blueberry Lake
Howe Block Trails
Sugarbush Bike Park
Mad River Valley, VT
Ride hard in a distraction-free valley where singletrack, swimming holes, and sips of sunshine abound.
When you’re all about the riding, the Mad River Valley is the place to go. People here like to ride hard and rest-assured: there’s plenty of hard riding to be had. Experts will find a bounty of technical New England mountain singletrack, while those new to the sport can get up to speed on some of the state’s best beginner trails. The hilly terrain makes it easy for everyone to find their physical limit, and shuttle options let you keep descending even after you can’t go up anymore. With lodging purpose-built to accommodate the needs and wants of mountain bikers, swimming holes aplenty, and enough delicious food to make refueling an absolute pleasure, the Mad River Valley is a perfect spot to enjoy a weekend on the saddle.
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Madbush Falls is a stylish, community-oriented mountain biking basecamp with everything you need (rooms, rentals, guided tours, delicious food, and fellow riders) right on site—plus trail access across the street. A variety of room types accommodate groups of all sizes.
Sugarbush Resort hosts an array of accommodation options—hotels, condos, and more—in a mountain village setting.
A number of unique B&Bs and inns—such as the trailside Featherbed Inn— speckle the Mad River Valley. Choose one that suits you.
** VMBA Member discount available
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Madbush Falls serves hearty Vermont food every day of the week. Stop in for breakfast, some elevated après share plates, or a creative entree.
Three Mountain Cafe is a challenge to find but bright and cozy once you’re there— and that’s why locals love it.
Canteen Creemee Co. whips Vermont-sourced ingredients into the classic hits you crave. Don’t sleep on the fried chicken.
American Flatbread serves farm-to-table wood-fired pizza, craft cocktails, and local beers. There are a handful in New England, but the Waitsfield location is the first.
Toast & Eggs specialized in feeding hungry skiers and bikers delicious home-cooked food in a casual setting with a view.
The Taproom at Lawson’s Finest Liquids is a spacious wood-beamed beer hall serving craft beer brewed on site plus a flavorful menu of farm favorites.
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Stark Mountain Bike Works offers bike repairs, demos, and limited sales—plus a shuttle service to the top of Tucker Hill Road.
Riders Outpost is located on-site at Madbush Falls. Repair services, bike rentals and sales, part, and accessories are all available here.
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Go for a dip in beautiful Blueberry Lake.
Take a short hike up to Sunset Ledge, where a rock outcropping permits spectacular views of the Mad River Valley and the Adirondack Mountains.
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With seven miles of beginner and intermediate riding, this award–winning trail system is perfect for getting acquainted with the sport of mountain biking.
With trailheads near Madbush Falls, downtown Waitsfield, and elsewhere, this hilly trail system in the Camel’s Hump State Forest has technical and flow trail options for intermediate to advanced riders.
All of the mountain bike trails at Sugarbush are located on Lincoln Peak. Eighteen miles of lift-served trails descend from the top of the Super Bravo Express Quad. Closed for the 2024 season, Sugarbush is expected to reopen to bikes in 2025.
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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 Chapter:
Mad River Riders (MRR)Additional conditions may apply for any of the above offers. Please refer to the VMBA App for details.
The Bierhall at Trapp Family Lodge should be on your list for lunch or dinner. A refreshing pint of Von Trapp’s signature Helles golden lager is recommended.
The Stowe Recreation Path is a non-motorized artery that connects businesses, restaurants, parks and lodging. Thanks to the Rec Path, you can leave your car parked and enjoy a vacation on two wheels.
We dare you to try riding Cady Hill Forest Trails without an ear to ear grin.
Born from a community effort to save a historic building back in 1981, The Current has established itself as a progressive contemporary art center.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DAY:
Settle into a mountain bike basecamp
If you’re lucky enough to snag a room, creekside tent, or pet-friendly cabin at Madbush Falls, settle into your homebase for the weekend. If you’re staying elsewhere, drop off your bags and head to Madbush Falls anyway. The mountain bike basecamp has a wonderful restaurant, plus the on-site Rider’s Outpost will help orient you to the Valley and its multitude of trail options. While there, you can chat with other guests, explore info on suggested rides, or get set up with a demo bike. (Note: If you book in advance, going on a guided ride is a great way to rent bikes and have them transported to the trailhead for you.)
DAY ONE:
Pop up for donuts
Head north to Irasville to visit the Three Mountain Cafe for a breakfast sandwich and a locally roasted coffee. (If it’s a Friday, prepare yourself for a donut pop-up, too!). Turn back around and drive south to the Blueberry Lake trail system. As one of the best areas in the state for beginners (it was designated in 2013 as an IMBA Model Trail-Gateway network), it’s the perfect place to gain confidence on your bike. Be sure to hit the Flow Loop, which everyone will enjoy.
Something salty with something sweet
Pedal back to the shore and cool off with a dip in the beautiful Blueberry Lake, then scoot over to Waitsfield for lunch. Stop into Canteen Creemee Company for a one-of-a-kind meal of fried chicken, corn pudding, and something creative and sweet, such as a mojito sundae. Drive out to Sunset Ledge, which ascends through the Breadloaf Wilderness for about a mile before delivering you to a rocky outcrop with astounding views of the hills beyond and the valley below.
Dine at a historic farm
Return to the valley floor and make your way to Lareau Farm, a historic 25-acre property with a variety of attractions. Wander the endless gardens and peruse the art gallery in the Big Red Barn before sitting down to dinner at the on-site American Flatbread. As the beloved restaurant’s flagship location, this place is special: enjoy the pastoral views, firepits, and cheery string lights as you savor a hearth-cooked meal.
DAY TWO:
Sample the best of the Mad River Valley
Fill up for the day with a classic American-style breakfast from Toast & Eggs. You’ll need the energy for a full day of riding at Howe Block, which has a variety of flow and tech suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. Berm connoisseurs should check out the Flow Tour, while advanced riders hunting for tech should give the Expert Loop a shot. Either way, be sure to take a dip in the nearby Mad River after your ride.
If you’re more interested in descending, hop on the shuttle from Stark Mountain Bike Works, which allows you to lap the trails from the top of Tucker Hill Road. You can buy single trips or invest in a punch card.
Sip on liquid sunshine
Stop into The Taproom at Lawson’s Finest Liquids for a mellow evening of mingling. Once the sun’s down, re-up on a Sip of Sunshine (a tropical IPA) or a Maple Tripple Ale (a three time winner at the World Beer Cup), then order the Mega Monty Charcuterie Board to share. With the Trapp Farmstead cheeses, Babette's Table cured salami, Green Mountain Smokehouse brats, Ariel's Honey Infusions raw honeycomb, Red Hen bread, and rotating seasonal accouterments, it’s hard to get more Vermont than this.
DAY THREE:
Rip downhill at Sugarbush
After being closed for a lift construction project for the 2024 season, Sugarbush is slated to open back up to bikers in 2025. Extend your stay a day to rip the trails after a year away.
Cady Hill Forest
Trapp Family Lodge
Adams Camp
RIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
Blueberry Lake
Flow Loop #1 - Blueberry Lake - This 6.5 mile, intermediate-friendly route hits all of the trails at Blueberry Lake except Gravel Grinder. Flow riding predominates, and the 620 feet of climbing earns you a cliff lookout with a nice view and great descent back down. Park at 1817 Plunkton Road in Warren.
Howe Block Trails
Expert Loop #1 - Howe Block - This 8 mile route couples 1,450 feet of climbing on smooth switchbacks with rooty and rocky descents. Park at Lareau Park on the east side of Route 100 and ride under the bridge to access the trails. Don't park at American Flatbread.
Sugarbush Bike Park
See Above
THE SKINNY:
The MRV trails blend old school tech with new school flow. There is no shortage of climbing in this area and if you want to go down, you have to ride up up up, but it's worth it. The new trail, Goodnight Irene that ends close to Madbush Falls, named after the 2011 flood, is super fast and flowly, with some great optional jumps and features to test your airing skills. Revolution and Evolution are also approachable trails, although they also require some climbing. The rest of the network is older, rockier and rootier, but if you love natural features and flow, check out Clinic and Cyclone. They're a perfect blend of technical and flowy with challenging trials-ish moves tossed in here and there. Blueberry Lake is perfect for beginners and intermediate riders and you can take a dip in Blueberry lake after a ride to cool off.