Please Note: Many trails on state-owned land are closed through Memorial Day to limit damage during the wet season.

For trail statuses and more information visit the Stowe Trails Partnership website.

Trials & Information Around Stowe, VT

The Stowe Mountain Bike Club (SMBC) manages over 30 miles of trails in Stowe – one of the most extensive networks in the Northeast. These trails are open to the public and are accessible from many different points close to The Lodge and downtown Stowe.  Although there is not a required fee to access the trails, purchasing a Stowe Mountain Bike Club membership is strongly encouraged to help maintain and sustain this valuable resource. This year, SMBC has partnered with the Vermont Mountain Bike Association so your trail dollars go further.  A joint SMBC/VMBA membership starts at $49 for an individual, and $98 per family.

Please note: many of the trails maintained by SMBC pass through private land with permission from landowners. Please be respectful of private property and check the daily trail report for any closures due to weather or special events. Trail maps are available at many stores in town – proceeds from the sale of maps goes directly toward trail maintenance.

Each unique trail pod in Stowe offers a distinct mountain experience, and the best part is, you're never far from a host of aprés options and amenities. 

Cady Hill Forest (aka Town Loops)
Trail Map 

The Cady Hill Forest parking lot is located on the Mountain Road/Rte 108. Riders can take the Cady Hill Climb trail to the Green Chair Overlook. For a quick loop, descend on the bermed Upper Bear’s trail before continuing on Bear’s trail singletrack to return to the parking lot (approximately 1.5 miles). For more berms, add Cady Hill Connector out and back. Intermediates should descend Green Chair Loop from the Overlook, taking Bridgey to Charlie’s Trail and climbing Snake to return on the technical Zog’s Trail or Cady Hill Connector. Advanced riders will enjoy classic technical singletrack on the Schween Haus loops. The classic Florence/Snake loop offers riders of just about any level a fun, berm-filled descent and a challenging climb back to the Cady Hill Connector trail. 

Click here to view our mountain biking video for Cady Hill.

Adams Camp
Trail Map 

Trailhead: Turn right off the Mountain Rd./Route 108 (just  before The Matterhorn) onto Ranch Brook Rd. Follow the dirt road on your right, passing the red house. Continue 0.25 mi to parking area by the bridge.

The closest trail network to The Lodge, best suited for intermediate to advanced riders.  Ascend from the parking lot and head out to Hardy Haul via the double track.  Descend on the flowy yet technical Kimmer’s Trail. Riders pedaling from Stowe/Cady Hill Forest can climb Pipeline, which begins across from the Stowe High School on Barrows Road, and follow the signs to cross the Trapp Family Lodge* network and take Luce Hill Road to the Haul Rd. towards Kimmer’s. Use Double Bypass to avoid the lung-busting “Chute” climb on the Haul Rd.

Click here to view our mountain biking video for Adams Camp.

*Note: There is no fee to cross Trapp Family Lodge via Pipeline, but full access to the Trapp Family Lodge network requires a trail pass, which can be purchased at the Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center.

Cotton Brook
Trail Map 

Trailhead: Turn right onto Luce Hill Road (just before Piecasso), then in approximately half a mile, turn left onto Barrows Road, then right onto Moscow Road.  At the fork where Moscow Road turns to Nebraska Valley Road, bear left and the parking area will be immediately ahead.

Swimming holes make this area a go-to on hot days after a ride, or for the beginner choosing a mellow adventure. Riders looking to challenge their stamina will enjoy the grueling nine-mile Cotton Brook Road climb. Loop back on Foster Farm Trail.

Sterling Valley
Trail Map 

Trailhead: Accessed via either Sterling Valley Road off of Stagecoach Road or via Weeks Hill Road off of VT 108.

Beginners should start at the Sterling Falls Gorge Parking lot and cross the bridge to the trailhead on the right; ride past the pond to enjoy Maple Run out and back. Intermediates will enjoy a quick ride on Split Rock trail, which begins 0.25 mi back on Sterling Valley Road; or riding out Maple Run, climbing the Billings Rd. single and doubletrack, and back on the Catamount Trail (aka Eight Bridges trail). Advanced riders can add the challenging Lauren’s Loop and Peak-A-View loop at the top of Billings Rd., returning on the Catamount Trail/Eight Bridges.

Click here to view our mountain biking video for Sterling Valley.

Waterbury/Perry Hill

Intermediate to advanced. There are 4 marked loops in the network; you should expect a large climb from the start.
Location: The trail starts halfway down the Ice Arena road in Waterbury. A parking lot is located on the right hand side of the road. Traverse the railroad tracks and pass under the interstate, then head up to the trail network.

Trapp Family Lodge

Trapp Family Lodge trails are excellent, well -maintained trails ideal for the beginning rider. Trapp's offers 1 mile intermediate single track, 5+ miles of intermediate/expert single track, and 20 miles of beginner to advanced double track. Please note there is a trail fee to ride this trail network.

Rental bikes and guided rides are also available.
Location: Visit the Outdoor Center at the Trapp Family Lodge.

Other Trail Networks

Not only are Stowe's trails world-class, but we're also located close to a host of other stellar networks—all within an hour's drive.  So it's easy to make Stowe your home-base for a tour of Vermont's finest single track. 

Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA)
Brewster River (Jeffersonville/Cambridge)
Fellowship of the Wheel (Chittenden County)
Kingdom Trails Association (East Burke)
Mad River Riders (Warren)
Millstone Trails (Barre)
MAMBA (Montpelier)  
Norwich University/Northfield Trails 

Additional Mountain Biking Resources:

Vermont Mountain Biking Association

The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) is a nonprofit statewide organization serving as the voice of mountain biking in Vermont. Comprised of 23 unified chapters, the association carries out its mission, which is to ensure the sustainable future of mountain biking in Vermont and to promote its position as the premier riding destination in the Northeast by serving as the central hub for advocacy, education, and event support through numerous partnerships.

VMBA strives to provide healthy, family friendly and sustainable mountain biking opportunities and orchestrates the delicate balance between state agencies, private landowners, chapters, riders and their amazing partners. As a unified community, Vermont is host to the best mountain biking culture in the country.