Video: TrailLove Episode 4: East Burke, Vermont
Each episode of this series has started off with the same sentence: #TrailLove is an exploration of the people and the stories behind the trails we ride everyday. That is a rather broad description of this series, as the title can mean any number of things to any number of people. It's a question we've asked everyone we've spoken with throughout the project, and every answer has had it's own nuanced interpretation. But, there's a unanimous theme of a community's connection to the trails found in their own backyards, and the tremendous value that people see in developing more trails to bring riders in.
Trail love is something that certainly exists all around the world, but you'd be hard pressed to find a place on the planet that loves their trails more than the town of East Burke, Vermont. This small town is in the middle of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, and is home to the legendary Kingdom Trails, an enormous network featuring over 100 miles of sinewy, dark and glorious singletrack. These trails represent the town's biggest commercial expectation, and are open in some capacity throughout the year. Burke has one of the East Coast's best bike parks, as well as a pumptrack in the center of town, and if you know the right people (which is easy enough here), some of the most beautifully sculpted dirt jumps you'll find anywhere.
But it's the singletrack that draws people in, and for good reason: the same trail can offer up a variety of riding options for a variety of riders. Beginners and pros alike can derive an equal amount of joy while sharing these trails, and that's due to the advocacy, trail work and land management by the Kingdom Trails Association. The greatest example of trail love can be found amongst the private landowners, whose properties hold 96% of the trails found throughout the network. In an increasingly litigious world, it's reassuring to find so many people who encourage the building of trails on their own private property, and without any incentive other than knowing that their decision is for the greater good of the town and of the trails. We couldn't think of a more appropriate place to bring the series to a close than here in East Burke, Vermont; the epitome of #TrailLove. Enjoy.
Willoughby Gap and Canada lay to the north of town, with Burke mountain bordering the east, and the Green Mountains to the west. This corner of the country is among its finest.
The Kingdom Trails Association office sits smack in the center of town.
Lilias and Brice take a breather midway through a ride on Darling Hill.
Berms. The Kingdom Trails have a lot of 'em.
Lilias Ide is the Operations Manager for the KTA, and that can often mean a lot of quality control work on the trails.
It's really easy to go really fast on the Kingdom Trails. It's also easy to assume that this place is the result of a lot of machined work. But the truth is, there's a dedicated crew of builders who use their hands, shovels and picks to shape and maintain these trails. That's love.
Once you drop in from atop Heaven's Bench, it's game on. High speed berms, roots and off-camber sections await.
You're welcome to ride through the root gardens, or you can just float over them. Brice opted for the latter of those options here.
The West Branch of the Kingdom Trails is home to many of its most popular slices of singletrack, including Old Web, Sidewinder and others. The KTA has partnered up with the Vermont Land Trust to help protect the133 acres of land that make up this corner of the trail network. Check below for a link and lend a hand!
These trails may attract upwards of 1,700 riders on a weekly basis from May through October, but there is still plenty of solitude to be found in the Kingdom.
Even in the summertime, you'll find a soft white blanket covering the ground.
The beauty of #TrailLove is that the definition can be as complex as it is simple; and the experience is as personal as it is shared. What does it mean to you?
The Kingdom Trails Association
The Wildflower Inn
The Vermont Food Truck Company
The Burke Publick House
Terrific Tutus
Help the KTA and Vermont Land Trust preserve one of the Kingdom Trails' most popular sections by clicking here.
Want to join the BMC Trailcrew?
BMC is searching for local riders; the men and women who are on the trails riding, digging, and shooting every chance they get. These individuals are the core of their local crew. They organize the rides, are a regular at their local bike shop, know the best lines, and always have cold beers ready at the end of an epic day. Interested? Find out more at:
www.bmc-switzerland.com/bmc-trailcrew-program
If you like what you see then please support our friends at the Kingdom Trails Association and earn some Trail Karma while you're at it.
MENTIONS: @ridebmc / @briceshirbach / @mtbvt
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Moose alley, Troll stroll, tap&die and Side winder are my favorite trails.
I'll be back up there in a couple of weeks..
Our shop lucked out this year and were able to hit up NEMBA FEST at East Burke! WOW AMAZING! Forget how epic the trail system is, it's the the people/town that make that place special! So kind and welcoming! Hats off to the Land owners, NEMBA heads, Trail Crew, and all the little shops! They have created something truly special, and should start a business turning towns into an epic Outdoor/Recreational/Mountain Bike Town. If the ocean was near by, it would be my home!
Question: the only trails I didn't have a chance to ride are the those at the top part of the bike park: Freeride, Upper Jay and DH trail. Anyone can tell me if those trails technicality/difficulty justify bringing a DH bike ? Would they be enjoyable on a AM bike with 160mm travel for a averagely-skilled rider ?
Went ok through all but came out of it of a lot more tired than I expected. Expert only, definitely.
If you bring you DH bike in there you'll definitely enjoy the upper part but you will regret it as much in the lower part.
An enduro bike is the "best" bet in there I would say.
I have heard from very good downhill riders that Freeride trail on an AM bike is quite insane. DH bike and all the gear suggested...
from tons of fast flowing single track, straight up old school shuttle worthy DH off the top, pump tracks, dirt jumps, to chairlift freeride/flow trails and the best VT Maple Sundays in town
Just make sure you ride with a local unless you pay for a membership which gets you access to the online map.
Perry has arguable the 2 best hand built long descent in the state. Only 10 miles of main trail there but you get about 2000 feet of downhill, that is tech and flowly and just good.
Hinesburg Town Forest, Carse Hill, and Sleepy Hollow is actually the largest trail system in Vermont, it is never really super tech but it has everything from some buff stuff to big freeride style features. Its the hidden Gem near burlington.
CFN(Aka Cadys Falls Nursery) has some of the flowiest trails in the state, and also some of the most tech, sometimes at the same time. CFN is like KTA but more raw, and more confusing. CFN and KTA are my 2 favorites in the state. Flowly hand built trails with natural hits and berms everywhere. If you like sand/hardpack go to KTA, if you like Loam go to CFN.
Lilias and I: Fox Run - Old Webbs
Just me: Heaven's Bench - Ridge - Rim