Welcome to Southern Vermont, where bustling ski towns are changing their pace for the summer season. Stratton Mountain Bike Park is open for business and calling all riders to get a taste of their perfect combination of tech/flow riding.
The team at MTBVT was invited for a weekend of fun to meet the team at Stratton and the master trail builder who builds dreams into rideable artwork. First up was a downhill session at Stratton Bike Park.
Naturally the desire for airtime ensued us to send it straight for the jump trail Launch Pad. The trail was beautifully sculpted with clear takeoffs and landings, beautiful wooden features, and sweetly shaped berms promoting swift trail speed.
Riding a bike park for the first time brings on some nerves, but in this case only smiles. After grabbing a few more laps across the park on trails like Gravitas, Loam Shark, and Bermie Sanders we were really starting to unlock the fun. The trails are the perfect mix of flowy fast joy with technical sections sprinkled into the mix.
As the Bike Park closed it was time to head south to Dover VT to ride the Horace Hill trails with Brook Scatchard from Sinuosity himself.
Climbing past a map and over a boardwalk transported us into the network. Horace Hill was granted for public use by the town allowing for hiking, disc golf, and mountain biking. Brook and his team recently finished up this project with three noteworthy descents. This place has it all for anyone to enjoy a great trail ride.
As we climbed past old growth maples, the enchanted nature of this forest started to reveal itself to us. It was clear Horace Hill was special and had a beautiful aura located on a historic sugar bush. Sinuosity did a great job of meticulously planning these trails to be the perfect balance of speed and fun while preserving this unique and beautiful forest.
First up was the blue flow trail Wide Open. We dropped in close behind Brooke enjoying his riding come alive as he shredded sneaky lines down his freshly built trail. Wide Open is loaded with sneaky doubles, tall berms, and pumpy, flowy fun from top to bottom.
After a quick climb back to the top we sent it over to Cannonball Run. This black tech trail is the best of a natural modern loamer. It starts with a couple catch berms hucking riders straight into fresh dirt. A few drifts through the brown pow carries speed into a sizable jump followed by a compression booter soaring riders into the lower section of the trail. A few more turns drop you back into the blue flow to round out the run to the climb.
For beginners, Sinuosity purpose built the climb trail as the beginner downhill. This includes smooth berms, sections to pick up some speed, and even some sneaky jumps which is a joy for all abilities to ride.
After ripping across the day, it was due time for a bite to eat. At the base of the trail network lies newly opened Black Ember Grill for quick BBQ bites to enjoy after a few laps.
We headed south to Valley Craft Ales for craft beer and a delicious meal after an outstanding day of riding.
Valley Craft has the perfect recipe to bring the entire community together. Through live music, the best NY style pizza in VT, deliciously brewed craft beer, and even an inn for folks to spend the night, we knew we were in for a great time. The beer was out of this world smooth paired with carefully crafted and exotic pizza, we were refreshed to keep the wheels spinning for day two of this weekend adventure.
DAY TWO
Dawn broke with blue skies and beautiful fall temps egging the team to head back up to Stratton Bike Park. We met up with Brooke after slamming a delicious breakfast burrito from the Mountain Market in the Stratton Village. The Village has food, shopping, lodging, and fun for the whole family.
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Stratton Bike Park has been in the works for the last 5 years. Their trails are meticulously laid off the high-speed American Express quad. Expansion projects are in the works to add technical advanced terrain and beginner terrain across the park. Already, they have an amazing variety of trails for a weekend of fun – but be on the lookout for new loamers popping up very soon.
As late morning dawned, we loaded our bikes on the lift and were thrusted to the top of the high-speed chair. Knocking the morning dust off, we headed out to Paper Route for a nice long warm up. The lower half of the trail is part of the expansion project, with a plan to bring bikers off the work road and into single track for the runout back to the lift.
Morning jitters aside we headed to lookers left of the mountain to hit our favorite Gravitas to Loam Shark indulging in root gardens, loam, and mind-bending speed. The variety of trails is impressive at Stratton, offering the best of tech, flow, and fun across the Bike Park. All trails give a rider the opportunity to break the sound barrier yet encourages them to dance their way down in each individual style. Optional kickers, manual pads, and well-placed rocks promote styling down every trail.
After a few more hot laps through the main park, we headed to Bear’s Den for the cherry on top. This is a unique trail that drops riders to the Sun Bowl – an adjacent base area where boondocking in a van or rig for the night is in the realm of possibilities. It is an out-and -back style trail with two-way traffic. Not something you see at many bike parks.
The team at Sinuosity took the trail feel from your favorite VMBA network and added it to the Bike Park for trail riders to enjoy. Take the lift to the top and enjoy watching ferns fly by as you boost your way to the quiet side of the hill. Slow down on your way back up and inspect every double carefully as you roll back over them. Of course, don’t forget to session your favorites as you go.
A hard-hitting morning sent us to the lot for pizza leftovers before heading north for our final stop on this exciting weekend.
We found ourselves in Dorset VT at the Raptor Lane Trails. This network is a relatively new build where Sinuosity and the Dorset VMBA chapter NATS teamed up to manage these trails to a very high standard. Right out the gate this network features a skills park and small jump line for the kid’s and adults alike to warm up before heading up the climb.
We started with a quick and punchy climb over to Little Ripper. This trail is insane fun, with kickers scattered across both sides of the trails and lily pad like jumps bouncing you into corners. It’s a fan favorite for riders of all abilities.
Hoots and hollers were heard across the network as we boosted back over to the climb grinding up to the next decent. Throughout the park is a moderately pitched climb trail that traverses to the top, with options to point it straight up the double track as a express routes.
We punched straight up to Gettysberm – the next full length blue flow trail. North of the trail lays a quarry where mined stones were used as grave markings for Gettysburg – hence the creative trail name. About a mile more of hiking will bring you out to the quarry for a proper adventure, but bike trails do not make it out that far.
Gettysberm was one of the team’s favorite trails of the weekend. It featured options to launch sizable jumps, get off the brakes and let the bike eat on quick straight aways, and magical tech-flow goodness through this beautiful forest. This is the style of riding we all see in our most vivid dreams. Just when you think it’s over, the trail drops back to the right for more fast, flowy bliss.
Landing back at the start we meandered to the top of Wait, What?. This one is a bit of an anomaly being a technical black trail in a network of blue flow. Most is hand built, with advanced features like a ledge drop after the first corner of the trail.
Wait, What? delivers your need for speed, with plenty of loam to drive those knobs into. It’s a joy to ride and in Sinuosity’s style you can count on sneaky doubles, technical flow, and the perfect recipe to unlock the adrenaline code without feeling insecure.
The trail builders at Sinuosity have tapped into what makes a perfect trail network for mountain bikers of all abilities to enjoy. Their work is extraordinary and can be found sprinkled across the state of Vermont. These trails in Southern VT are no exception with a modern take on old school enduro fun.
It was a treat to ride the trails with the person who built them. Brooke was an encyclopedia of trail information, educating us about all the different steps involved in developing local trail networks.
5 minutes down the hill from Raptor Lane lies a beautiful quarry perfect for a dip, enjoying a cold brew, and sharing stories of close calls with trees, stray rocks and loose corners encountered across the weekend.
Southern Vermont is a largely untapped mountain bike destination craving more riders to enjoy their mecca of trails. The community is rapidly growing and ready to support weekend visitors from across the east coast and beyond. Take a weekend, stop chasing a Strava KOM on your local loop, and go check out these new trails!
Links and Resources for Visitors
Beer & Food:
– Valley Craft Ales (Dover, VT)
– Mountain Market and Deli (Stratton, VT)
– Black Ember Grill (Base of Horace Hill – Dover VT) Newly Opened
Lodging & Camping
– Black Bear Lodge (Stratton VT)
– Boondocking (Stratton Lot 1 & Sun Bowl)
– Jamaica State Park Camping (reservations required)
Trail Networks in the region
– Horace Hill (Dover, VT)
– Stratton Bike Park (Stratton, VT)
– Plan your trip to Stratton
– Raptor Lane (Dorset, VT)
– Mount Snow Bike Park (Dover VT)
VMBA Chapters & Trail Builders
– Sinuosity
– NATS
– Hoot, Toot, & Whistle
Author:
Dean Havelock
MTBVT Field Editor
Special thanks from MTBVT to:
Andrew and the Marketing team at Stratton for making this weekend happen. These trails rip. We look forward to seeing growth and expansion at the bike park!
Justin, Travis, Mike and the whole team at Valley Craft Ales for the awesome beer, food, and hospitality. You have a beautiful restaurant with the perfect recipe to bring the whole community together.
Brooke and the master trail builders of Sinuosity for the tour across your beautiful builds and crafting incredible trails across VT for all wakes of life to enjoy. Your art is exceptional, and we love to shred it!
