MANCHESTER – Vermont Huts and Trails (VHT) and the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) have announced the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS’s) approval to designate approximately 72 miles of National Forest System roads and trails in the Manchester Ranger District within the Green Mountain National Forest as part of the Velmont Trail, a future, state-wide, hut-supported mountain bike and multi-use trail corridor running from Massachusetts to Canada.
The planned trail will connect with the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in Morrisville, traveling through Wolcott, Hardwick, Greensboro Bend and Walden on its way to St. Johnsbury
map courtesy SE Group
The Velomont Vision Plan lays out what will become New England’s first long distance, hut supported mountain bike trail. Planned to connect 33 town centers through 485 miles of trail, the project will be supported by a network of backcountry huts to create an unprecedented recreational opportunity that directly supports rural town economies across the state of Vermont, according to the SE Group website.
In August 2024, the Hardwick Select Board accepted a $45,000 bid from the Vermont Huts Association (VHA) for the vacant lot at the intersection of Perry Hill Lane and Mill Street. That sale has been delayed following a fuel oil spill at the neighboring 9 Main St. property housing the Clip Joint and apartments.
Remediation of the spill has been completed by management company Rural Edge and testing is now underway to clear the way for purchase of the property and planning for the hostel.
The newly designated trail section includes a mix of new trail construction, upgrades to existing routes and targeted relocations to improve sustainability and user experience. Once complete, it will expand mountain bike access to areas where limited or no opportunities currently exist, increase connectivity between rural towns and open new points of entry to the outdoors, with a plan to be adaptive-friendly wherever possible.
“This decision is a huge leap toward connecting Vermont’s communities and trail networks through the Velomont. It represents years of planning, extensive specialist review, and thoughtful engagement with partners and the public to ensure the trail benefits both people and the environmen,” said R.J. Thompson, executive director of VHT.
“A significant portion of the approved 72-mile section of the Velomont Trail will be co-located with the Catamount Trail, an existing backcountry ski trail that spans the length of Vermont,” said Velomont trail director at VHT, Angus McCusker.
“A majority of the Catamount Trail is winter use only and not suitable for year-round use. However, with this approved mileage, several sections of it can be made suitable for year-round use with key trail tread improvements and minor reroutes to avoid sensitive areas such as wetlands.
McCusker said, “Working with partners like the Catamount Trail Association and the USFS along with various local trail network partners has been a great way to not only link existing trails and networks across the state but also help meet local community needs and goals.”
Construction on the trail can begin immediately, with phased openings as sections are completed.
To learn more about Vermont Huts & Trails and the Velomont, visit vermonthuts.org
