The Mad River Riders and Mad River Path boards met last week to discuss furthering collaboration between the two organizations.
Mad River Riders and Mad River Path have been working together for more than 35 years, but our partnership accelerated in the last few years. Together in 2020 and 2021, the Path and the Riders designed, built, and installed more than 40 trailhead kiosks highlighting an interconnected trail network and welcoming people to explore. After collaborating on a winning proposal for a VOREC grant, the organizations built a 200-foot bridge over the Mill Brook, expanded trailhead parking, constructed an innovative compost toilet, and teamed with landowners to preserve public access and improve the path into Waitsfield village.
The Conservation and Recreation Visioning (CRV) project, born from the same VOREC grant, led to the Path and the Riders working closely with conservation groups to improve outdoor recreation opportunities and protect and preserve wildlife habitat. The latest Path-led project is to connect Warren and Middlesex, with a shared-use path, intersecting with the Cross Vermont Trail and bringing the Velomont off-road bike corridor through the Valley, linking us to our neighbors to the South and North. Working together with the Friends of the Mad River, both organizations are in the midst of developing the Attitude of Gratitude Recreational Ethics project.
At the meeting, the board members acknowledged that we have a shared vision for a world-class trail system with links to our schools, villages, and businesses. Both groups work toward a welcoming valley, where people of all backgrounds and abilities can enjoy healthy recreation, immerse themselves in nature, make friends, and build community. Likewise, both groups believe that the sustainable future of the MRV lies in the thoughtful and intentional growth of the four-season recreational economy.
The organizations agreed on a set of steps to explore further collaboration, including learning more about each other’s finances and engaging a professional consultant to facilitate further dialogue.
Our 2025 Annual Giving Campaign is Underway!
The scoping study for the Path connecting Warren to Middlesex is now complete. In a year, we moved the project from a concept to a corridor, endorsed by the Agency of Transportation. But the work is just beginning! The next year is about finding a path forward, manifest community, improve safety for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups, and create conditions for sustainable economic growth and less car-centric valley.
In 2026, with your support, we will:
Build the organizational capacity to move from scoping to implementation
Organize an effective five-town implementation coalition
Begin improving the existing sections of the Path for accessibility and inclusivity
Seek federal, state, and private grants for the implementation of phases I and II of the ATC
Secure funding for and conduct demonstration projects along VT-100 (a prerequisite for receiving federal funding)
Engage in dialogue with the landowners to find win-win solutions for path connectivity
Continue to promote active transportation through e-bike lending
Complete Attitude of Gratitude recreational ethics project
Offer affordable nature immersion opportunities for children, families, and adults
Please join me in sustaining the work of Mad River Path. Our goal is to raise $130K by December 19, 2025
Only 2 spots left in our 2026 Chic Chocs Backcountry Ski Trip!
Don’t miss out on the last few spaces in our annual hut-to-hut backcountry ski trip in the Chic Choc mountains of Quebec. Click below to learn more and register.
