Written by Ross Saxton with contributions by partners of stewardMRV
[Trail Mix is an article series about the ins and outs of trail building, trail management, and recreation around the Mad River Valley (and a little beyond). We hope these articles help motivate outdoor enthusiasts to be engaged with & excellent stewards of our trails, pathways, and outdoors.]
It’s safe to say that most people come to the Mad River Valley for the outdoor recreation opportunities and the natural beauty all around. Or as the Chamber puts it, “Come for the mountains. Stay for the Valley.” Among our mountains and valley are more than 60 miles of officially managed multi-use trails. Add snowmobile trails and the Long Trail into the mix and that number exceeds 100 miles. That’s a pretty big number to tackle when you might only have a weekend to spend in the MRV. Where to start? Even if you’ve lived in the valley for years or visit every season, it is understandably a bit daunting to take in all that the MRV great outdoors has to offer. On top of that, there are several organizations who build and maintain these trails. Who to follow for info and updates? This article, split into two parts, will help you figure out how the pathways and trails work in the MRV and shed some light on the organizations behind their stewardship.
Trails for Everyone
From the lowest pebble in the Mad River to the highest rock on the Monroe Skyline, there’s a trail to get there; everywhere in between there’s something for everyone. For folks looking for a leisurely stroll or a safe place for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, the Mad River Path offers several sections. Many of these paths are near the Mad River and its swimming holes, while the section named “Heart of the Valley” winds through downtown Irasville and Waitsfield just steps away from more than 50 businesses. The boardwalk between the Skatium and Lawson’s Finest even features a relatively new beaver pond that keeps getting better for wildlife viewing. The West Greenway off Meadow Rd is mostly mowed grass and provides wonderful views of both the Mad River and the Green Mountain range, including Sugarbush and Lincoln Peak; this is a lovely section at dusk. Other path sections have their own special characteristics that warrant exploration. Another great trail network that’s oriented towards hiking and running is found on the Harwood Union High School property—both easy and challenging trails are found here and are open to the public outside of school hours. It can get a bit confusing on the Harwood trails while you’re getting to know this system, so be sure to keep your bearings out there.
For trails with more elevation, rocks, roots, and twists than the valley-bottom paths, the hills and mountains are where to go. Primarily built and managed by the Mad River Riders, more than 54 miles of multi-use trails wind through private and public land. All are open to the public for biking, running, walking, and skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. These trails can be found across the valley, ranging from Blueberry Lake in the south to Moretown in the north. Everyone from toddlers to expert riders will enjoy the network at Blueberry Lake. Start off with a loop on Tootsie Roll. If desiring more, head to Amenta's Way and stop to take in the view at the lookout. For a bit more challenge and a little solitude, check out Chain Link and East Loop, in the Camel’s Hump State Forest, where you'll find almost three miles of handbuilt single track with challenging rock features.
The Conservation Commissions of Warren, Waitsfield, and Fayston are also vital partners in managing trails on town land, like at Chase Brook Town Forest, Scrag Mountain Town Forest, Wu Ledges Town Forest, Boyce Hill Town Forest, and Eaton Town Forest, above the Warren Skate Park. These trails are often tucked away and sometimes offer less traffic than other spots.
Co-located with other trails in places, the xc skiing-oriented Catamount Trail travels through the MRV and offers year-round recreation on part the stretch (Sugar Run to just south of the Mad River Barn). Another trail that passes through the upper reaches of the MRV is the world famous Long Trail. It’s a rough and tough trail with a lot of views. Getting to the Long Trail is easy by vehicle on Lincoln Gap or App Gap (Rt 17) while shoes or boots will get you there through Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak or Mt. Ellen access roads, up Mad River Glen, or the Hedgehog Brook Trail in Fayston. During the winter, groomed xc ski trails are at Ole’s and Blueberry Lake Cross Country Center by purchasing a ski pass in support of two great family-run businesses
Trail Etiquette
Parking for all the trails in the MRV is usually plentiful with some areas filling up during the weekends and other busy days—especially near swimming holes on warm summer days. Days where parking lots are filled provide the perfect opportunity to explore lesser known or less busy areas—but be sure to respect private property and signage. Warren Falls, for example, is notorious for its parking challenges where parking along Rt 100 on busy days becomes very dangerous; in a case like this, it’s always worth going elsewhere than taking a risk. Trail maps and info like local amenities, dog etiquette, and rules are found on more than 50 trailhead kiosks around the valley. Trail users should expect to take all trash and recycling when leaving at many sites, while seasonal trash and recycling bins are available at some of the busier recreation sites, like Bridge St. and Lareau Swimming Hole in Waitsfield--thanks to the Town of Waitsfield and stewardMRV, an initiative of the MRV Trails Collaborative. Dogs always need to be on a leash on trails and in public areas; this is extremely important. About a dozen dog waste bag dispensers are located at trailheads with free waste bags provided by the Mad River Path. Every piece of dog poop needs to be picked up and disposed of properly. Not leashing dogs and leaving poop along trails is a huge risk to some trails staying open; it impacts the experience and safety of people and other dogs and degrades the health of rivers and streams. We take dog rules very seriously here in the MRV, but don’t take it the wrong way—we love dogs!
Links to the valley’s trail organizations and a map of trails is found at https://www.madrivervalley.com/trails.