If you were introducing somebody new to Vermont snowmobiling,or even just looking for new places to ride, what would be your favorite trails with Spectacular views, intersting scenery, or just wide open great riding.



For Southern Vermont, Can't beat the Glastonbury Mtn fire tower. Can be a challenging ride, but a incredible view awaits those who make it to the top.

great topic MM!

NEK = Canaan to Norton...gorrrrgeous!

I agree....however, there is also a trail that goes to the firetower via the backside of the mountain as well. We tried this several times last winter but the snow got too deep on the steep ride up. Anyone end up making it all the way to the top last winter?

I also liked the railbeds in Groton...pretty cool!

For southern VT I like the 7C100 trail between Wilmington and Woodford.

The Mad River Valley, across the suspension bridge and onwards to Little River State park and beyond.

Wow, I go away for a month and everything changes here...

I always liked the ride through the Texas Falls area near Granville. The trails is a state forest road, and its about as wide and fast as you'll find in Central VT. the Railbed through Saint Albans is awesome when its fresh groomed too.

I second the Mad River Valley - only the other direction - back over the moutain into Hinesburg - then back towards the suspension bridge from Williston and Essex. About 125 mile loop - a nice days ride for a small group.

I also like the Jeffersonville - Fletcher - Bakersfiled - Montgomery - Belvidere loop - covers a VAST (yes - pun intended) array of terrain and trail types - some nice cruising, wooded trail riding and meadow land drag strips (obeying speed limits of course!).

The St Albans railbed is nice if you have some less experienced riders that you are showing around - you can cover some pretty good ground and have a good time - plenty of businesses along the way for food, etc. The Abbey is a nice place to stop for lunch or dinner just outside of Sheldon.

I'm looking at riding some in the southern part of the state this year - never riden there and I'm looking forward to seeing what I've only read and heard about.

Remember - even a bad day on the trail is still better than a good day at work! Think Snow!!!! (87 degrees tomorrow?? WTF??)

This is a good topic. I like the 2000 trail really good views, 96 from Stone dam back to Canaan, and trail 1 down in the Maidstone area. Really there is too many to list but thats a start. I was up there on Sunday and the trees are starting to change won't be long now....

Ouch! That trail is a back breaker. They don't groom it nearly as often as they should! Of course, now that I've got a sled that can actually handle bumps, maybe my opinion will change!!!

But... as long as you're on that section of trail, make sure to stop at Somerset Lake. Right below the lake is the chute where all of the water runs, and due to the very high velocity of the water, during the winter the mist freezes to all of the trees around the chute and makes for quite a beautiful scene.

There's also a nice twisty section of trail that I like to ride. It's the Route 9 East route right out of Readsboro (at the very bottom of Route 7) that brings you to the Harriman Reservoir. After the first mile you cross highway route 8, then you get a 2 or 3 mile twisty uphill climb that can't be beat.

If you're up to some ungroomed trails, there are some fun trails in the Readsboro/Stamford area that can bring you to a few nice places, including Sucker Pond and the top of Dutch Hill, which is a really spectacular view:

yep, a climb to the top of the tower, on a clear day, after a snowstorm is an awesome view

There is a spot on Rt 5 in Tunbridge where you can see the White Mountains, Killington (through the trees as they have grown over the years), Sugarbush, I think Mad River Glen, Camels Hump and Mount Mansfield. Awesome but windy.

People like the Walden trails alot, the groomers take VERY good care of these trails. Coles Pond is a beautiful area. And I have to put my plug in (sorry) that the trails take you right by my store wich has seating and about to have beer on tap! Its new for Walden thier wasn't much here before.
I heard they closed down trails in Peacham, anyone know if they are going to reopen these trails?

Thought Id try to get this topic going again. Any more info on the fire tower ride? My buddies and I ride mountain sleds and are looking for deep and steep in south west/central VT.

not just a plug, its the Truth!! the coles pond/walden and danville groomers are 100% always on top of their shit and keep the trails mint, no matter what.

i will def stop in your place this year. just been accustomed to getting everything at marty's

Maybe it depends on the day. I have seen it get very choppy from somerset to rt 100 but from rt 100 back into WIlmington usually not too bad at least that I can remember. I have run into issues with low snow conditions though .



Yes this is very cool.

Ok the cold weather and recent snow's inspired me. Went & picked out a couple of photos of the trails I like or at least have pictures of. There are so many and I don't have pics of them all. For a night ride, I always like 127 out of Richford where the rail trail ends. You go up these power lines, into the woods, then take 120 down into Montgomery where Sylvesters or whatever the store's name is now. Once in Montgomery, I always like to go up to Hazen's notch follow the brook through the woods to 242. That new trail that got cut over the mountain is fun and reminds me alot of a shorter version of the hill climb like the one you can do over near Coles Pond to that lookout.

From Uncle Bills in Eden to lowell is awesome. Lots of pine bough trails, pretty as heck with lots of snow.

From the old Lague Inn in Berlin is top Notch. Take you down into Northfield and Randolph. Lots of sweet wood trails there.

From Smiley School in Bolton, you can ride through mountains in Bolton & Little River State Park and head off over the suspension bridge into Waterbury and Waitsfield. Quality trails and fun twisties.

The Brighton Area, Newark, love that a friend has a camp up there. Trails awesome.

Anywhere from Marty's, is a blast. (Walden, Coles Pond, to my friends house off the trail to St. J after the tunnel.

Gone out of Milton over the hill (that pond is scary shit) to Essex, Westford, Cambridge, Jeffersonville, Bakerfield, Fletcher. Again, beautiful. well all except that damn pond.

A whole bunch that I have gone to and not kept track except can see em in my brain.

Not sure if any of this makes sense but I have so many good memories of riding and look forward to this year coming!!!

i cannot wait for this years riding.

North of the Chittendam dam can be spectacular...but the very best views ...I would say go to Derby and head to Troy/North Troy...and through Jay toward Montgomery and back through the Jay Forest to Westfield....The traffic is usually low, The grooming is usually OUTSTANDING! Irisburg is almost always well cared for. Vermont is almost always spectacular if the snow is there..... Also trail 1 near Victory or south of Brighton is usually fun for us POWDERHOUNDS! It was partially closed last winter? Is this re-opened?

Anybody hear if the east haven radar base is having an open house this year?

A normal day out for a ride just taken in the sites, it is all so so good. bt.

Nice pics! Keep up the posts keep it coming Catch the fever!

Trail 2000 near I.P. is a good one to go on...

I dont know the name of the trail but its on the "backside" of Woodford. Take Airport Rd all the way to the end and go left. Then take your first left and go to the end of that road. Then another left. You'll eventually go over this bridge:




At that end of THAT trail, take yet another left - this will put you on the backside of Glastonbury MTN on the steep and deep trail... For the entire month of Feb and March last winter nobody ever made it all the way to the top. We tried 3 times without success. It got to the point where its very steep and the snow had to be around 5 feet deep.
When we got stuck a moose was staring us down through the brush about twenty feet away from us.

I have to agree with GaderX and Dons Heating, Trail 2000 in IP area is a great trail. Especially at the top of the hill....

Haven't heard anything about East Mtn Radar site ride in this season. Not sure what the status of the American Thunders Riders is either. They groom that area.

Duno if there is a date this year but the radar base gets my vote for the VT Must Ride. I've been there a bunch of times and it never gets old! The open house typicaly is the Saturday before the Saturday of Presidents Day weekend. It was scheduled for the weekend prior to the Valentines blizzard 2007 and canceled because there wasn't enough snow to get there.

Also a weekend in the NEK isn't complete for me until I've run the power line north and the pipeline east of the "trail rest".

SOME COOL PICS FROM VT


THE SPILLWAY ON SOMERSET RESERVOIR



star lake, in belmont






the old ski lodge on 7n

Groton Railbed:



EARLY morning after a fresh snowfall - Airport Rd parking lot - Woodford.

Nice shots TF!

awesome owl pix... you never see them. I think I saw only 2 in the wild ...ever!

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04PROX27,


Look closely...in your photo, is that Moose sticking his/her tongue at you? LOL ...another great shot.

How many riders on the VT forum saw a Moose on a ride?

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5:P1010315.JPG]Click to view attachment more wildlife, (under the same roof).

we saw one last year in east haven/victory area

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I've only seen a moose once in my life and it wasn't on the trails...

Ive seen 8 or 10 around Canaan. 1 night we had 2 that wouldnt get out of the way. They just ran down the trail and stopped as soon as we did. 3 minutes later we,d start the sleds and theyde be right there, 100 feet in front of us.

IVE been down the yellow bucket trail, my kidneys still hurt!

speaking of must-ride trails, and seeing moose, what's the trail that goes past the Calvin Coolidge house in Plymouth? Once you go past the house, and you head back up to the higher elevations, I always see moose there. A couple years ago, there were 3 of them walking in a line, right up the brook in what seemed to be chest deep snow. Good trail, and good odds of seeing some meese....

Cabot's new Coits Pond Trail is a ton of fun...take a look! It is a mile of smooth roller coaster, steep hills with views and deep valleys...if you like a thrill this is the trail for you (but of course your slower mellow riders can enjoy it too)...but be careful STAY left...as there may be another thrill searcher coming from the other direction.

www.cabotskylighters.com

The signs I put up for Barre's Sno Bees say to stay right. Did we miss the meeting that changed trail direction?

Opps sorry a little dyslexicia there....it is right...

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentmoose #2 tough to get the camera out quick on a small trail.Click to view attachmenthard to see but there was two (on the trail) when we rode up to them.