With the snow melting and trail riding season on the horizon, we are psyched to announce our Spring round of Trail Grants! The VMBA Trail Grant program relies on a committee of Chapter Representatives to review applications and make awards, a unique model that creates incredible cross-pollination among our Chapters and ensures deserving projects receive the funding they need. Applications are assessed with a rigorous rubric incorporating accessibility, project readiness, environmental impact, matching support, and overall value.
This spring, we awarded $60,000 to ten (10) Chapters:
$7,000 to Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA) to help rebuild the Main and Campfire climbs at Perry Hill. The new climb will create a technical challenge consistent with green trails that it must be used to access, not only improve user experience, but also long-term sustainability and water quality.
$7,000 to Mad River Rivers (MRR) towards the construction of a new boardwalk across Tucker Hill Meadow. The Riders and the State of Vermont are partnering on this project to create a permanent solution to the perpetually muddy conditions along this primary public entrance to the Howe Block system.
$7,000 to Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association (UVMBA) to assist in the design and construction of a new beginner and adaptive-friendly loop at Landmark. This 1.5 mile trail is the initial phase of a multi-year plan to establish the Nature Walk trailhead as a center for learning and progression.
$7,000 to Richmond Mountain Trails (RMT) to rebuild Lower Hotdogger trail at the Driving Range. This trail was one of the first constructed at the network and has been impacted by major flooding events in each of the past two years. This machine rebuild will both improve drainage and progression.
$7,000 to Stowe Trails Partnership (STP) in support of a new beginner and aMTB-friendly Stowe Village Inn Connector trail. This new access point into the Cady Hill network will provide a lower-grade and more accessible entrance, offering better support for youth programming and adaptive camps.
$6,000 to Ludlow Area Sport Trails (LAST) to build the Kids Halfpipe trail at the new Fletcher Farms trail system. This directional trail will swoop down a broad valley, offering a fun and easy descent for families, beginners, and adaptive riders.
$5,500 to Southern Vermont Trails Association (SoVTA) to complete the bi-direction trail at Stratton Recreation Area. This project will provide an additional descending option for the popular new trail pod, in support of the town’s plans to expand mountain biking access.
$5,000 to the Millstone Trails Association (MTA) to construct a new pump track at the Brook Street trailhead. This professionally-designed and built pump track will be the first in Barre and will be integrated into the natural landscape while also supporting use by adaptive bikes.
$3,400 to Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association (WAMBA) to help fund the acquisition of a mini-excavator. The purchase of a dedicated Kubota KX018-4R1 will offset the rental charges incurred year after year and provide more flexibility to build and maintain trails throughout the season.
$2,600 to Brewster River Mountain Bike Club (BRMBC) to rehabilitate the pump track at Cricket Hill, and another $2,600 to help extend Meagan’s Trail. Both projects support the growth of Cricket hill as a destination for progression and adaptive riders and its use as a venue for youth programming.
All told, these projects represent more than $350,000 in total investment in Vermont’s trails!
Keep an eye out for updates from these Chapters as they make headway on the projects throughout the 2025 build season. We’ll also recap all the completed Trail Grant projects at our next annual meeting in early 2026.
Direct grantmaking is one of the most important ways we support our Chapters and pursue our organizational goal of accessible, well-planned, progressive, and sustainable trails. Your membership support is a huge driver of our ability to make these investments and continue to improve our trail infrastructure.
Thank you!