The VMBA Chapter Trail Grant program has been a hallmark of our efforts to build more and better trails. Since it launched back in 2012, we’ve awarded more than $600,000 to 130+ Chapter projects across the state. While Membership fuels the basic maintenance and upkeep of the trails you love to ride, Trail Grants fund major rehabilitation, new trail construction, and equipment acquisitions that allow Chapters to step up their game.
The 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 alignment with the “Trails” pillar of VMBA’s Strategic Plan to improve progression, accessibility, and connectivity.
Last year, we raised $75,000 during our Annual Fund Campaign to support the Trail Grant program, and we are thrilled to announce that we awarded all $75,000 to thirteen (13) projects this year. Our 2026 Chapter Trail Grant awardees:
$7,000 to Fellowship of the Wheel (FOTW) to implement Climate Resilience upgrades throughout the 80+ miles of trails they manage in Chittenden County, and to restore trails degraded in the 2023 and 2024 historic flooding events with permanent updates and reroutes that will better weather future climate-driven events.
$7,000 to Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association (WAMBA) to overhaul a 3.1 mile central loop in the Aqueduct network, upgrading the corridor to meet adaptive trail standards, improving drainage and enhancing the experience for beginner riders and multi-use trail users, while preserving the character and technical identity that define the Aqueduct network.
$7,000 to Ridgeline Outdoor Collective to help construct an advanced jump trail in Rochester Hollows, providing the next level in skill development as a step up trail adjacent to the Intermediate Progression Trail on the same parcel and serve as a development training zone for the local youth mountain bike programs that rely on the network.
$7,000 to Okemo Valley Trails (OVT) to complete the scenic upper loop at the Fletcher Farms trail system in Ludlow, linking the climbing and descending trails slated to be constructed this summer and allowing this new trail system to open in 2026 and providing additional trails in a community that has historically lacked mountain bike opportunities.
$7,000 to Waterbury Area Trail Alliance (WATA) to elevate the Disneyland trail at Perry Hill into a cohesive, progressive black diamond experience from top to bottom, installing skill-building features on the lower-half of the trail to create a more consistent and challenging experience.
$7,000 to Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association (UVMBA) to support Phase 3 of a multi-year project to rebuild the lower trails at Landmark (Boston Lot) to make them adaptive and more kid-friendly while introducing opportunities for progression through thoughtfully distributed skills areas.
$7,000 to Southern Vermont Trails Association (SoVTA) to fund construction of a new adaptive-optimized directional descending trail at the Stratton Town Forest, providing a true intermediate descending experience featuring progressive, rollable trail features, sustainable grade management, appropriate turn radii, and clear sight lines.
$7,000 to Windham County Trails Alliance (WCoTA) to help construct the first professionally-designed and built directional flow trail in the Oak Hill network, filling a critical gap by adding a beginner- and adaptive-friendly trail to a system that is currently technical and best suited for intermediate to advanced riders.
$5,000 to Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) to start a multi-year project to upgrade or fully replace aging bridges throughout the network, focused on bridges throughout the Lynx, Paradise, and 42nd Street trails that are overdue for repairs/replacement, employing modern design techniques to improve the riding experience.
$4,000 to Stowe Trails Partnership (STP) to complete design and begin construction on phase 1 of the Chapter’s newest trail network, Rooney Farm, aimed at filling a significant gap in regional user experience by providing advanced, purpose-built directional descending trails in a network of 10-15 miles of dedicated singletrack.
$3,360 to Addison County Bike Club (ACBC) to professionally design and flag three new trails corridors as part of the A. Johnson Multi-use Recreational Area & Timberlands Trails Project, a new year-round, multi-use recreation destination on Hogback Mountain in Bristol, VT.
$2,500 to Brewster River Mountain Bike Club (BRMBC) to construct a new adaptive-optimized, directional descending trail at the Cricket Hill trail network in Hyde Park, strengthening its status as a zone for adaptive riding and providing an intermediate option for descent from the top of the network.
$2,500 to Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association (MAMBA) to support implementation of targeted improvements through the North Branch trail system, including widening of seven existing bridges, minor modifications to portions of existing trails, and improvement of trail signage for users.
Keep an eye out for updates from these Chapters as they make headway on the projects throughout the 2026 build season. We’ll also recap all the completed Trail Grant projects at our next annual meeting in early 2027.
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. Stay tuned for our Annual Fund campaign later this season, which is the best way to support the Trail Grant program. Thank you!