| Recreation Kingdom Trails |
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For Immediate Release Contact: Tim Tierney
March 25, 2009 802 626.0737
info@kingdomtrails.org
KINGDOM TRAILS
Northeast Kingdom trail network named Best in North America
Kingdom Trails recently was voted THE 2008 BEST TRAIL NETWORK in North
America through Bike Magazine Reader's Poll. Additionally, the
Sidewinder Trail, one of the more popular routes on Kingdom Trails,
was named the Best Flowing Trail. Bike Magazine is an international
publication with a large subscriber base and commercial distribution
featuring mountain-bike related articles. The reader's poll had 11
categories, with an outright winner and two runner-ups per category.
"We are very excited and pleased to be recognized for our efforts,
especially by the riders themselves" cites KTA's Executive Director
Tim Tierney. "This will highlight that there is good riding in
Vermont, not just in the Western states. Our staff and volunteers have
worked hard to provide a quality experience while maintaining the
trails in a sustainable fashion. Bringing economic stimulation to the
region is good for the Northeast Kingdom. Nowhere else do 45
contiguous landowners generously permit this type of trail system for
non-motorized recreation. This is truly a community effort."
Kingdom Trails Association (KTA) plans to open its trail system to
mountain biking in early May. Last summer, the village of East Burke
was yet again busy with mountain bikers, coming to ride the world
renown Kingdom Trails. With users coming from as far as England and
California, the association witnessed another increase in annual
usership totals. In 2008, 2200 households signed up for unlimited use
of the 110-mile multi-use non-motorized trail system. Also, KTA sold
over 9,000 day use passes. All told there were over 32,000 user visits
coming to enjoy the trails in all seasons. KTA just finished their
fourth season of grooming Nordic Trails in East Burke. The amount of
cross-country skier and snowshoers are slowly increasing yet the bulk
of visitors come here for the mountain biking. KTA's membership base,
while still strongly comprised of Vermonters, is also largely made up
of folks from New England and Quebec Province. With approximately 35%
of the users coming from Canada, KTA is very much a large attraction
to our northern neighbors.
Tierney attributes several reasons why the trails are so popular;
Design, variety, maintenance and location. The trails utilize a
variety of terrain and wend through forest and field on the shoulder
of Burke Mountain as well as the wooded and pastoral setting on
Darling Hill between the two branches of the Passumpsic River. John
Worth, a co-owner of East Burke Sports since 1988, has designed all
the singletrack on the system. "We try to build exciting trails using
natural terrain features" states Worth, "but also making them to have
less impact on the surrounding environment. I don't like to force a
trail through an area, so I spend a lot of time scouting and
identifying where the best layout can be." Such is the case with the
Sidewinder Trail, which serpentines the side- slope of a natural
drainage in an area containing well draining sandy soils.
The large increase of users visiting the trails last summer prompted
KTA to place hardening and treadway structures throughout the entire
system. "Our trail maintenance crew really works hard to keep these
trails safe, fun and more importantly, less resistant to impact."
Tierney says, " Our crew led by trail manager, CJ Scott, has vastly
improved the system with bridging and drainages." The KTA veteran
trail crew built over 500 feet of new bridging just last year and also
completed the standard sign making, drainage cleaning, blowdown
removal and brushing tasks. This summer, plans are in the works for a
trail to link the village of East Burke to Burke Mountain, eliminating
a road route. A new advanced trail will be constructed on Burke
Mountain as well. Kingdom Trails is known for having trails for all
levels of ability. The past several years' efforts have been made to
satisfy riders on both ends of the spectrum. There are "Freeride
Trails" on Burke Mountain where riders must wear armor and have
special bikes. KTA also constructed a "Pump Track" which is a dirt
track complete with rollers, berms, and bumps, which is heavy utilized
by children and even seasoned riders.
Volunteer groups play a large role in both conservation and education
efforts. A group of locals maintain the more advanced trails on Burke
Mountain and 15 trained individuals perform Bike Patrol duties. The
Bike Patrol conducts light maintenance but primarily interacts with
riders encouraging proper use and safety. This summer Kingdom Trail
Association will run programs for children to help them discover the
joy of mountain biking. "Mountain biking tends to be an elitist sport,
and it is sometimes difficult for less privileged kids to get out on
bikes. This new program is a great way to introduce an activity a
child may otherwise not had an opportunity to try," says KTA's Trail
Manager CJ Scott. Scott has worked for KTA since 2002. As always, word of mouth and great publicity draws riders to
experience this unique recreational trail system. The trails are > located on a mix of private and public land. Several routes are in
The Darling State Forest, with permission from the Vermont Department
of Forest, Parks, and Recreation. The Town of Burke allows some paths
by the village including an interpretive loop along the Passumpsic.
The majority of the trail system is made possible by permission from
private landowners and businesses making it unique community
collaboration. Kingdom Trails' operations are funded by membership,
donations and trail fees. Many trail projects are funded through
grants and foundations such as the Connecticut River Joint Commission,
The Davis Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation and the indham
Foundation. KTA strives to remain an affordable recreational outlet.
The Green Season (Spring summer and Fall) Membership is $50 ndividual
and $100 for a Family Pass. Winter rates are the same but you receive
a 25% discount if you join KTA year round. Day Passes are $10 for
anyone 16 and older. Children 8 to 15 are $5. Anyone 7 or under or
over 70 are free. "The cost of maintaining and managing the trails has
increased and we are putting a lot of money back into the trails, but
we really want folks here to enjoy the lodging and eateries of the
region so we keep the rates low." says Tierney.
Kingdom Trails was established as a non-profit membership organization
by a group of visionary residents and area business leaders. The
organization's goal is to encourage recreational use of the Northeast
Kingdom that is both ecologically sensitive and promotes the natural
beauty, as well as stimulating the economy of Vermont's least
developed region. A volunteer Board of Directors leads the
organization and operations and trail management are completed by two
year-round and five seasonal staff members. All trail users are
required to purchase a membership and get involved. Kingdom Trails
publishes separate summer and winter trail maps. More information can
be obtained by calling 802-626-0737 or at www.kingdomtrails.org.
Tim Tierney, Executive Director
Kingdom Trails Association
PO Box 204
East Burke, VT 05832
802.626.0737
tim@kingdomtrails.org
www.kingdomtrails.org
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