2020 Circumburke Challenge Will be Cancelled
September 15, 2020
The Circumburke Trail Challenge is a 27-mile backcountry course for trail runners and mountain bikers to test their limits. Traditionally Circumburke has been a one-day event that circumnavigates Burke Mt. on a route through state land connecting Kingdom Trails, the Victory Hill sector, and Burke Mt. singletrack in a wild corner of Vermont’s NEK. Participants have embraced the intense physical and mental challenge that the course offers. Previous challenges have brought over 600 racers as well as their families and friends to the area.
This year, with careful consideration for safety, the event had been restructured in partnership with VT State Parks and Recreation to offer multiple date choices, capping registration numbers each day to protect the local community by avoiding a large group gathering, and allow for social distancing on course.
Conceived in 2010, the event has been produced in partnership between Victory Hill and Kingdom Trails to help provide economic support to the region during the Fall tourist shoulder season. With the cancellation of so many recent events and the resulting economic impact facing the area, KTA had been hopeful that Circumburke would provide a timely boost to morale and local businesses.
In 2020, the event was planned to be produced solely by KTA, the Circumburke Challenge has historically served as a fundraising event for the Kingdom Trail Association with a portion of the proceeds designated for access to Vermont state land and dedicated to maintaining and building trails to provide recreation and education opportunities, fostering the health of the local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.
A part of the route of the Circumburke Challenge passes through a section of the Victory Hill Sector trails, an integral part of the course that is currently closed to bikes due to an ongoing Act 250 Jurisdictional Opinion proceeding. The final decision to cancel the event was made in consideration of the potential for further Act 250 complications for Victory Hill, as well as the potential impact on KTA’s own pending Act 250 Jurisdictional Opinion.
KTA wishes to thank all Circumburkers and our communities for understanding the decision to cancel the 2020 Circumburke Trail Challenge. Those who have registered for the 2020 event will receive a full refund. KTA looks forward to hosting the Circumburke in the future to celebrate epic single track and trail users and to help provide an economic boost during a slower time of year for the economy of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
If you would like more information on the Circumburke Trail Challenge, please email info@kingdomtrail.org
EAST BURKE, VT – October 27, 2025 – Kingdom Trails, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of recreational trails in the Northeast Kingdom, today announced it has received a monumental gift of $100,000 from Bear Den Partners, the owners of Burke Mountain, and Kingdom Trails’ single largest private landowner. This unprecedented corporate donation is the largest in Kingdom Trails’ history and signifies a powerful commitment to the economic vitality and future of recreation in the Northeast Kingdom. The $100,000 investment comes as both organizations continue to expand their collaborative efforts to enhance outdoor tourism and provide world-class experiences for visitors and local community members alike. This funding will be immediately directed toward critical trail maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable trail development projects across the network, allowing Kingdom Trails to build important new connections and keep the trails in top shape. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity and vision demonstrated by the leadership at Burke Mountain,” said Georgia Gould, Interim Executive Director of Kingdom Trails. “This is more than just a donation; it’s an unprecedented investment in the future health of our trails, our organization, and the entire Northeast Kingdom community. This investment ensures we can not only maintain the current quality of the Kingdom Trails experience but also pursue long-term sustainability and innovative projects.” The gift came during an evening of music and celebration of Kingdom Trails’ Landowners hosted by Bear Den Partners at the Burke Mountain Hotel. The event brought together the landowners, community members, and friends who make Kingdom Trails possible. The evening featured a powerful joint performance by national touring artists Adam Gardner of Guster and Stephen Kellogg, whose music captured the warmth, connection, and spirit that define the Northeast Kingdom. The relationship between Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails has been instrumental in positioning the region as a premier mountain biking and outdoor destination. Burke Mountain’s contribution emphasizes a shared goal of drawing visitors to the region while ensuring responsible stewardship of the natural resources. “Burke Mountain is a proud neighbor and partner to Kingdom Trails,” said Jon Schaefer, CEO of Bear Den Partners. “We understand that the trails are a critical driver of our local economy and an important amenity for our guests. Making this $100,000 commitment was a clear decision—it ensures the longevity of this incredible network and helps secure the Northeast Kingdom’s reputation as a top-tier outdoor destination for generations to come.” The organizations encourage the public and corporate partners to view this as an inspiration for collective responsibility in protecting and preserving the trails that define Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom experience. Kingdom Trails extends its sincere gratitude to Bear Den Partners for their integral support of this investment and their dedication to the future of the trails. About Kingdom Trails Kingdom Trails is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of a 100+ mile network of non-motorized multi-use trails in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Utilizing a land-use agreement model with 106 private landowners, Kingdom Trails provides recreational access that promotes healthy lifestyles, economic vitality, and sustainable use of resources. About Burke Mountain Located in the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Burke Mountain Resort is an independent, four-season destination owned by Bear Den Partners. Burke delivers 178 acres of world-class skiing and riding in the winter, and lift-served mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Burke’s bike park is adjacent to the world-renowned Kingdom Trails network, a mecca for mountain bikers. Year-round, Burke and the Burke Mountain Hotel host events and activities that reflect the culture and community of Vermont: down-to-earth, uncorporate and driven by the spirit of the mountain and the people who ride it. For more information, visit SkiBurke.com or follow on all major social platforms including Instagram , Facebook and YouTube .
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