Network Capacity Study Recommendations are In
February 8, 2021
We need your input!
The study document is a virtual “storymap” available at www.kingdomtrails.org/networkcapacity
and a video of the study’s presentation to the Burke selectboard is also available at that site. At this time, members of the public are invited to review the study recommendations and identify key priorities for Kingdom Trails in an online survey. The survey will remain open through the end of February 2021.
The capacity analysis determined that the trail system has sufficient capacity, but there are imbalances, pinch points, and opportunities to better disperse use. For example, there are many miles of trails on the southern end of Darling Hill, with very limited immediate parking and Burke Mountain offers hundreds of available parking spaces that have been underutilized. There is also a shortage of parking in the village, given the level of use in that area.
The study recommended locating the new welcome center in East Burke village, on the KTA-owned property where the balance bike pump track is currently located. This location was selected due to its connectivity to the trail system, existing KTA-ownership, topography, proximity to village businesses, and the importance of the welcome center remaining in East Burke. This new welcome center could offer guest services and office space, programming and events space, ample parking, a picnic area and river access, and other amenities. This new welcome center could act as a portal and tourist information center for both the trail system and the Northeast Kingdom more broadly. Additionally, a crosswalk was recommended in the village across Highway 114 in a location that would not result in the removal of on-street parking.
The study also offered potential designs for enhanced road-trail crossings, a new village trailhead, and mobile welcome center units. The mobile welcome centers would be “food truck-style” trucks or vans located in satellite parking lots that offer the indoor/outdoor service typically found at the Welcome Center, along with ambassador presence, membership, merchandise, and map information. The study also recommends better messaging around parking, alerting visitors to available parking spaces and satellite lots via additional website information, signage, and an integrated phone app.
A key community priority that emerged was dispersing users and spreading the economic impact of the trail system. There are several opportunities to do so in the Town of Lyndon. The land surrounding the new Kingdom Campground and the Lyndon Outing Club could be developed with 10 to 15-mile trail networks, and Northern Vermont University would be an excellent partner for future events and programs, given their campus and educational opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Kingdom Trails is a world-class trail system deeply intertwined with the local community. Local community members have banded together to develop the 100+ mile trail system and 100 private landowners allow trails to pass through their property. The user experience extends well beyond the trail network itself to the community fabric and tourism infrastructure that surround it. Users drive and ride along local roads, visit lodging and restaurants, and can overflow the village parking areas.
Over the past few years Kingdom Trails has become one of the most popular mountain bike destinations in the United States, with over 100,000 visits per year and visitation is growing sharply annually. With this growth, the community has experienced increasing impacts – both positive and negative – from the increasing number of users of the trail system. The trail system generates tremendous economic impact for the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and is a fantastic recreation resource for the community. However, the existing level of use places pressure on the community, its infrastructure, and the landowners.
In early 2019, KTA, in conjunction with the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, applied for and received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to help fund a Kingdom Trails Network Capacity Study to help provide an understanding of the capacity of the trail network and associated community infrastructure and contemplate strategies to address the growing number of users and address capacity imbalances in the system with an eye towards improving quality of life in the region.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions by email to info@kingdomtrails.org
or during business hours at (802) 626-0737.
Dear KT Community, I write to you today as I begin a transition in my relationship with Kingdom Trails. I have made the difficult decision to take the next step in my professional journey and step away from my role as Executive Director. Serving Kingdom Trails and this incredible community over the past eight years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply proud of the work I’ve led and supported, from navigating immense global challenges and natural disasters, to forging incredible relationships, with our landowners and community. And throughout this journey, the Northeast Kingdom has become not just where I live, but truly my home. It’s the place I chose to become a mother and where my family has put down roots. That said, I am ready to explore new ways to serve this community, ways that will allow me to continue growing as a leader. I’ve accepted the role of Interim Executive Director for the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, where I will carry forward the work I fell in love with through Kingdom Trails: strengthening our communities and supporting thoughtful economic development. In this new role, I’ll have the opportunity to advocate not only for outdoor recreation, which is so essential to the heart of our region, but also for the many sectors that make the Northeast Kingdom such a unique and vibrant place. Please know I remain deeply committed to Kingdom Trails. This is my home, and it will remain my home. I wish to always be an ambassador for KT, including playing a role in ensuring a graceful, responsible transition with care. The Board of Directors and I have committed to this, to ensure continuity, stability, and the trust you hold in this organization. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to have served my community through this role, and I look forward to closing this chapter with the same heart and good intention with which I began it. Georgia Gould is stepping in as interim Executive Director to lead the organization through this transition. Georgia has served on the KT Board of Directors since 2021, leading both the Landowner and Trail Advisory Committees. She is a KT Landowner with an impressive mountain biking and cyclocross resume - including a bronze medal in one of her two Olympic bids on Team USA and five career national championships in cross-country and short track mountain biking. Georgia, her husband Dusty, and their two young children are engaged members of the Burke community and the KT team. Her deep ties to the sport of cycling, dedication to providing great trails for all skill levels, and her love of this community make her the perfect choice to lead KT in its next phase. The Board and I are thrilled that Georgia has agreed to lead KT and feel confident that she will hold the mission of the organization at the center as she has throughout her Board service. You can reach Georgia directly and welcome her to this new role at ED@kingdomtrails.org . With deep gratitude, Abby ### Kingdom Trail Association The mission of the Kingdom Trail Association is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. Kingdom Trails strives to accomplish this mission by offering a 100+ mile network of quality, non-motorized, multi-use trails for all levels of ability, incorporating the best of our local scenery and natural diversity. The Kingdom Trails are made possible through the generosity of 106 private landowners. Northeast Kingdom Collaborativ e The mission of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative is to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development as the vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive. The NEKC brings people together to spark positive change in our communities, creating structures that bring partners together across service areas, sectors, municipal and political boundaries to provide solutions for the renewal of the Kingdom. The NEK Collaborative serves as the backbone organization for the federally designated NEK REAP Zone and community partner for USDA Rural Development.
Cannondale Dirt Party a Success
KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!
This 2025 Legislative Session, KT is teaming up with other amazing trail organizations through the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council, to advocate for H.147 a bill to establish the Recreational Trails Compensation Study.
Why does this matter?
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy generates $2.1B annually, nearly 5% of the state’s GDP, that's 2nd in the nation after Hawaii (Go VT!) KT alone drives $10M in economic impact annually. Therefore, the state must recognize and incentivize these generous private landowners, including the 106 who make KT possible and allow public access to trails.
