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.
7/11/26 Community Chat
Canadian Community Month Offers Below Kingdom Trails Kingdom Trails is a world-renowned, community-supported trail network at the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, built through long-standing landowner partnerships and careful stewardship. It remains the central hub of the region’s mountain biking community. As part of Canadian Community Month, Canadian visitors are welcomed with special membership access and benefits designed to make visiting more accessible. Offers: Canadian dollars accepted at par for annual and day memberships purchased in-person at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center New and current Canadian annual members will receive a complimentary guest day membership to share with a friend or family member, redeemable anytime during the 2026 riding season. Canadians who purchased day memberships earlier this season may upgrade to annual memberships at par, with the amount already paid in USD credited toward the upgrade Please note that the at-par rates will be applied at checkout in USD as a discount according to the current daily exchange rate; the KT Welcome Center is unable to accept Canadian currency at this time.
From the Executive Director: Hi Everyone! Well, July has certainly brought the heat, but luckily here at KT there are plenty of shady trails to choose from. Speaking of trails...we are opening a new one this weekend: "Cheddar Slice" connects the bottom of Butter Tubs to the bottom of the Dashney Loop, creating a roughly 4-mile family-friendly loop and adding another way to connect the Moose Alley and Dashney zones. Connectivity has been a big focus this year, and there is more to come later this season. Thank you to all our generous Landowners, members and supporters. Have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Fourth of July!! -Georgia Celebrate the Fourth with Us! As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to celebrate with us throughout the month of July. If you're riding on Saturday, July 4, be sure to stop by our newly refreshed Welcome Center! We'll be serving complimentary cookies and lemonade throughout the day—a small way of celebrating the holiday and welcoming riders, families, and visitors to Kingdom Trails. Later in the month, join us at Lyndonville's Stars & Stripes Celebration on Saturday, July 18. The celebration begins with the 10:00 a.m. parade, followed by the festival, where you'll find the Kingdom Trails tent. Stop by to say hello, learn about our newest initiatives and chat with our staff about everything happening at Kingdom Trails this summer. The festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and features food trucks, vendors, children's activities, live music, a Rotary BBQ, axe throwing, and more—making it a fun day for the whole family. We hope you'll stop by, say hello, and celebrate with us! CLICK HERE to read the full newsletter.
