Happy Winter! Let’s GO SNOW!
Trail use certainly does not need to end because winter is here. Our trails are open year round for FREE and there are plenty of trail opportunities during the colder months whether it be fat biking, snowshoeing, hiking, or skiing.
Winter Use Policy:
- Always check our trail conditions page before heading out.
- Don’t use the trails when they are wet/muddy. Make sure the ground is frozen. If you are leaving ruts or sinking into the mud, please turn around.
- Don’t hike the groomed trails with bare boots. Snowshoes are fine. There are plenty of other non-groomed trails to hike.
Trail Grooming:
Slate Valley Trails will resume its winter trail grooming program if/when enough snow falls. The following trails will be groomed from the Fairgrounds Trailhead: Cotton Candy, Merry-Go-Round, Clown Shoes, and Bumper Cars. More trails could possibly be added to this list with enough volunteer efforts.
Please know that a lot of time and energy go into grooming winter trails and conditions can change very quickly from day to day, minute to minute. Big thank you to our volunteer winter trail groomers!
It’s important to always check conditions before you go by visiting our trail conditions page here. You can also check this link from VMBA with other trail organization’s winter grooming updates.
Updates will also be made to SVT’s Instagram and Facebook on grooming status.
Please familiarize yourself with our Winter Grooming Policy:
1. Fat bikes, snowshoes, and skis only on groomed trails. Non-groomed trails are open to all other activities.
2. Leave a flat track or go back. If you leave a rut that is deeper than 1 inch, please do not ride, snowshoe, or ski on groomed trails. Breaking through the surface of the trail leaves deep holes and ruts which can freeze. This makes xc skiing dangerous, fat-biking and snowshoeing unpleasant, and grooming next to impossible.
3. Minimum 3.8″ width tire please for fat-biking. Depending on the snow surface, you’ll need to check your tire pressure (PSI). It is recommended to fill your tires to 2-8 PSI. If you are biking and leave a rut, lower your tire pressure.
Other Important Etiquette Tips:
- Riders yield to other trail users & please be respectful
- Respect closed trails
- Studded tires and riding lights are extremely helpful in Vermont
You can check out more information on winter trail etiquette by visiting VMBA’s website here.
