Slate Valley Trails

Women's Mountain Bike Group Rides
2025-08-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
🚴‍♀️ Women's Weekly MTB Group Rides – All Summer Long!Join us every Wednesday evening for a fun, inclusive ride on the beautiful Slate Valley Trails network!🌟 What to Expect:

💪 No drop ride – no one gets left behind!

🤗 All women welcome – beginner to advanced

❤️ We create a supportive, inclusive environment for everyone

🕕 Ride Details:

⏰ Wheels down at 6:00 PM(Arrive at least 5 minutes early to get ready)

📍 Meet at Fairgrounds Trailhead (weekly)

🚵‍♀️ Distance: 6–10 miles

🏔️ Terrain: Includes climbing

📊 Groups: We'll split into beginner & intermediate/advanced pace groups

🎒 What to Bring:

💧 Plenty of water

🍎 A snack or two

🍻 Your favorite after-ride beverages

🌧️ Weather Note:

Extreme weather or downpours will cancel the ride

🔄 Check our facebook event page for updates/cancellations

Group Dog Walks
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-08-14 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-08-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
🐶 NEW! Thursday Night Dog Walks with Slate Valley Trails!Join us for weekly group dog walks — a great way to meet fellow dog lovers, explore the trails with your pup, and get that pup the exercise they love!
📅 Event Details:🕕 Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM📍 Location: Fairgrounds Trailhead🚶‍♂️ Distance: Varies weekly — expect at least 2 miles
🐾 Dog Guidelines:🦴 Dogs must be leashed or under very strict voice command
🎒 What to Bring:💧 Water (for you and your pup!)🍪 Snacks🦟 Bug spray🍻 After-walk beverage of choice
🌧️ Weather Note:Extreme weather or downpours = cancellation🔄 Check facebook event page updates
📬 Questions?Email Ellen: ellen.c.mcgrath@gmail.com

Porcupine Bikes Group Mountain Bike Rides
2025-08-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-15 18:00 - 20:00 | VT
Please join SVT and Porcupine Bikes (Main St., Poultney) for our Friday Night Trail Ride series. Rides start at 6pm from the designated meeting spot (see calendar below). Please come early and be ready for kickstands up at 6pm.All ability levels are welcome, and we’ll look to break into faster/mellower pace groups as needed. Expect to ride for a couple hours.
🍕 Bonus Pizza Night! 🍕Roughly once a month, the TrailHouse will be hosting the Friday Night Trail Ride from their trailside event space, and they’ll be serving up wood fired pizza post ride (by donation).
Calendar: (TBD, please check back)

Scramble Running Festival
2025-08-09 08:00 - 17:00 | VT
Join Slate Valley Trails (SVT) on Saturday, August 9, 2025 for the sixth annual Slate Valley Scramble trail run race and fundraiser! Trail runners can choose from an 8k and half-marathon, which will be held entirely on single-track and double-track trails here in beautiful southwestern Vermont. A free kids fun run will take place following both events to encourage the whole family to get out and enjoy SVT’s trails.
Races will offer runners a well-maintained, variable terrain, wooded course consisting of primarily single-track trail. While both courses will have some flat terrain and rolling hills, there will be hills and a few sustained climbs. Runners will be rewarded with occasional stunning views of Vermont’s “Slate Valley”. Join us for what is sure to be a fun day in the Vermont woods!

Details and registration information can be found by clicking here- > https://slatevalleytrails.org/event/slate-valley-scramble-2/

Group Trail Run
2025-08-11 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-08-18 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-08-25 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-09-01 17:30 - 19:00 | 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
Join Slate Valley Trails for our Monday night group trail runs!
Time: 5:30 – 8 PM. The group will leave the trailhead by 5:35 at the latest.
Location: Fairgrounds Trailhead
Distance: The route will vary weekly and may have two route options depending on the number of people. Expect at least a 3-5 mile run at a social pace with some elevation gain for a standard run.
Bring: plenty of water, snacks, bug spray, and an after run beverage of choice.
Extreme weather and downpours will cancel! Check for updates on our facebook event page.
Questions: ellen.c.mcgrath@gmail.com

Group Trail Run
2025-08-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
Join Slate Valley Trails for our Monday night group trail runs starting in June!
Time: 6 – 8 PM. The group will leave the trailhead by 6:05 at the latest.
Location: Fairgrounds Trailhead
Distance: The route will vary weekly and may have two route options depending on the number of people. Expect at least a 5 mile run at a social pace with some elevation gain for a standard run. With two groups we will have options for up to 12 miles for one of the routes. There are many options to cater to all abilities and shorten the route for anyone wanting to run a shorter distance.
Bring: plenty of water, snacks, bug spray, and an after run beverage of choice.Extreme weather and downpours will cancel! Check for updates on our facebook event page.
Questions: ellen.c.mcgrath@gmail.com

Women's Mountain Bike Group Rides
2025-08-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
🚴‍♀️ Women’s Weekly MTB Group Rides – All Summer Long!
Join us every Wednesday evening for a fun, inclusive ride on the beautiful Slate Valley Trails network!
🌟 What to Expect:

💪 No drop ride – no one gets left behind!
🤗 All women welcome – beginner to advanced
❤️ We create a supportive, inclusive environment for everyone

🕕 Ride Details:

⏰ Wheels down at 6:00 PM
(Arrive at least 5 minutes early to get ready)
📍 Meet at Fairgrounds Trailhead (weekly)
🚵‍♀️ Distance: 6–10 miles
🏔️ Terrain: Includes climbing
📊 Groups: We’ll split into beginner & intermediate/advanced pace groups

🎒 What to Bring:

💧 Plenty of water
🍎 A snack or two
🍻 Your favorite after-ride beverages

🌧️ Weather Note:

Extreme weather or downpours will cancel the ride
🔄 Check our facebook event page for updates/cancellations

Porcupine Bikes Group Mountain Bike Rides
2025-08-22 18:00 - 20:00 | The Trail House, 758 Old Lake Rd, Poultney, 05764, United States
PIZZA RIDE! Please rsvp here->https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScghtBi9T_ei9WgbQhoUfeaJOuKIhcRCZNUDYLahW5fOTEv-Q/viewform?usp=dialog
Please join SVT and Porcupine Bikes (Main St., Poultney) for our Friday Night Trail Ride series. Rides start at 6pm from the designated meeting spot (see calendar below).
Please come early and be ready for kickstands up at 6pm.
All ability levels are welcome, and we’ll look to break into faster/mellower pace groups as needed.
Expect to ride for a couple hours.
🍕 Bonus Pizza Night! 🍕
Roughly once a month, the TrailHouse will be hosting the Friday Night Trail Ride from their trailside event space, and they’ll be serving up wood fired pizza post ride (by donation).
Calendar:
August 22nd – Pizza Ride! TrailHouse (758 Old Lake Road)*August 29th – Country Club Trailhead

Volunteer Trailwork Takeover!
2025-08-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
Please RSVP here so have a head count for food/beer
Location:
Fairgrounds Trailhead (131 Town Farm Road, Poultney)
What:
Play an important role in the quality of the SVT trail system, trail sustainability, and make some new friends! SVT volunteer trail work days will occur once a month, rotating through each day of the week.
When: Join us at 6:00pm to complete some much needed trail work at a different location each month depending on where the trails need some attention.
What to Bring:
Tools provided, but please bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Expect to hike varying terrain, carrying a tool(s) to get to the work site. Show up on time, or contact us if you plan to be late and we can tell you where to meet us on the trail. We may work for as long as an hour and a half.
Bring an after work beverage of choice to celebrate your hard work afterwards.
Cancellations:
Extreme weather and downpours will cancel! You can check the facebook event page for updates/cancellations.
Questions:
e-mail maintenencecrew@slatevalleytrails.org

Porcupine Bikes Group Mountain Bike Rides
2025-08-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Poultney, VT, United States
Please join SVT and Porcupine Bikes (Main St., Poultney) for our Friday Night Trail Ride series. Rides start at 6pm from the designated meeting spot.
Please come early and be ready for kickstands up at 6pm.
All ability levels are welcome, and we’ll look to break into faster/mellower pace groups as needed.
Expect to ride for a couple hours.

Pedal Assist Demo Day with Rutland City Bikes
2025-08-30 09:30 - 14:00 | 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
🚴‍♀️ Curious about pedal-assist bikes? Come give one a try this Saturday, August 30!
📍 Fairgrounds Trailhead (SVT land)
🕤 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
JT from Rutland City Bikes will have pedal assist bikes ready for demos, and SVT will be on site hosting a trailsit. Swing by to:
✨ Test ride a pedal-assist bike
✨ Pick up merch
✨ Chat with board members
✨ Renew or grab a membership
Don’t miss it — see you on the trails!

Fall Bird Walk
2025-09-09 07:30 - 10:00, 2025-09-16 07:30 - 10:00, 2025-09-23 07:30 - 10:00, 2025-09-30 07:30 - 10:00, 2025-10-07 07:30 - 10:00 | VT
🌿 Explore Nature with Slate Valley Trails & Rutland County Audubon Society! 🌿
Join us for a series of slow-paced bird walks around the beautiful Poultney area — every Tuesday at 7:30 AM! Each outing is about 3 to 4 miles and lasts around 3 to 4 hours. All are welcome, whether you’re a seasoned birder or just getting started.
Don’t worry if you can’t identify many birds — our friendly group includes plenty of bird lovers who are happy to share their knowledge! Bring along water, a snack, insect repellent (if you use it), binoculars, a camera, and a field guide if you have one. 📸🦋
Need to head out early? No problem — there’s usually an option to shorten your hike.
👉 Questions?
Contact Joel Tilley:
📧 jptilley50@gmail.com (preferred)
📞 802-598-2583 (call evenings between 7–8 PM)
The tentative schedule is below (check the RCAS calendar by clicking here or SVT events calendar websites for any changes).
Fall Bird Walks Schedule:

Tuesday, September 9 – Fairgrounds West
📍 Meet: Fairgrounds Trail parking area (131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney — 2.2 miles east of the East Poultney Green on VT Rte 140)
⏰ Time: 7:30 am
🚶 Distance: ~3 miles
🌱 Terrain: Easy
Tuesday, September 16 – Fairgrounds East
📍 Meet: Fairgrounds Trail parking area (131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney)
⏰ Time: 7:30 am
🚶 Distance: ~3.5 miles
🌱 Terrain: Easy → Moderate
Tuesday, September 23 – Delaney Woods (Wells)
📍 Meet: Delaney Woods parking area (E. Delaney Cross Rd off North St, Wells — across from Lakeside Park, look for official lot on right)
⏰ Time: 7:30 am
🚶 Distance: ~3.4 miles (~3 hrs)
🌱 Terrain: Easy → Moderate (250 ft elevation gain)
Tuesday, September 30 – Endless Brook
📍 Meet: Endless Brook trailhead (Endless Brook Rd, on left, 0.9 miles from VT Rte 30)
⏰ Time: 7:30 am
🚶 Distance: ~3 miles (~3 hrs)
🌱 Terrain: Easy → Moderate (250 ft elevation gain)
Tuesday, October 7 – Castleton University Trails
📍 Meet: D&H trail crossing on South St, Castleton. Visitor parking behind Stafford Academic Center in the Stafford lot (#39 on campus map)
⏰ Time: 7:30 am
🚶 Distance: ~2.6 miles
🌱 Terrain: Easy
✨ This will be the last walk of the Fall series. Have a wonderful winter of birding, and we’ll see you in the Spring!

Volunteer Trailwork Takeover!
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | 685 York St, Poultney, VT 05764-1061, 685 York St, Poultney, VT, 05764, United States
When: Thursday, September 18
Where: Poultney River Loop (meet at the Champlain Valley Restoration Nursery) 685 York St, Poultney, VT 05764-1061
Time: 6pm-8-pm
What: Vegetation Management and buffing on the Poultney River Loop
Please RSVP by clicking here

First Day Hike, 2026
2026-01-01 10:00 - 12:30 | Lake St. Catherine State Park, Poultney, VT, United States
SVT FIRST DAY HIKE – January 1, 2026 | 10 AM | 4 Miles
Kick off the new year with a scenic group hike at the beautiful Slate Valley Trails.
We’ll meet at Lake St. Catherine State park, near the park entrance station, hike to the pond via Maple Run, loop around the pond, and continue up to the Pond Overlook.
Please bring water, snacks or lunch, and be sure to dress for the weather. Depending on conditions, microspikes or snowshoes may be helpful.
Questions? Contact Gail at 802-287-1326. We hope to see you there!

Poultney Community Discussion- Rec Hub Concept & Walk Audit Report
2026-03-10 06:00 - 19:00 | Poultney Library, 205 Main Street, Poultney, 05764, United States
Poultney Community Discussion – March 10 | 6 PM

Poultney Public Library

Join us for a community conversation about two important initiatives:
The Outdoor Recreation Hub concept
Findings and recommendations from the Downtown Walk Audit

We’ll share brief updates on both efforts — including potential designs for the Outdoor Rec Hub and practical improvements for Main Street — then open the floor for discussion and feedback.

Your input will help guide next steps.
Free and open to all. Snacks provided!
Questions? Contact courtney@slatevalleytrails.org

Upstate Sports Expo
2026-03-14 10:00 - 2026-03-15 17:00 | VT
Come see us at the Adirondack Sports Summer Expo!
Details at the link below:
https://www.adksports.com/summer-expo

Annual Spring Volunteer Trailwork Day
2026-04-11 10:00 - 13:00 | 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
Join us for a morning of trail care as we get everything dialed for the upcoming season!
Event Details:
-Saturday, April 11 (rain date: April 18)
-Fairgrounds Trailhead (131 Town Farm Road, Poultney)
-10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
What to Expect:
We’ll spend a few hours tackling spring cleanup projects, followed by well-earned beverages and pizza to celebrate a job well done. Tools will be provided, but if you have a rake, feel free to bring it along! Come lend a hand and help us kick off the season strong.
We’d love to see you there!
Email info@slatevalleytrails.org if you have any questions

Spring Bird Walk
2026-04-28 07:30 - 09:30 | Fairgrounds Trailhead, 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT, United States
🌿 Explore Nature with Slate Valley Trails & Rutland County Audubon Society! 🌿
Join us for a series of slow-paced bird walks around the beautiful Poultney area — every Tuesday at 7:30 AM! Each outing is about 3 to 4 miles and lasts around 3 to 4 hours. All are welcome, whether you’re a seasoned birder or just getting started.
Don’t worry if you can’t identify many birds — our friendly group includes plenty of bird lovers who are happy to share their knowledge! Bring along water, a snack, insect repellent (if you use it), binoculars, a camera, and a field guide if you have one. 📸🦋
Need to head out early? No problem — there’s usually an option to shorten your hike.
