This long loop circumnavigates most of the Fairgrounds West trail system. It encompasses three trails, Ringmaster, Big Top and Carnie. It is an excellent route for trail runners and is part of the SVT Scramble running race. There are several benches at high points which offer a place to take a breather, enjoy a snack and absorb the views.
Cue Sheet
- From the parking lot kiosk, walk down the trail paralleling Town Farm Road. Turn left on Town Farm Road and then right on Rte 140.
- Walk along Rte 140 and turn left at the wide trail entrance onto Ringmaster trail at mile 0.3. Go around the gate, cross the Poultney River and follow the wide woods road through an open meadow.
- At mile 0.7 turn right to stay on Ringmaster and follow it across a large meadow. This meadow is referred to as the fairgrounds, a onetime site of the Rutland agricultural fair in 1853.
- Reenter the woods and at mile 1.0 turn right onto the Big Top trail which will soon narrow and begin a gentle ascent to the top.
- At mile 2.0 a bench is reached with views to the east. Continue to the top at mile 3.0 where there is another bench with good views. The trail now begins a descent to the junction with the Scrambler and Carnie trails at mile 3.4.
- Go right on Carnie and follow the trail as it cuts along the hillside descending and then ascending again. This part of the trail is enjoyable as it meanders and finally reaches a bench with lovely views of Lake St Catherine and the surrounding countryside.
- From the view point descend to a meadow where the trail then winds its way in and out of the woods, eventually cutting across the meadow to a gravel road and a large turnaround area at mile 6.0.
- Proceed on the Ringmaster Trail as it skirts the edge of the meadow and enters the forest again. The trail becomes a wide woods road and continues northward before swinging east and back to Rte 140. There can be several wet sections along this trail as it passes through some boggy areas.
- At mile 8.4, turn right on Rte 140 and walk on the shoulder to Town Farm Road. Turn left and then right onto the trail to return to the parking lot at 8.7 miles.