New England mountain bikers are excited over the announcement of a $140,000 grant that will help fund master planning of the new Velomont trail. The Velomont aims to connect 485 miles of new and existing mountain-bike trails to create a continuous trail system extending from Vermont’s southern border to Canada and featuring a series of backcountry huts where riders can stay overnight on multiday trips.
According to the Velomont Trail website, when completed the Velomont will connect numerous towns and villages, and “put Vermont on par with destination-quality experiences found in places like Europe and New Zealand, where users can enjoy an evening in a mountain hut followed by an afternoon spending their money at a local farmers’ market or general store before heading back into the forest.”
But the Velomont won’t be limited to cross-country cycling. The multi-use trail will be open year-round for snowshoeing and even backcountry skiing and split-boarding on certain sections, such as Brandon Gap.
