Mountain Biking in Stowe, Vermont: Best Trails & Route Recommendations

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Mountain biking in Stowe, Vermont has come a long way over the past few years. I remember riding some of the trails back in the day and they were little more than twisty, rooty, rocky footpaths. But not anymore!

Stowe has invested tons of money into building up an amazing network of mountain bike trails and there is fun for everyone. From rough old-school singletrack to new-school machine-built flow, Stowe is a great place to explore whether you’re a local or just visiting for a few days.

If you’re not familiar with the area, though, it can be challenging to know what trails to ride and how to link them up for a great pedal. In this post, I share a few of my favorite loops as well as a few tips for making the most out of your day on the trails.

Important Things to Know

Mountain biking in Stowe, Vermont is awesome, but there are a few things to know before hitting the trails:

e-bikes are NOT allowed: E-bikes are not allowed on most mountain bike trails in Stowe. The only place they are allowed is at Sterling Forest, which I haven’t ridden (yet).
Trapp Family Lodge requires a pass: If you mountain bike at Trapp Family Lodge, you will need to purchase a pass. You can do this in-person or online.
Routes are marked with colored trail markers: There are colored trail markers nailed to trees that make up suggested routes. I’ve included several of these routes in the Suggested Routes section below and you can see more of them on the Stowe Trails Routes Page. It’s still a good idea to have a map or phone downloaded with TrailForks or MTB Project.

Mountain biker riding down series of wooden ramps on trail in Stowe Vermont

trail networks & Route Recommendations

There are three main mountain bike trail networks in Stowe, Vermont:

Adams Camp
Trapp Family Lodge
Cady Hill Forest

Stowe Mountain Biking Trail map

Adams Camp

Adams Camp has some of the best mountain biking in Stowe if you’re willing to work for it. The climb up is hefty, albeit built well, but the descents are super fun!

Because of the climbing and semi-technical downhill trails, I wouldn’t recommend this network for beginners. It’s best suited for fit intermediates and advanced riders.

Female mountain biker riding up over rock onto wooden bridge with drop at the end

Adams Camp Route Recommendation

>> Adam’s Camp Intermediate Loop

This is my go-to loop in Stowe. It route follows the blue rectangle trail markers, but it’s still a good idea to have a map and/or GPS app to help navigate.

The climb up Haulapalooza and Cheddar can be lung-busting, but trust me, the descent down Kimmer’s is worth it! Then it’s another climb up Hardy’s Haul for a second awesome descent down Haulapalooza.

Route difficulty: Intermediate
Mileage: 8.4 miles
Route type: Loop
E-bikes? No
Elevation gain/loss: 1,142 ft
Map/GPS: TrailForks

Route directions: Stowe Rec Path Parking – Brooke Road > Left onto Brooke Road > Haulapalooza (entrance is easy to miss!) > Hardy’s Haul > Cheddar > Shredder > Kimmer’s > Derby Trail > Hardy’s Haul > Haulapalooza

Route notes: There are lots of manmade wooden features and natural features along this loop, so always scope before riding.

Do more: If you want to tack on a few miles to this ride, climb up the Haul Road to the log cabin after finishing the Cheddar climb. Then descend down Growler, which is a fun, tight, old-school trail. You can then either climb back up Growler or my preference is to climb up the grassy doubletrack back to the cabin. Growler requires a Trapp Family Lodge Trail Pass or VMBA Add-on.

Man riding mountain bike up singletrack trail curving to the left in woods of Stowe, Vermont

Mountain Bike Packing List

Below are a few of my favorite pieces of mountain biking gear and recommendations for your mountain bike trip or ride:

Osprey raven mountain bike hydration backpackl

Bag of Tailwind Endurance hydration powder

Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center

You may be familiar with the name ‘Trapp’ from Maria Von Trapp of The Sound Of Music and yes, this is where the Trapp Family enjoyed many seasons of skiing and hiking.

Today, the Trapp Family Lodge offers tons of different outdoor activities for visitors and guests including mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. They also have their own brewery and Austrian bakery onsite.

To enjoy the Trapp Family Lodge trails, you do need to purchase a Trail Day Pass, which can be purchased in-person or online.

Three mountain bikers standing in front of log cabin in Vermont — Stop at the cabin at the top of Growler before heading back down

Trapp Family Lodge Route Recommendation

>> Trapps Tour Loop

If you’re looking for a full tour of the Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center, this loop will deliver. Start off with some easy warm-up pedaling on Chuck’s Corkscrew, Stepping Stone, and Luce Hill before you start to climb and climb some more. The ascent up Tap Line and Growler is long and punchy, but just take it slow.

Fill up with water at the cabin before descending down the backside. Shredder and Kimmer’s are two miles of downhill fun! Finish the loop by climbing up Hardy’s Haul to Ted’s Unicorn Express.

Route difficulty: Advanced
Mileage: 15 miles
Route type: Loop
E-bikes? No
Elevation gain/loss: 1,817 ft
Map/GPS: TrailForks

Route directions: Trapp Family Lodge Parking > Pond & Pool > Greenway Connector > Stepping Stone > Chuck’s Corkscrew > Stepping Stone > Greenway Connector > Lodge Spur > Luce Hill > Lodge Spur > Tap Line > Growler > Cabin Trail > Haul Road > Shredder > Kimmer’s > Derby Trail > Hardy’s Haul > Haulapalooza > TUCXS (follow signs for Pipeline) > Luce Trail

Route notes: The turn-off onto TUCXS is easy to miss! Follow signs for Pipeline or else you’ll be doing a lot of extra climbing….

Do less: This is a pretty big ride, so if you want to make it shorter, you can cut out the first few loops on Chuck’s Corkscrew, Stepping Stone, and/or Luce Hill.

Do more: If you want to add some climbing and descending, park at the Stowe Highschool at the bottom of Pipeline. Climb up Pipeline to meet the route and then descend down Pipeline at the end. If you did everything in this loop, it would be a very big day.

Cady Hill Forest

Cady Hill Forest is a blast. It’s the best place for beginner riders or kids in Stowe because there is ‘less’ climbing (there’s still climbing!) and the trails are super fun and flowy. That being said, there are some pretty big, intimidating features as well, most of which have go-arounds.

You can also find old-school stuff here, too, with lots of roots if that’s your jam. But whatever you do, don’t miss Florence aka Flo.

Watch BCpov hit Flo – one of the best descents in Stowe

#1 Cady Route Recommendation

>> Cady Hill Yellow Diamond Loop

This loop hits all the fun flow trails at Cady Hill. It’s a quick ride, but you can make it longer by taking a second lap on Florence. Follow the yellow diamond trail markers, but it’s still a good idea to have a map and/or GPS app.

Route difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
Mileage: 4.8 miles
Route type: Loop
E-bikes? No
Elevation gain/loss: 620 ft
Map/GPS: TrailForks

Route directions: Cady Hill Forest Parking Lot > Cady Hill Climb > Ayrn’s Bypass > Cady Hill Connector > Florence > Snake > Upper Zog’s > Cady Hill Connector > Cady Hill Climb > Bear’s

Do more: Add a second Florence lap after climbing up Snake.

Two people sitting on chairlift attached to tree in woods wearing mountain bike helmets

#2 Cady Route Recommendation

>> Cady Hill Red Intermediate Loop

If you’re looking for a bigger ride, this loop is a great ride that hits most of the trails in the Cady Hill network. It follows the red rectangle trail markers, but it’s still a good idea to have a map and/or GPS app.

There are definitely some punchy ups and lots of roots on this ride, especially on the Schween Haus section, but there’s also a ton of flow.

Route difficulty: Intermediate
Mileage: 9.1 miles
Route type: Loop
E-bikes? No
Elevation gain/loss: 1,160 ft
Map/GPS: TrailForks

Route directions: Parking behind Ranch Camp > Charlie’s > Bridgey > Green Chair Loop > Ayrn’s Loop > Cady Hill Connector > Florence > Snake > Upper Zogs > Cady Hill Connector > Schween Haus Outer > Schween Haus > Cady Hill Connector > Bear’s > Cady Hill Climb > Upper Florence > Lower Zogs > Iride Rock or Bridgey > Charlie’s

Planning your trip to Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is a tourist town, so there are plenty of restaurants, hotels, bike shops, etc… to make your trip a success.

Here are a few planning resources to get you started:

Bike shops

If you need to rent a mountain bike or get yours tuned up, here are three great bike shops in Stowe:

Ranch Camp: Bikes, beers, and burritos are what make Ranch Camp go ‘round. This full-service bike shop and rental center has a large fleet of demo bikes including Yeti, Specialized, Ibis, and Rocky Mountain. You can also get your bike tuned and enjoy a delicious burrito or sandwich while you’re waiting.
Mountain Ops: MountainOps is a great outdoor gear store and bike rental shop located near the parking area for Adams Camp. The shop is set in an iconic red barn built in 1893 and they offer a range of mountain bikes from high-end full-suspension carbon bikes to simple hardtails. They also do full tunes and have a good selection of bike parts and components.
Pinnacle Ski & Sports: Pinnacle is located just outside the village of Stowe and they have a small selection of mountain bike rentals. They’re also a full-service bike shop so they can help you out with any fixes or maintenance you might need with your own bike.

food & drink

Stowe has no shortage of great restaurants, breweries, and delis, but here are a few of my favorites:

Edelweiss Mountain Deli has awesome sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. You can also pick up gourmet groceries like wines, cheeses, spreads, and local beer.
Piecasso serves up great pizza and they have a wide selection of brews
Idletyme Brewing is my favorite place for outdoor dining. They serve great gastropub fare and a selection of their own beer. They’re also located right on the Stowe Bike Path, so you can pedal there post-ride!
Ranch Camp is both a bike shop and a burrito shop. They have a small food menu with tacos, burritos, and other sandwich-like fare that go well with a post-ride adult beverage.

Outdoor seating in garden setting at Idletyme Brewing in Stowe, Vermont — Snag a spot in Idletyme’s outdoor garden patio

Where to stay

There are numerous hotels and vacation rentals in Stowe.

If you want to camp, Gold Brook Campground is the closest camping.

Final Thoughts

Stowe is one of my favorite places to ride in Vermont. It has a good mix of technical terrain and flow trails, making it a great destination for all riders from kids and beginners to those looking for rowdier stuff.

Remember that riding on the Trapp Family Lodge land requires a pass even if you’re ‘just passing though’.

Have fun and be safe!

RELATED POSTS

Looking for more two-wheeled adventures in Vermont? Check out these related blog posts:

Have you ridden in Stowe? What are your favorite Stowe mountain biking trails or loops? Where else do you love to ride in Vermont? Let us know in the comments below!