Mad River Trail Alliance Trail Association · Waitsfield VT

The Mad River Trail Alliance (MRTA) is a nonprofit trail stewardship organization serving Vermont's Mad River Valley. The Alliance builds, maintains, and advocates for a diverse network of trails and pathways that connect communities, provide year-round outdoor recreation, and enhance the valley's natural and economic vitality. Working in partnership with municipalities, private landowners, state agencies, businesses, and volunteers, MRTA supports trails for mountain biking, hiking, walking, trail running, Nordic recreation, and active transportation.

The Alliance stewards an interconnected network that includes purpose-built mountain bike trails, natural-surface multi-use trails, and the Mad River Path, a valley-wide shared-use pathway linking villages, schools, parks, businesses, and recreation destinations. In addition to trail stewardship, the organization delivers youth programs, community events, volunteer trail days, educational initiatives, and advocacy that promotes responsible trail use and sustainable outdoor recreation.

The Mad River Trail Alliance was established in 2026 through the merger of two long-standing organizations: Mad River Riders, the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) chapter responsible for developing and maintaining the region's mountain bike trail network, and Mad River Path, the nonprofit that created and manages the Mad River Valley's celebrated shared-use path. Having collaborated for many years on community events, youth programming, and stewardship projects, the two organizations united under a single nonprofit to strengthen trail management, improve organizational efficiency, expand fundraising capacity, and create a unified vision for trails throughout the valley. While operating as one organization, the Mad River Path continues as the name of the valley's shared-use pathway, and the Mad River Riders name is retained for youth mountain bike programming.

Trail stewardship is at the heart of MRTA's work. Staff and volunteers construct and maintain sustainable trails, coordinate seasonal maintenance, manage relationships with landowners, and promote best practices that protect the area's forests, streams, and wildlife habitat while providing high-quality recreational experiences. The Alliance also works to improve trail connectivity between communities and recreation areas, creating a network that serves both residents and visitors throughout the year.

As the VMBA chapter for the Mad River Valley, the Mad River Trail Alliance continues to support Vermont's mountain biking community while embracing a broader mission that recognizes the importance of trails for transportation, recreation, conservation, public health, and community connection. Through collaboration, stewardship, and volunteer engagement, the Alliance is helping build a resilient, accessible, and sustainable trail system that will benefit future generations.