Ascutney Trails Mountain Biking Trails

Welcome to Ascutney Trails, Vermont’s premier recreational trail network featuring more than 45 miles of hand-crafted, biker-built, mountain bike trails and miles of quality hiking trails. Located in and around the Village of Brownsville, Vermont, Ascutney Trails are just minutes from Exits 8 and 9 off of Interstate 91.

Much of the ATA trail system will be closed to bikes this weekend 9/28 and 9/29 for the VT50 mile and associated races. Norcross Trail will be closed from Brownsville Trail to the ski area. See map for details.

Ascutney Trails has a network of about 45 miles of trails for non-motorized recreational use, located at the base of Mt. Ascutney, mostly on the land of the town forest of West Windsor Vermont and Mt. Ascutney State Park. Although the double-track trails date back 30 years or more, starting in August of 2006, members of Sport Trails of the Ascutney Basin (STAB), began building trails more amenable to mountain biking, trail running and back-country skiing. The trails are open to the public, with an extensive sign system, and maps are sold at Brownsville Butcher & Pantry, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort, and local bike shops. In 2020, STAB merged with, and took the name of Ascutney Trails Association. Since its formation in 1967, ATA has been stewards of the summit-bound hiking trails along with the state park personnel. In its new incarnation, Ascutney Trails Association manages trails for mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and backcountry skiing on the mountain and the surrounding towns. This includes keeping the upper slopes of the former Ascutney ski area open for backcountry skiing, stewarding many, many miles of private MTB trail networks and starting in 2021 building non-motorized multi-use trails in the Weathersfield Town Forest, accessible from the Swoops & Loops Trailhead.

There are three trailheads with parking available:

The Ski Tow Road/AOC trailhead – Enter Ascutney Mountain Resort from Route 44, onto Ski Tow Rd, taking a left at #449, the entrance to the Ascutney Outdoors Center (created and managed by Ascutney Outdoors, a separate non-profit that also runs the T-bar, rope tow and tubing lift.) Overflow parking is available in the big lower lot. This is the main trailhead, with latest trail information, water and restroom available at the lower level of the AOC. We ask that users sign in inside. With no admission price, considerable trail maintenance/building costs are covered by ATA membership dues and donations. We suggest that non-members consider a $10 donation for day use (non-ATA VMBA members $5). Cash box or QR code are available for easy donation (or membership).

For direct access to the more challenging trails, West Windsor Town Forest Trailhead is found by travelling west on route 44, about one mile from the town hall and turning left onto Coaching Lane. In 3/4 mile bear left at the “To Town Forest” sign, pass one house, then bear right. You will pass a sign for Ascutney Trails, bear left at a gate and climb to the trailhead parking lot and kiosk. A changing room and porta-john are available, behind the information kiosk.

The Swoops & Loops Trailhead on Route 44A (1825 Back Mountain Rd., Windsor) provides parking in a pull-off across from the Mt. Ascutney State Park entrance. The most novice friendly network, we suggest starting off on Newbie Loop, by entering the park and taking a right on the campground road. If this 3 to 4 mile loop is not enough, then turn left, instead, and add a mile or two of the Weathersfield Town Forest trails.

All three trailheads are connected by MTB/foot trails, including the 7-mile Norcross Trail, a spectacular, remote, wilderness experience opened in 2021.