If you're a mountain biker and haven't yet been to the Kingdom Trails in East Burke, Vermont, why?? Kingdom Trails has arguably the best mountain biking in the East. There are about 100 miles of well-constructed, very scenic single-track and double-track trails. The trails range in difficulty from easy to pretty technical, so there's no doubt something to suit the ability of every rider.

A group of biking friends from MOAC made our annual pilgrimage to Kingdom Trails last weekend. There were fourteen of us this year which made for great fun.

On Saturday, we parked at the trailhead up on Darling Hill Road and blasted off down Fence Line, a black diamond-rated trail and a wild way to start the day. We hooted and hollered through the woods down the trail. Mind you, it had rained heavily a few days prior to our visit, so the trails were still a bit slick. Within the first hour, the rocks and roots and twists and turns had taken their toll. Nearly everyone had one or more scrapes or bruises to show off. But we got used to the conditions, made adjustments, and continued on. Trail after trail, mile after mile. It was fantastic riding... Fence Line, Pasture Point, River Run, Toady's, Web's, Dry Feet.

We finally stopped for a rest, lunch and a refreshing swim on a beautiful sandbar on the Passumpsic River. Then we saddled up and spent the afternoon (until fatigue and thrist got the best of us) biking the other side of the ridge, finishing up with a sweet run right into Burke Village. The Pub Outback called and we felt obliged to answer, so in we went for beers and dinner.

On Sunday, we shuttled ourselves part way up Burke Mountain for a phenomenal day of technical riding downhill. Owl's was our first trail. That led to the unbelievable ride down Dead Moose Alley--many miles of great single-track riding down the mountainside. We emerged from the woods and pedaled down classic Vermont dirt roads for several miles before heading off across an extensive area of fields. We lunched on a wide open hilltop with wonderful views of Burke Mountain and the route we had just ridden. After lunch, there was more of the same (damn!), whooshing downhill on Lower Moose Alley to Nose Dive, before heading back to Burke village along another picturesque branch of the Passumpsic River.

Whew! I need a break just thinking about it... Check Kingdom Trails out for yourself and let me know what you think. I trust you'll return home with a huge grin on your face.

By the way, we camped for the weekend about twenty miles north of Kingdom Trails at Brighton State Park, just outside of Island Pond. It's an idyllic place with nice campsites, shelters and hot showers. And it's quiet too!