July is in Full Swing!

Photo: Julie-Anne Bouchet, KT Memorial Day Photo Contest 2nd Place Winner

From the Executive Director:

Hi Everyone!

Well, July has certainly brought the heat, but luckily here at KT there are plenty of shady trails to choose from.

Speaking of trails...we are opening a new one this weekend: "Cheddar Slice" connects the bottom of Butter Tubs to the bottom of the Dashney Loop, creating a roughly 4-mile family-friendly loop and adding another way to connect the Moose Alley and Dashney zones. Connectivity has been a big focus this year, and there is more to come later this season. 

Thank you to all our generous Landowners, members and supporters.

Have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Fourth of July!!

-Georgia

Celebrate the Fourth with Us!

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to celebrate with us throughout the month of July.

If you're riding on Saturday, July 4, be sure to stop by our newly refreshed Welcome Center! We'll be serving complimentary cookies and lemonade throughout the day—a small way of celebrating the holiday and welcoming riders, families, and visitors to Kingdom Trails.

Later in the month, join us at Lyndonville's Stars & Stripes Celebration on Saturday, July 18. The celebration begins with the 10:00 a.m. parade, followed by the festival, where you'll find the Kingdom Trails tent. Stop by to say hello, learn about our newest initiatives and chat with our staff about everything happening at Kingdom Trails this summer.

The festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and features food trucks, vendors, children's activities, live music, a Rotary BBQ, axe throwing, and more—making it a fun day for the whole family.

We hope you'll stop by, say hello, and celebrate with us!

Introducing the Partners in Service Membership

Building on our longstanding commitment to community stewardship, we're excited to introduce the Partners in Service Membership, a year-round membership category created to honor those who dedicate themselves to serving others.

For active-duty military members, veterans, military retirees, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and emergency dispatchers residing in the Northeast Kingdom, special local membership rates are available:

• Individual Membership: $75
• Family Membership: $100

We are also pleased to offer a 25% membership discount for service members from outside the Northeast Kingdom, including veterans, active-duty and retired military, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and emergency dispatchers.

These special rates are available in-person only at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center.

At its core, Kingdom Trails has always been about more than trails. It is about stewardship, connection, and the people who contribute to the strength of our community every day. The Partners in Service Membership is one way of recognizing and supporting that commitment.

To everyone who serves- or has served- and to the families who support them, thank you. We look forward to welcoming you to Kingdom Trails.

Stewardship in Action: Conserving the Kingdom Trails Landscape 

Stewardship at Kingdom Trails means more than maintaining great trails. It also means caring for the forests, fields, streams, and wildlife that shape the landscape our members experience every time they ride. 

This summer, we're excited to be part of The Bobolink Project, an innovative conservation initiative that helps protect one of New England's most iconic—and increasingly threatened—grassland birds. As part of the project, Kingdom Trails is managing 38.5 acres of conserved land on Darling Hill (the field directly across from the Wildflower Inn) to provide critical nesting habitat by delaying mowing until young bobolinks have safely left their nests.

The exciting part? It's already working. Executive Director Georgia Gould and Operations Manager Roberta Gillott recently joined project partners during a bird survey and were thrilled to observe several bobolinks using the field, confirming that they're nesting right here on Kingdom Trails conservation land.

You may also notice a new trail on the map named Bobolink. We chose the name to raise awareness, hoping a few riders might google, "What is bobolink?" and discover this remarkable species.

Healthy trails and healthy landscapes go hand in hand. Last month, our Trail Crew partnered with the NorthWoods Stewardship Center to sustainably reroute a steep, eroded section of trail in the White School zone. As more frequent and intense storms continue to impact our region, projects like this improve the resilience of our trail network while reducing long-term maintenance, enhancing the riding experience, and protecting the surrounding landscape.

This project highlights the outstanding work of our Trail Crew, whose year-round efforts keep Kingdom Trails sustainable, resilient, and enjoyable for everyone. 

Special thanks to the NorthWoods Stewardship Center and NorthWoods Trail Crew for their partnership, the Northern Forest Center for providing grant funding, and landowners Jake and Cathie for making this project possible!

A Celebration Across Borders

Kingdom Trails, Burke Mountain, and several local businesses are partnering throughout July to present Canadian Community Month, a collaborative initiative recognizing the long-standing connection between Canadian visitors and the Northeast Kingdom.

From July 1–31, Canadian dollars will be accepted at par for in-person annual and day memberships at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center. Canadian annual members will also receive a complimentary guest day membership to share during their visit.

Burke Mountain is also participating in the initiative, offering Canadian visitors CAD at par for lift tickets and bike park season passes (with proof of citizenship), along with 20% off lodging at check-in and 20% off Transition rental bikes from the bike park.

Several businesses are joining Kingdom Trails and Burke Mountain to provide special offers throughout July include:

• Libbey’s Meat Market — 5% off
• Rock Garden Rentals — CAD accepted at par
• Firefly Farm at Burke Hollow— 25% off AirBnB stays, 5% off farmstand
• The Village Inn — Complimentary 60-minute sauna with 2-night stay
• Bushy Beard — 15% off
• Camp Kiki — 20% off
• Burke Bike Barn — 3-bedroom unit (July 12–18) for $1400 CAD instead of $1500 USD
• Burke Haven — 15% off with code FRIENDS15
• Orange Rind / Clementines Creamery —  Free creemee at Clementines with every entree purchased at Orange Rind (receipt/proof of purchase required)
• The Inn at Burklyn — 10% of accommodation rates

Together, these offerings reflect a community-wide effort to welcome Canadian visitors and highlight the shared outdoor recreation experience that connects the region.

For full details on these offers, please contact the participating businesses directly.

Sign Up For Our July and August Dig Days!

Ever wondered what it takes to build and maintain the trails you ride? Our Dig Days are a chance to find out.

Throughout the season, Kingdom Trails hosts Volunteer Trail Work Days where community members and visitors are invited to spend a day working alongside our Trail Crew and getting hands-on experience in trail building and maintenance. These sessions are open to all ages, require no prior experience, and are a great way to learn something new while contributing directly to the trails you enjoy.

Our upcoming Dig Days will take place on July 12 from 8:45am–1:00pm and August 4 from 5:30pm–8:00pm. Each session is capped at 20 participants, and spots tend to fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. No experience is necessary, our team will provide all instruction and tools, and we’ll make sure everyone is comfortable with the work for the day.

At the end of the day, we’ll celebrate the work with pizza and seltzers- a well-earned tradition after a day on the trails.

We hope you’ll join us out on the trails!

Become a Sponsor!

Looking for a meaningful way to support the trails and connect your business with the KT community? Becoming a Kingdom Trails sponsor is a chance to do both.

Your support helps fund the behind-the-scenes work that keeps trails open, maintained, and riding great all season long. It’s a direct investment in the land, the experience, and the community that makes this place what it is.

Sponsors also receive visibility through our website (which sees thousands of visitors each month), along with opportunities to be featured in our monthly e-newsletters. It’s a great way to stay connected with a loyal and engaged audience of riders and visitors.

If you care about this place and want to be part of what keeps it going, we’d love to have you on board. Become a Sponsor today!

2026 Community Chat Dates

Our monthly Community Chats are informal gatherings designed to foster transparent communication between KT and our local residents, landowners, and trail users. Mark your calendars for our upcoming sessions. You can find more info on the events page of our website.

•July 11 (Sat): 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Firefly Farm

•August 11 (Tue): 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | East Haven Community Bldg

•September 12 (Sat): 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | East Burke Market

•October 10 (Sat): 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Sweetwater Yoga Studio*

•November 10 (Tue): 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Roadside Pint (East Haven)

•December 8 (Tue): 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | KT Welcome Center

*Join us for a FREE yoga class from 9:30 AM-10:30 AM before the Chat!

Thank you to our Corporate Sponsor!

Thank you to our Gold Sponsors!

Thank you to our Ambassador Sponsors!