Green Mountain Trails

04/27/2024

To the incredible good fortune of our region and trail scene the premier HOG loop portion of the Velomont is swinging through town and will be drying out and debuting soon. But for us, it’s missing its cherry on top, a slight detour to the must see vista and stone hut known as Shrek’s. We think it would be a travesty to pedal all that way over the mountains and through Pittsfield and not experience the Vermont famous view just a few miles off the beaten path.

In its own humble way, it would be like going to Paris and not visiting the Eiffel Tower, traveling to Cusco and skipping Machu Picchu, or schlepping out to Niagara to only patronize the wax museum.

Consider… panoramic views of over a dozen Green Mountain peaks framing Camel’s Hump 50 miles in the distance.

Alpenglow sunsets dimming to a nearly full dome of stars at night unblemished by city lights and equally spectacular sunrises.

A completely outfitted Hipcamp award winning stone hut (with space for a couple overflow tents if need be).

Reserve your space before the end of May, mentioning the whole HOG loop in a message, and receive 20% off your stay!

07/27/2022

With the opening of the 0.6 mile (including a Spiky Monkey connector) river section of Leaning Tree, GMT has hit a few milestones in the process: In year 15 of the trails, we now have over 25 miles of trails and, at 9.1 miles, are within a mile of hitting the 10 mile mark of hand built trails. Velomont will be adding another 5 machine built to the area before year’s end, totaling over 30 miles of singletrack in and near Pittsfield and Stockbridge. We’re seeing a record number of riders so far this year, but we can only imagine this number going up significantly in the coming seasons.

These are all wonderful developments and pretty unimaginable even a few years ago. But we’re going to have to prep with the right tools and we need your help! Thanks

https://gofund.me/577ec628

12/02/2021

Half way in, Shrek's is making a respectable run in the voting for best Hipcamp cabin, moving into fifth place after starting in fourteenth. The higher the ranking, the better the exposure, the more bookings, the more support for stewardship on the GMT. Thanks for your vote!(Amazing sketch by recent guests, Annie and Fernando.) https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/best-hipcamps-2022/united-states/cabin/green-mountain-trails/shrek-s-mountaintop-stone-hut?fbclid=IwAR16xqO9LLjY5nWSif3YMZCa3Q2TGmxRYkPfYAh-kb3Fu7rC4o0jCHd1fHM

11/19/2021

Our humble little stone hut has been nominated for best Hipcamp cabin in the nation. You can show it, and the trails, some love by voting Shrek's to the top. Thanks for your support!

Help Matthew win Best Hipcamp Cabin to visit in 2022 in the U.S.! Their awesome Hipcamp, Shrek’s Mountaintop Stone Hut, is up to win this special year-end award.

04/09/2020

Here are the full details of trail statuses in RASTA country.

TRAIL CLOSURE UPDATE- PLEASE READ!

Spring has sprung and we know that you’re itching to get outside and recreate!
As we collectively try to slow the spread of COVID19, while simultaneously protecting trails during sensitive mud season, we are strongly recommending you follow Governor Scott’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order for Vermonters. You are encouraged to get outside for exercise and fresh air, but you must recreate hyperlocal 10 miles from your home and only with members of you own household, stay 6’ or more away from anyone you may encounter and do not recreate in a public space if you have any symptoms!
So where does that leave us? As we assess our trail conditions and work with partners and landowners, we thank you for your patience. Our efforts are twofold, first and foremost protecting public health, and then reducing the impact on early season trail conditions. Through our work, we have come to the following conclusions and STRONGLY SUGGEST the following;

Green Mountain Trails; Status - CLOSED until further notice

Rochester Valley Trails; Status – CLOSED for mud season. RASTA doesn’t have the authority to close trails on USFS lands, but we are asking everyone after the USFS mud season closure is lifted, please avoid using the Rochester Valley Trails and Ranger Station pump track until the Governor lifts the Stay Home, Stay Safe order. The Rochester School pump track is closed.

Randolph Area Trails; Status - CLOSED to out of town visitors. LIMITED USE for local residents who live within the State required 10-mile radius of Randolph, per Stay Home, Stay Safe order. The Randolph pump track is closed (as well as the entire playground and rec fields).

It is important to know:
• It is spring mud season, trail conditions in many locations are poor, and trail use on wet and muddy trails are always discouraged during this time of year. Regardless of use, ie. Mt. bike, trail running, or hiking.
• Under the Governor’s order, trail work and maintenance are not considered essential or critical activities and are prohibited. This means that RASTA staff and volunteers cannot get out to prepare and maintain trails for public use.
• Visitors from outside the 10-mile radius of GMT, Rochester, and Randolph are not to travel here to recreate. This order will stay in place until Gov. Scott decides to lift his executive order.

We do not take this decision lightly but feel it is in the best interest of protecting public health. We recognize this is a difficult time and is made more difficult by decreasing access to the outdoors.

From all of us at RASTA we hope you and your family are staying safe & healthy, continue to recreate responsibly and we will get through this! We are very excited to start our group rides, volunteer workdays, and community celebrations once the dust has settled from these unprecedented times.
Be well,
RASTA

09/02/2019

*IMPORTANT* La Gran Aventura closed immediately and indefinitely, Yonder Trail closed until further notice. LGA inadvertently crosses into unauthorized land which is due to be timber harvested imminently. We will block off and sign these trails ASAP due to this hazardous situation. DO NOT RIDE THESE TRAILS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. We apologize for our blunder.