Navigate Vermont’s Trails with Confidence Using TrailForks Pro
With so many great places to ride in Vermont, it’s handy to have access to all of the trail maps for our trail networks. Throughout this guide, you’ll encounter links to trails on TrailForks, which is a must-have website and app for exploring trails confidently. If you’ve never used it before, don’t worry. Here’s how to get started and make the most of it on your next ride.
Trailforks is like having a personal trail map in your pocket. After downloading the app and creating an account, you’ll notice it gives free access to your local riding area. To unlock the full power of the app for riding in VT, we recommend upgrading to Trailforks Pro.
Once inside the app, you’ll find a treasure trove of trail information. Use filters to narrow down options by difficulty level, popularity, or type of activity, such as eMTB or aMTB. Each trail page is packed with details: distance, elevation gain, difficulty rating, and even user reviews about current conditions. This helps you choose a trail that matches your skill level and goals for the day.
Planning a ride? The app’s Route Finder feature lets you string together multiple trails into a loop or point-to-point adventure. You can also toggle heatmaps to see which trails are most popular or overlay topographic maps for a better understanding of the terrain.
Before heading out, it’s a good idea to download offline maps of the region you’re riding in—cell service can be spotty in many areas in Vermont, and this ensures you have access to your maps if your data connection becomes weak.
When it’s time to ride, Trailforks becomes your navigation companion. Open the map view and use the GPS feature to locate yourself in real time—a blue dot shows exactly where you are on the trail system. Tap “Record” before starting your ride to track your route, distance, and elevation gain. While Trailforks doesn’t offer turn-by-turn directions like a car GPS, following your position on the map is intuitive and reliable.
One of Trailforks’ standout features is its community-driven updates. Riders regularly report trail conditions—like closures or muddy sections—so you can avoid surprises. After your ride, you can contribute too by leaving reviews or uploading photos.
For beginners, start simple: pick green-rated trails (easy) until you’re comfortable navigating with the app. Always respect trail rules and closures and carry a backup map just in case you encounter a tech issue, such as having forgotten to download the map before your ride. With its detailed maps, route planning tools, and real-time navigation, Trailforks is an essential tool for mountain-biking in Vermont.
VMBA Members can get 30% off a TrailForks Pro subscription. Click here to sign up!