How to Use The Rail Trails
Vermont state-owned rail trails are a public resource. Keeping each other safe is everyone’s responsibility. Trail users should respect all landowners and private property along the trail. Respect for the adjacent landowners includes accessing the trail only from these designated access points and not along private driveways, farm crossings, or other trail crossings that do not otherwise connect to public facilities. Camping on the trail right of way or at trailheads is prohibited. Interested in overnight parking for a longer trip? Contact the Rail Trails Program Manager.
Vermont Rail Trail Etiquette
Winter Trail Etiquette
FAQ
Quick information on rail trails
The trail has a 10-foot-wide firm compacted crushed stone surface with 2-foot grass shoulders and wheelchair-accessible grades. The trail is open year-round to non-motorized uses.
In the warmer months, the trail can be utilized for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Local snowmobile and trail clubs maintain and groom the trails through winter, allowing for snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, fat tire biking, snowmobiling, and dog sledding.
What uses are allowed on the trail?
- All non-motorized uses are allowed. For safety and maintenance reasons, only non-motorized uses are permitted, with the exception of snowmobiles, motorized wheelchairs, and authorized maintenance vehicles.
- Vermont law prohibits the operation of snowmobiles on streets and highways. The maximum snowmobile speed limit on state lands is 35 mph.
- E-bikes are permitted.
- Motorbikes, ATVs, and ORVs are not permitted on the trail.
- Camping on the trail, in the trail right of way, or at trailheads is prohibited.
- Overnight parking at trailheads with VTrans permission.
- Discharging firearms from or across the trail is strictly prohibited.
- Smoking, alcoholic beverages, and illegal drugs are not permitted on the rail trail right of way.
Are animals permitted on the trail?
- Horses and dogs are allowed on the trails. Horses are permitted on the trail but must travel near the shoulder whenever possible.
- Equestrians should clean up after their charges in the trail heads, parking lots and other gathering areas where the riders are not moving forward. Horse manure breaks down very quickly and repeated studies have shown that it is not hazardous to humans or other wildlife.
- Dogs are permitted on the trail. Pet owners must have control of their animals at all times. Pick up and carry out your pet’s waste.
Do I have to follow road laws?
Bicycles are considered vehicles by Vermont law and must follow traffic laws. Ride in a safe and controlled manner. You are ultimately responsible for operating your bicycle under all conditions. Use caution at road crossings. Bicycles are considered vehicles by Vermont law and must follow traffic laws.
Who has right of way on the trail?
Yield to the slowest user, and yield to livestock and other animals.
- Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians.
- In the winter, everyone must yield to snow-machines.
- The rest of the year, everyone must yield to horses.
Be Prepared
Rail Trail User Safety 101
- You are responsible for yourself so be prepared!
- Your trip on the rail trail begins before you reach the trail. Tell someone where you are going, your route, and when you will return.
- Check the weather and plan your essential gear (i.e. clothing, equipment, water, food, light, and first aid) based on the forecast and the distance you plan to go.
- Check your cell coverage on your planned route. Most of the Vermont Rail Trails have excellent cell coverage, but some areas do not.
- On the trail with a group? Stick together! When you start as a group, end as a group. Pace your group to speed of the slowest user.
- Observe your surroundings! Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather, and equipment failure could leave you stranded.
- Be prepared to turn back. Weather can change quickly. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your time on the trial. Know your limitations and when to postpone. The trail will be there another day.
- Calling for assistance. If you become stranded and cannot walk or ride back out yourself, call for assistance. If you don’t have cell coverage, ask another trail user to help you make a call. Make sure you know your location details (i.e. mile markers or last road crossing). Stay comfortable and hydrated while you wait. Make sure you are in a visible location. If calling for assistance you should:
- Provide the trail user’s name, home address, current location, and call back phone number. You should also include the trail user’s age, gender, size, a description of clothing they are wearing, and gear/equipment.
- Note any pertinent medical information.
- Explain what happened, when it happened, and where it happened. Also include where the person’s vehicle is located as well as a full description of it (make, model, year, license plate).
- A description of their last know locations weather, conditions, and trail information.
Adopted from the Hike Safe Green Mountains VT Program
The Basics
Rules of the Trail
All rail trails operate under the same basic rules, to ensure all users are safe. Following these guidelines make the trails safe and accessible for everyone.
- Unauthorized motorized vehicles prohibited.
- Obey all traffic signs.
- Camping on the trail, in the trail right of way, or at trailheads is prohibited.
- Overnight parking at trailheads with AOT’s permission.
- Discharging firearms from or across the trail is strictly prohibited.
- Smoking, alcoholic beverages, and illegal drugs are not permitted on the rail trail right of way.
- Avoid disturbing natural features.
- Pet owners must have control of their animals at all times. Pick up and carry out your pet’s waste.
- No littering.
- Travel at safe speeds: 35 mph rural (required) and 15 mph village (recommend) speed limits for snowmobiles.
- Horses can defecate while motoring down the trail. This means that their riders, who are facing the other end of the horse, will not always know when they do it. Because horses don’t have rear view mirrors, it is unfair to expect their riders to know every time and dismount to clear it off the trail. It is reasonable to expect horse owners to clean up after their charges in the trail heads, parking lots and other gathering areas where the riders are not moving forward. Horse manure breaks down very quickly and repeated studies have shown that it is not hazardous to humans or other wildlife.
Clear Communication is key
Pass & Yield Guidelines
- Stay to the right of the trail except when passing.
- Yield to the slowest users, and yield to livestock and other animals.
- In the winter, yield to snow machines.
- In other seasons, yield to horses.
Give a clear warning and SLOW DOWN before passing other trail users. All users should operate at a reasonable speed and should slow down when engaging in passing maneuvers, especially when passing other use types.
Warmer Weather Activities
During typical warm-weather use, bicyclists should yield to runners, hikers, and walkers. All users should yield to equestrians and should announce presence when approaching. Heed the advice of equestrians when approaching or passing a horse to limit possibility of spooking the horse.
Snow Sports
In the winter, most of the Rail Trails are part of the VAST snowmobile trail system (visit https://vtvast.org/trails.html) to view an interactive map of the entire network). When conditions allow, the trails are groomed by local snowmobile clubs and are open for winter travel. The snowmobile season runs from December 15 to April 15 (if there is enough snow), and there is a curfew on the LVRT (no snowmobiling between 11pm and 6am). VAST is permitted on the Rail Trails as early as November 15 in order to prepare for the upcoming season.
Similar to summer, in winter bicyclists should yield to users on foot, including snowshoers. Pedestrians and snowshoers should yield to those utilizing the groomed trails that may have more difficulty stepping off trail to allow others to pass. This includes skiers yielding to dog sleds yielding to snowmobiles.
Under Vermont Law, Title 23, Chapter 29, snowmobiles must operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent, taking into consideration current conditions, trail traffic and other hazards present on the trail. The maximum speed limit on state lands is 35 MPH.
Thank the local snowmobile clubs for their hard work maintaining and grooming the LVRT, MVRT, and the DHRT. Local Club information can be found here: https://vtvast.org/clubs.html . The BSRT is groomed by a local non-profit ski club-Memphremagog Trails. More information can be found here: https://www.mstf.net/.
April 11, 2023