Destination Showcase: Killington, Vermont
KILLINGTON, VERMONT
Exploring Vermont's Rowdiest Trails
Photos, Words & Video by Brice Shirbach
Presented by Killington
Nestled just south of the geographic center of the Green Mountain State lies Vermont's second highest point, Killington Peak. With three lifts that hoist riders up the rather prominent mountain, including a gondola that provides access to the 4,241-foot summit, Killington Bike Park has garnered a reputation as a preeminent destination for riders of all levels up and down the east coast. The resort has been pumping dollars into auxiliary activities that include a mountain coaster, some sort of ninja challenge course, zip lines, and more. They're also nearing the end of a 5-year build out with Gravity Logic, a partnership designed to help introduce more beginner friendly terrain to the mountain, while also cultivating a better understanding of how to run a successful world-class mountain bike destination.
Listen, obviously when you run a business, you want it to be successful and Killington has made some decidedly great decisions in that regard. Hell, a midweek trip 5 or 6 years ago brought riders to a bit of a desolate mountain, with limited signs of life outside of the employees, black bears, and white-tailed deer roaming around. A visit today is a much different picture, with a steady stream of visitors on bikes and foot alike, and more businesses staying open year-round to accommodate the massive uptick in summertime visitation. But we've told that big picture story before, and now we want to unleash the proverbial hounds on what really sets this mountain apart from so many others.
Science and engineering have helped trail builders around the world better understand how to build faster berms and bigger jumps, along with smoother step ups and step downs; as is the case here at Killington with gems like "Black Magic", a two mile-long jump line off the top of the Ramshead Lift. Killington's stellar trail crew have worked hard alongside Gravity Logic to deliver some machine built stunners to be sure. But Killington also has an abundance of Green Mountain magic, an ancient force that science nor engineering can truly replicate. It's a USDA certified organic offering of steeps, loam, roots, and rocks that, with some assistance from the brilliant Jay "Rosey" Rosenbaum and his trail crew, has been presented to riders who are looking to bite off something a little meatier and more flavorful than your run of the mill bike park.
You went and spent your hard earned money on that new long-travel enduro rig or downhill bike. You've worked your tail off to progress your riding skills over the years. You're getting hangry. You want to feast your bike and your body on something rad. Killington is just sitting there, a smorgasbord of rowdy, delicious terrain. The dinner bell is ringing. It's time to eat.
Master Chef, a.k.a. trail boss, Jay "Rosey" Rosenbaum is the face of Killington Bike Park and is happy to serve up all of the good times you can stomach here.
Speed is served up hot and fresh on the daily.
Yeti rider Tom Sampson credits a steady diet of roots for staying so svelte.
If you're not already comfortable on them, Killington will certainly force you to be when it comes to off camber roots and rocks.
Phil Kmetz has a knack for making jumps look really good.
Ella Skalwold exits the first deep pocket on Black Magic at a ferocious pace.
Mr. Vermont himself, Alex McAndrew letting it drift to the left a bit.
Pancake flat. Pancakes. Who's hungry?
The entrance to Low Rider is steep, fast, and fun.
Ella making shapes in front of a vertical backdrop.
Conte with a blurred T-Bog.
Any rules against consecutive blur pans? Tom Sampson at the top of Cable Trail.
Looking to feast on the Beast of the East? You can happily cut your teeth on some Low Rider chunk.
A lot of work has been put into the terrain off of Ramshead, and Phil Kmetz ain't complaining.
Bikes these days are built to handle it, so go ahead and toss them around on the rough stuff.
It's the au naturale terrain here that really whets the appetite for many riders.
Much like a good meal, days getting loose on the bike are best spent in the company of friends.
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@smithcreek: that's the difference between being near rutland and being near burlington.
We will be there with a big crew sending it, and partying like there is no tomorrow!
But, two small gripes-Blue Magic was not constructed with the same care and attention to detail as the other trails in the park. The jumps were awkward and full of shale, and just basically looked like and rode like crap.
Killington also needs to invest time and energy into single track connectivity off the K1 Summit. The fireroad sections are totally a buzzkill when trying to navigate to the goods off the summit! I know the new US Open course will offer a trail off the summit, but that type of run is not going to cater to all ability levels and also does not connect to the other summit trails beyond scarecrow.
Just my 2 cents....hopefully somebody from Killy will be reading the feedback.?
Was told by a trail crew staffer last week that because Killington peak is part of the parks state owned land lease, they are limited by law to the number of trails they can simultaneously have. If they were to build additional trails off the K1 summit they would have to shut down other trails.
However, they have no limits to what they can do off the adjacent peaks with access from ramshead and showshed lifts. So looking forward to some more trails near there in the summers to come.