Vermont's Green Mountains and the Northeast Kingdom provide genuine mountain riding terrain in a state known more for skiing and leaf peeping than OHV recreation. The Vermont ATV Sportsmen's Association (VASA) maintains an extensive network of club-managed trails across the state's northern and central regions, and the Green Mountain National Forest has forest road access for dirt bikes. Vermont riders have more terrain than the state's small size and quiet outdoor image would suggest.
Vermont OHV Laws
Vermont requires ATV registration through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles for operating on public land and club trails. The registration decal must be displayed on the vehicle. Vermont ATV registration is annual.
Vermont requires helmets for ATV operators under 18. No adult helmet requirement for off-road ATV use under Vermont law. No driver's license is required for off-road ATV operation. Operators under 16 must complete an approved ATV safety course before operating on public trails and club land.
Where to Ride in Vermont
VASA Trail Network (Statewide)
The Vermont ATV Sportsmen's Association coordinates one of the best-organized club-trail systems in the Northeast. VASA trails run through private farmland, state forest corridors, and town road connections across the northern two-thirds of the state. Member permits are required to access club trails. The northern Vermont towns of Johnson, Hyde Park, Morrisville, and Hardwick form the geographic center of the most concentrated VASA trail access, with trails connecting through the Northeast Kingdom terrain of Caledonia and Essex Counties. The terrain is a mix of field-edge farm tracks, forest logging roads, and some technical single-track through Vermont's characteristic hardwood and softwood forest.
Green Mountain National Forest (Rutland/Middlebury)
The Green Mountain National Forest in central and southern Vermont has forest road access for OHVs on designated Forest Service routes. The southern district near Rutland has the most accessible forest road network. The terrain is Vermont mountain character: dense hardwood forest, brook crossings, rocky trail surfaces, and moderate to steep grades on the upper forest roads. The Long Trail ridge provides dramatic scenery above the designated forest road access in some areas.
Practical Tips for Vermont Riding
Vermont riding season is May through October. Mud season (April through early May) makes most Vermont trails impassable and causes significant damage when ridden, so all responsible riders avoid Vermont trails during mud season. Fall foliage in late September and October is Vermont at its most spectacular, and the riding conditions at that time of year are typically excellent with hard-packed forest roads and cool dry air. Northeast Kingdom trails can stay accessible into November in dry years.
The Right Bike for Vermont
Vermont's forested mountain terrain suits the Altis Sigma for intermediate riders on VASA club trails and forest roads. The Altis Omega's range becomes useful for longer VASA trail connections in the Northeast Kingdom where staging areas are spread across a large geographic area. VoroMotors is available seven days a week to help you plan the right setup for Vermont riding.