Chittenden County, the "Fellowship of the Wheel", and all non-motorized outdoor lovers appreciate that you are considering allowing your land to be used for trails. Whether it is a simple loop, a connector, or multiple trails, trust that you will bring joy to a great many people by making your land accessable. You will also be playing an important role in helping us work towards our vision of a community, a county, tied together by a vast and beautiful primitive trail network.

The Fellowship Of The Wheel has spent the past four years working hard to make this vision a reality. Not only have we been able to establish the framework for an intra-town trail network, but we have been able to build these trails according to our unique principles. Our trail philosophy consists of the following components:

Low impact - the trails are narrow, generally 18 inches wide. We do not cut a giant swath through a forest or field, but a narrow ribbon that would disappear quickly were it designated as no longer suitable as a trail. We cut only sapplings and branches, no large trees are removed (other than "blowdown").

Design interesting and beautiful trails - our trails are not simply a straight line from point A to point B, but an attempt to provide an interesting route that takes advantage of the natural beauty and the salient characteristics of the the terrain. Whether you like to walk your dog, or ride your mountain bike, you will find that our trails are extremely interesting and bring ones attention to the beautiful aspects and features of the land.

Care in Construction - trails are laid out to cause minimal erosion. Wet areas are avoided or handled with bridges and rockwork. The trails are also raked initially and then signed so that the user cannot lose the trail. Trails are also signed in such a manner that the user can easily find his/her destination, or, point of origin. An effort is made to leave natural obstacles in place, which can help to prevent four-wheelers and other motorized vehicles from gaining access to the trails.

Dispersion of users - use becomes lighter and lighter with the proliferation of trail opportunities. Landowners occasionally voice an initial concern that large groups of people will be using their land. They
find that actual use is light. The Fellowship added over 15 miles of new trail during 2003 and hopes to eclipse that with each coming season. The more trails added, the lighter the use.

Maintenance - once new trails have been approved and established, they are closely monitored for their condition, and meticulously cared for through our "Adopt A Trail" program. This also includes keeping users aware of trail conditions and closure due to wet conditions, time of year, etc.

Closure clause - we are confident that you will enjoy the experience of having trails on your land, ans so our permission form grants you the opportunity to close the trail(s) at any time. We consider the right to use your land a tremendous privilege. We work hard to make this a positive experience for each landowner, and confidently grant you the option to shut down the trail(s) at your discretion.

Follow these links to learn more about:

Letters of recommendation

Landowner liability protection

Landowner support fund

Landowner permission form

Impacts of Mountain Biking