Stronger Together: Welcoming the Mad River Trails Alliance

Some of the most meaningful progress in the Mad River Valley happens when people come together around a shared vision. That is why the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce is so excited to welcome the Mad River Trails Alliance (MRTA), a new organization bringing together the Mad River Path Association and Mad River Riders beginning October 1, 2026.

The Chamber has worked with both organizations as partners and collaborators, and we have seen how much their efforts contribute to the Valley’s quality of life, visitor experience, and local economy. Their decision to join forces builds on years of cooperation and creates exciting possibilities for the future.

The Alliance’s mission speaks directly to what makes this place special: building and stewarding a vibrant, diverse trail system that connects communities, supports a thriving economy, encourages outdoor recreation, and deepens appreciation for the natural world.

For the Chamber, those goals are closely connected. A trail can provide a place to exercise, a connection between neighborhoods, an opportunity to watch birds, or a reason to spend another day exploring the Valley. Along the way, people stop for lunch, browse local shops, visit a brewery, and discover businesses they might otherwise have missed. Our outdoor spaces enrich daily life for residents while helping sustain the businesses that serve our community.

Building on Our Collective Work

This new alliance comes at a time when partners throughout the Valley have already been working together to consider the future of recreation and conservation.

Through the Conservation and Recreation Visioning process, the Recreation Hub and Welcome Center, stewardMRV, and ongoing collaboration among trail organizations, towns, businesses, and community groups, we have been building a shared understanding of how to welcome people while caring for the places they come to enjoy.

The Chamber is proud to be part of that work. We also know that its success depends on the expertise, relationships, and commitment of partners like the Mad River Path and Mad River Riders.

The Mad River Trails Alliance offers an opportunity to build on that foundation: strengthen connections, coordinate stewardship, and bring a broader range of trail users into the conversation. Bikers, runners, dog walkers, bird watchers, and others all have a stake in a healthy, welcoming trail system. Bringing those perspectives together can help us plan thoughtfully for the whole community.

A Shared Vision for the Future

The Alliance will be governed by an eight-member board, with four members from each legacy organization. Fayston’s Karrie Thomas will serve as its first president, and Mad River Path director Misha Golfman will continue to serve as a director of MRTA.

The new organization will operate as a membership organization, become a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, and host the Velomont Trail through the Mad River Valley. It also plans to hire its first full-time Director of Stewardship by January 1, 2027—an encouraging investment in the ongoing care of our trail system.

We congratulate everyone who helped bring this year-long merger process to fruition. We also share the Alliance’s gratitude for the volunteers, landowners, trail builders, staff, and supporters whose work made this next chapter possible.

At the Chamber, we are enthusiastic about continuing our partnership with the Mad River Trails Alliance. There is much to build on, and much to look forward to: a more connected community, thoughtful stewardship, and outdoor experiences that reflect the character of the Mad River Valley.

This is collaboration with lasting potential, and we are delighted to help carry it forward.

To learn more about the Mad River Trails Alliance, contact [email protected].