Welcome to Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, a network of hiking, biking and ski trails right in the town of Grafton.
As part of our daily resort fee, all Grafton Inn guests have access to trail passes and equipment rentals.

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center
Summer & Winter Activities

Explore the Outdoors Year-round in Grafton, Vermont

At Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, you’ll find activities, recreation, and events sure to entertain the entire family. Delight in winter activities including skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and sleigh rides, or visit in the summer for mountain biking, swimming, boating and hiking in southern Vermont.Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center

Come explore the beauty of southern Vermont in any season,
and discover the magic of this year-round destination.

Trail Maps & Conditions

Know Before You Go

Winter Activities

Experience a Winter Wonderland at Grafton Trails

winter trails in Grafton Vermont

View Winter Trail Map

 

Bundle up and come play in the snow. Immerse yourself in the enchantment of a Vermont winter wonderland with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, fat tire biking, and sleigh rides. Revel in romantic winter activities with the one you love, or enjoy fun for the whole family.
Winter Hours: Closing day, March 25, 2023

man cross country skiing at Grafton Trails in Vermont

Cross-Country Skiing

Glide into the winter spirit with a cross-country ski outing. Warm up with laps in front of the Outdoor Center before taking to the trails!

Trail Fee Applies & Ski Rentals Available
Complimentary for Grafton Inn Guests

Take Our Private or Group Lessons!
Enjoy cross-country skiing with individual instruction or by joining a small group class – includes equipment.
Get More Details About Lessons

Cross country lessons at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center

Snowshoeing

Trek through the forest on snowshoes to enjoy the scenic and peaceful Vermont landscape – a great winter experience for any skill level.

Trail Fee Applies & Snowshoe Rentals Available
Complimentary for Grafton Inn Guests

Wine & Cheese Snowshoe Tours at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center

Wine & Cheese Snowshoe Tour

Take a 1-hour guided snowshoe tour through the forest at Grafton Trails, then enjoy a Grafton Village Cheese Plate and two glasses of wine at the cabin! For availability, please call 802-843-2400.

Get More Details About This Tour
$45 per person, equipment included

Fat tire biking in the snow

Fat Tire Biking

Bikers of all levels will love to pedal their way through the snowy trails on a fat tire mountain bike. In the winter there are always new challenges and sights to see.

Trail Fee Applies & Fat Bike Rentals Available

Sleigh rides at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center

Sleigh Rides

Enjoy the winter scenery on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Sleigh rides leave every half hour from the Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center cabin at 783 Townshend Road. Advance reservations are required, and start in December. For availability, please call 802-843-2400.

Times: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Final reservation at 3:30 p.m.)
Adult: $20 | Youth: $12 | 5 & Under: Free

Get More Details About Sleigh Rides

Grafton Trails Policies

Policies for the Safety & Enjoyment of Everyone

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center has a set of trail policies and rules that are in place to help make everyone’s experience more enjoyable. Our trail system encourages multiple uses including skiing, snowshoeing, fat bikes, disc golf, hiking, and mountain biking. We ask that all trail users and visitors follow these policies in order to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone. We thank you in advance for adhering to the policies. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Facilities & General

All summer trail users must check in at the Cabin prior to using the trails during hours of operation.

During the days that Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center Cabin is not open, visitors are allowed to use the trails at their own risk. Trail maps are available at the front door of the cabin or at The Grafton Inn front desk.

Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. There are many possible hazards found along the trails. For safety, young children must have an adult to travel with while using the facility. Please do not drop your child off!

Bathrooms are available in our Cabin during operating hours. When the Cabin is closed, there are portable restrooms available.

Check for Updates on Facebook and our Current Trail Conditions before your visit.

Winter Hours:
The 2022/2023 winter season ends on March 25th.
Open Tuesday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Closed Mondays, with the exception of holidays)
Trail use rates apply for the general public, but is complimentary for guests of The Grafton Inn. Season passes will be available on December 3rd. Equipment rentals are available on-site.

Summer Hours:
Open Friday-Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Typically starting in late May)
Open weekends only. Closed for private events on Friday evenings.
Trail use is complimentary for all. Equipment rentals are available on-site.

Seasonal Closures

Trails will be closed during “mud season” to prevent damage. Dates will be posted on our Facebook page. As much as closing these trails can be an inconvenience to our users who have come to visit, it is mandatory that we do this so as not to damage the mountain trails. Any amount of users who ride or hike when we close our trails can lead to severe erosion and damage, as well as hours of labor repairing the trails. Following the lead of the the majority of trail management organizations, along with the Green Mt Club, Vt. Department of Forests and Parks, and the Green MT National Forest, between April 15 to Memorial Day weekend in May, trails are closed so they can dry out from the winter. This gives the ground time to thaw out and allow the trails time to harden. Only if we have had a drier than normal spring would the trails open sooner.

 

Hiking Policies

Foot traffic is not permitted on ski trails December through March.

The grooming on ski trails is very sensitive to traffic. Footprints from boots, snowshoes, and dogs are very detrimental to the trail surface. We ask that snowshoe users travel on designated snowshoe trails. Dogs are permitted to hike with their snowshoeing humans, as long as they remain leashed at all times. Foot traffic (hiking) is not permitted on any trails during our winter operating season. There are several trails in the area that welcome winter hiking. Please ask us for information!

Please do not hike on Single Track bike trails. These trails are shown in yellow/orange colored dashed lines on our trail map. The single track bike trails are designed specifically with bike traffic in mind and specially designed features can be damaged by foot traffic. It is also common for bikes to be traveling at a fast speed through these trails. For the safety of hikers and bikers we ask that you plan your hike accordingly.

Biking Policies

Bicyclists should yield to other non-motorized trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. In general, strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

All bike riders must wear a helmet. We have helmets available for use at the center during hours of operation.

Policies for Pups

We value the privilege of being able to bring dogs to the trails, but as trail managers we need to consider the experience of users that are uncomfortable with dogs or may be allergic. Our dog policy was created to ensure that the trails remain a positive experience for all users and that the natural resource is not unnecessarily impacted. Grafton Trails welcomes dogs and their owners to specified areas of our trail system and facility. Off-leash dog areas include Cheese Factory Meadow and the field on the north end of the parking lot. We ask for your cooperation so that everyone can enjoy their time at the outdoor center.

  • Dogs are not allowed on any of our groomed ski trails and surfaces. We work hard to preserve the groomed trails for our cross-country skiing.
  • Dogs are permitted on the snowshoe trails and hiking trails, and must be leashed at all times.
  • Dogs are allowed on the hiking trails in the spring, summer and fall but MUST be always leashed.
  • Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs.
  • Respect the apprehension some fellow trail users may have when encountering an unfamiliar canine; kindly yield and allow them to pass.

As part of our daily resort fee, all Grafton Inn guests have complimentary access to trail passes and equipment rentals, including mountain bikes in the summer, and cross-country skis, and snowshoes in the winter.

Winter Rates

Winter Trail Map

Trail Passes
Ski, Snowshoe, Fat Bike

Full Day Adult: $20
Full Day Youth: $10

Half Day Adult: $15
Half Day Youth: $5

Equipment Rentals
Full Day Adult: Ski/Snowshoe: $20
Full Day Youth: Ski/Snowshoe: $10

Half Day Adult: Ski/Snowshoe: $15
Half Day Youth: Ski/Snowshoe: $5

Pulk Sled: $10

Fat Bike: Full Day: $50, Half Day: $30, Hourly: $15

2022-23 Winter Season Passes

Available starting on December 3rd. Cash, check or credit cards are accepted. An email is required so we may send our liability release form.

Email or Call to Order:
Olivia Satti, Grafton Trails Winter Manager
info@graftonponds.com | (802) 843-2400

Early Bird Rates (December 3rd-December 16th)
Single Adult: $85
Junior (ages 6-17): $65
Couples: $150
Family (4 person/same household): $320
Grafton/Athens Resident: $35

Regular Rates (Starting December 17th)
Single Adult: $115
Junior (ages 6-17): $99
Couples: $190
Family (4 person/same household): $375
Grafton/Athens Resident: $65

Summer Rates

Summer Trail Map

Trail Passes

Hiking, Biking, Swimming, Picnicking

Full Day Adult: $20
Full Day Youth: $10
Half Day Adult: $15

Disc Golf
Disc Rentals: $10, plus $10 deposit
Course Use: $10 per person

Equipment Rentals
Mountain Bike: $30 (Final rental at 1:30 p.m.)
Canoe: $15 for 2 hours

Magical Vermont Weddings

We have limited availability for select 2023 and early 2024 dates. Don’t miss your chance to have the fairytale wedding you’ve always dreamed of!

2023: June 23/24, July 7/8, July 21/22, and Dec 8/9
2024: March 8/9, March 15/16, and March 22/23

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