Review
Intro
Adams Camp offers one of the best five-mile trail loops in the area. Located in Stowe, a historic village and home to Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, the loop, made up of Hardy Haul and Kimmers trails, sits on 513 acres of hardwood forest. Owned by Trapp Family Lodge, the land was conserved in 2006 by the Stowe Land Trust to provide non-motorized public recreational access and wildlife habitat protection. The trails themselves were built between 2009-2011 by a partnership amongst the Stowe Mountain Bike Club, Stowe Land Trust and the Town of Stowe. They are multipurpose trails and used by hikers, bikers, runners and other outdoor enthusiasts.
What Makes It Great
Adams Camp was originally designed with mountain biking in mind. It was thought that riders would ascend Hardy Haul and descend Kimmers. For trail runners it is recommended that you travel counter-clockwise running up Kimmers and down Hardy Haul, which will provide a flowy route with a decent climb and fun twisting descent.
Starting on Kimmers runners will find 1.3 miles of singletrack full of obstacles and bridges, and the trail itself is riddled with rocks so some attention to footing is important. Runners will feel the climb heading up Kimmers, but it is not super steep and overwhelming. For the descent, the 2.2 mile Hardy Haul trail is full of switchbacks and the going isn’t as technical as Kimmers.
Once you arrive back to the parking area dip your feet in Ranch Brook. And, if you find the run has made you hungry (and thirsty) find good beer, pizza and even sushi at the Matterhorn, located right at the end of Ranch Brook Road on your way out.
Who is Going to Love It
Runners looking for a fun trail with a decent hill workout. The obstacles on Kimmer’s add some extra flair to the trail and the swtichbacks on Hardy Haul make the descent flowy and fun. Five miles will pass by quickly on this very enjoyable route.
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
Park on Ranch Brook Road, left after the Matterhorn bar and restaurant. Drive down Ranch Brook past the red house and continue .25 miles to the parking area by the bridge. Parking is free.
If you decide to connect to other trail systems off of Adam’s Camp, please note that the Trapp Family Lodge trails are pay-to-play and you will need to buy a pass to ride these.
