State Guide: New England
Exploring New England with Shifting Gears
New England has been one of the most rewarding regions of my van life journey so far. From the rugged coastlines of Maine to the rolling Green Mountains of Vermont, there’s no shortage of adventure. This leg of my travels will take me across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts—blending mountain biking with some of the most iconic fall scenery in the country.
I’ll be riding bike parks in every state, chasing flow and progression across New England’s unique terrain. Along the way, I’ll slow down to enjoy the season—leaf peeping in Maine, exploring the coastal beauty of Acadia National Park, and soaking in the small-town charm that makes this part of the country so special.
Whether you’re here for trail recommendations, van life insights, or just to enjoy the ride through my eyes, this page will gather my stories, guides, and lessons from New England.
🗺️ Trail + Van Life Highlights Map
Quick Stats:
Time in States: 32 days
MTB destinations visited: Killington, Stratton, Bolton, Thunder Mountains.
Favorite campground / boondocking spot: Green Mountain NF. Reach out for coordinates. 
Favorite Highlight:Bike Lessons with Coach Tony @ Killington!
🚐📓 Quick Trip Notes.
Vermont moved up to be my second favorite state. I told one of my besties, “Vermont is what Colorado used to be. Before Vail Resorts bought everything and sucked the soul out of the ski culture”. From laid back mountains resprts where they seem to recognize your inalienable and nearly God given right to car camp in their parking lot, to friendly locals who love to tell you the history of their small town – Vermont is a great place! Oh, and the Green Mountain National Forest – check out my favorite photos below or any of my videos to see some of the amazing dispersed camping I found!
I ended up extending my trip there, as well as adding a park in Massachusetts. I ducked into Maine – mainly (haha – like how I did that) to give leaf peeeping But Maine turned into so much more.
MTB Info + Ride Logs
MTB Info + Ride LogsNew England is loaded with awesome MTB opportunities. I rode:
- Killington (Vermont)
- Stratton Mountain (Vermont)
- Bolton (Vermont)
- Thunder Mountain (Mass)
Check out my videos and blog posts below to get a my total reviews of each place! But I will start with this. The bst MTB Coaching I”ve had so far was at Killington. “The Beast of the East” lives up to its name. But it s awesome because it also has a fair amount of intermediate terrain varying in complexity. Truth is: I had several more destinations for MTB on the list. But I suffered an injury that took me off the bike for a 6 week recovery to allow a fracture to heal. But I will be back!!!
Bolton Valley: The Sleeper Mountain That Taught This 47-Year-Old Newbie a Lesson (In Eating Dirt)
Is Bolton Valley Mountain Biking a sleeper mountain or just a tricky design? I explain how small berms and low speed made me eat dirt and why it wasn’t my
Thunder Mountain: My Journey to Find Legit Downhill in the Land of Lobstah Rolls
Looking for legit downhill on the East Coast? Ty & Odie hit Thunder Mountain Bike Park in Massachusetts to find out if the “Land of Lobstah Rolls” is hiding a
Killington Trail Report: The Beast of the East Lives Up to the Hype (for Beginners, Too!)
an a 47-year-old newbie survive Killington Bike Park without breaking a bone? Get the trail report, van life secrets, and what makes “The Beast of the East” a surprisingly good
Boondocking & Beginner Mountain Biking at Stratton Mountain, VT
Thinking about a van life trip to Vermont? Join me as I navigate boondocking in Green Mountain National Forest and tackle the trails at Stratton Mountain Resort. This is my
🏕️ Campground + Van Life Recap
Vermont has ample free camping opportunities. I slept in the parking lots of Killington, Stratton, and . … I also found plenty of free boondocking in Green Mountain National Forest. My favorite site in Green Mountain was right next to a “babbling brook”. I stayed for several days and didn’t see a soul. It was delightful.
In addition, My BaseCamp Thousand Trails Strategy (which you can read about by clicking here) totally paid off. Thousand Trails has New England covered with amazing parks with fantastic locations. I can’t wait to come bacj and explore more of the parks here!
Maine, Lobster, and Needles (Oh My!): Two Weeks of Van Life and Thousand Trails
From questionable parking lots to idyllic lobster rolls and Acadia’s trails, join me for a humorous, self-deprecating look at my two weeks of van life in Maine, utilizing the Thousand Trails BaseCamp strategy. Discover boondocking spots, the Easternmost Point, and which lobster to skip!
🎥 Van Life Videos
Thousand Trails Moody Beach
Moody Beach near Wells, Maine is a popular Thousand Trails Park. Wooded and near many tourist attractions I definitely see the allure of this Campground. Come with me as I take you on a walk about, show you the highlights, and maybe point out a few things I wasn’t so keen on . Join me now!
Thousand Trails Mt. Desert Narrows
Mount Desert Narrows may be short on amenities – but it more than makes up for it by the amazing location. With a free shuttle that picks you up from the parking lot and whisks you away to the area attractions and a bay front location – this is a great place to park your rig to explore all Bar Harbor has to offer.
Sandy Beach (Trails Collection)
Sandy Beach is part of the Trails Collection and part of my BaseCamp Thousand Trails Strategy. After some fun but challenging riding, it was just the place to relax and explore some local sites. Check out the Campground and the charming town here!
Want to know more about Thousand Trails???
Thousand Trails is an amazing membership that gives you access to hundreds of campgrounds across the United States! I love being a Thousand Trails member and the freedom it gives me.
Thinking of Joining? Explore Your Options.
🎥 Mountain Biking Videos
While I love blogging – I also love making videos. Check out my YouTube Channel – Shifting Gears with Ty and make sure to subscribe while you are over there!
Bolton Valley
Bolton Valley is where I ended my first season (not intentionally – LOL). Find out what I think about this bike park as I take you along on the rides and share with you some tips and tricks for riding Bolton!
Killington Mountain Resort
Killington a/k/a “The Beast of the East” may be my favorite bike park of all time. So far. In my limited experience. LOL. Seriously this bike park has it all. From my favorite jump trail (over 60 jumps) to some challenging Tech – there is something for everyone!
Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain was great – and so was the nearby boondocking in Green Mountain National Forest. The instagram worthy moments abound in GMNF. Stratton allowed me to camp in their parking lot (which I had to myself) for several days. So mountain biking fun and van life friendly!
Thunder Mountain Bike Park
Thunder Mountain is legendary in the Northeast among seasoned riders. I actually heard about it twice – once from the Pros at Blue Mountain and then again at Killington. So of course – I had to ride it. With friendly overnight parking ($10 a night) and the champagne of dirt – you won’t want to miss it!
🖼️ Favorite Photos:
📚 Info/External Resources
Here are some additional resources you might find useful:
Boondocking & Camping
Boondocking & Camping- Boondock or Bust – Boondocking in New England – A detailed guide to free camping and boondocking across New England.
- RVTravel: Boondocking in the Eastern U.S. – Tips and realities of finding dispersed camping spots in the East.
- Reddit: Dispersed Camping in New England – First-hand stories and current camping locations from the community.
- RVShare: Boondocking in Massachusetts – Where and how to find low-cost or free camping options in Massachusetts.
- iOverlander: I found it to have some great spots in Green Mountain Nat’l Forest.
Mountain Biking & Trail Networks
- MTBProject – The go-to trail directory with maps, ratings, and user reviews across all of New England.
- Kingdom Trails (Vermont) – Vermont’s legendary trail system with miles of riding through forests and meadows
- Bike Borderlands – A network of connected trails across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Quebec
- Visit Maine – Biking – Official state tourism biking page with trail and trip suggestions.
- NEMBA Trails – The New England Mountain Bike Association’s hub for trails, events, and updates.
- NE Dirt – Favorite MTB Spots – A podcast/blog roundup of top places to ride across the region
- Killington – Check the website for Park Status and Camping Directions
- Stratton – Check the Website for park status.
- Bolton Mtn Resort
- Burke Mtn Resort
- Thunder Mtn Resort. Book your parking lot stay online in advance. Spots must be reserved to overnight in the lot!
A Little Bit About Me.
I started writing this blog as a way to capture the adventurous and free lifestyle I’m privileged to live. I’ve traveled to over 28 countries and 35 U.S States. I’ve lived aboard in multiple countries and averaged over 100 days a year of travel for work. I’ve skied and hiked all over the world – and my new obsession is mountain biking.
What I bring to you isn’t AI generated. It’s based on my feet on the ground – or sometimes conversations with locals. Click here to read more about me!