Discover Bethel’s new trails and parks.
Get goodies and freebies.
Try out bikes, ride trails, and learn skills.
Play outdoors and meet new friends.
100% free and open to all. Scroll down for full schedule of events, activities, and giveaways.
Event is rain or shine, but some activities may be cancelled in bad weather. Check this page for updates. All events and activities leave from the Bethel Recreation Center, 115 Pleasant Street, Bethel, VT.
2022 Bethel Forward Fest
Trail Fest
Sunday, September 25
9:30 AM -12:30 PM
Bethel Recreation Center
Free Coffee & Treats
All day, while supplies last
Grab free, locally-made goodies from creative producers in the Bethel area. Get coffee from First Branch Coffee and local baked goods.
Bike Helmet & Gear Giveaway
All day, while supplies last
Free bike helmets available from Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Also look for free bike safety bling from AARP Vermont.
E-Bike Trial Rides
All day, first come/first served
Try out an e-bike! Take a spin around the Rec Center and talk with Vermont Bike & Brew about bike options and incentives.
Ridgeline Bike Trailer & Tire Changing Station
All day, first come/first served
Try out a kids’ bike for size with Ridgeline Outdoor Collective’s bike trailer. Get help changing a bike tire and enjoy riding around the Rec Center and trails.
Bethel Parks Challenge
Through October, while supplies last
Grab a new map, explore Bethel parks and public spaces, and win great prizes from Bethel for All and Bethel Conservation Commission.
Other quick trail rides, bike safety workshops, and walks offered throughout the day. Bring a bike and helmet or good walking shoes and come by anytime to check out Bethel’s growing trail and recreation offerings.
Rides, Walks, and Workshops
Getting Back on Your Bike Workshop & Ride (10:15 AM)
Getting Back on Your Bike Workshop & Ride: Join AARP Vermont for a free workshop and low-key ride along Peavine Boulevard. Learn how to safely get back on your bike, ride on village streets, and plan a route. Bring your own bike.
Farms, Food & Foliage E-Bike Tour (10:30 AM)
Follow a self-guided tour through Bethel’s hills, check out flowers and local foods at Bethel’s farm stands, and end up at Babes Bar for a special drink. Must finish by 2:30 PM. Reserve a FREE e-bike rental (space is limited) or bring your own.
Carla’s Meadow Walk (11 AM)
Carla’s Meadow Walk: Join the Conservation Commission for an easy-mid level walk along the White River on the new Carla’s Meadow trail. Approx. 1.5 miles, mostly flat.
Tour de Parks (12 PM)
Discover Bethel’s 13 village parks and public spaces, learn where to find trailheads, and hear what plans are in store for growing our recreation system. Take an easy-mid level walk with Bethel for All. Approx. 1.5 miles, mostly flat.
Bethel Recreation Committee
Bethel Conservation Commission
Bethel Energy Committee
Town of Bethel
White River Valley School
Orange County Sherriff’s Department
AARP Vermont
Vermont Bike & Brew
Living Edge Woodworking
Teal Emlyn Illustration
First Branch Coffee
Thank you to our partners and sponsors!
Special thanks to 3CVT (Cornerstone Creative Community) and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission
Thanks to their support, we’re able to provide free coffee and goodies from local specialty food providers, free e-bike rentals for the Farms, Food & Foliage Tour, and creative trail benches from local woodworker Living Edge Woodworking (Lindley Brainard) and illustrator Teal Sallen.
Special thanks to the generous landowners who allow Bethel’s recreational trails to cross their land
Please help us keep these trails open by staying on the trail, being respectful, and leaving no trace.