TRAILS FEST 2026

Join us for the 1st Annual Cambridge TrailsFest!

September 12 & 13

This weekend-long community celebration will highlight Cambridge's incredible trails, conserved land, and outdoor spaces, with opportunities to hike, explore, and learn through guided activities, family-friendly programming, and more. The weekend will wrap up with a community kickball game and potluck celebration on Sunday afternoon at the Cambridge community pavilion.

A home base tent will be stationed at the Cambridge Community Center from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Stop by for info, merch, peep the raffles, and see what we're up to!

For the safety and enjoyment of all participants, we ask that furry friends be left at home for all guided activities. Pets are welcome on most town trails outside of guided activites, so bring them with you as you work on your scavenger hunts!

SATURDAY 9/12

Scavenger Hunt on local trails throughout the weekend!

Pick up a printout at the Community Center CCC table or print it out here: SCAVENGER HUNT PRINT OUT

Goal - Find at least 3 items from each of 5 Categories to submit a raffle ticket.

Challenge - Find all items for each Category for a bonus raffle ticket.

Show us your work! Take a picture with your phone, draw or describe an item on the back of this sheet, or tell us about it when you turn in your sheet. We can help with clues.

Hint: You will need to go to more than one trail to complete this sheet!

Bormann Property Hike

A guided walk at the Bormann property to preview the new 30 acres of the Krusch Preserve, additional land, and trails. Sturdy shoes are strongly recommended, as some of the trails are not yet built. Please email trails@kruschnaturepreserve.org to register, as this hike is limited to 12 people. If more than 12 people are interested, there is the possibility for another session at the same time on Sunday as well.

Time: 10 - 11 am

Location: Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve
316 North Cambridge Road, Cambridge, VT

Parking: Krusch Preserve parking lot

Host: Liam Kearney of the Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve, the Friends of the Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve, and the Cambridge Trails Committee

Poetry Walk

Please join the Vermont Land Trust, in partnership with the Cambridge Trails Committee, for a relaxed walk through the beautiful Brewster Uplands property, approximately 2-3 miles on fairly flat ground. Along the way, you’ll stop and share seasonally-inspired poetry and end with some light refreshments. Participants are encouraged to bring along a poem that evokes the autumn, nature or is just meaningful to them: think of it as a “poetry potluck”.

More details and registration: https://vlt.org/events/poetry-walk-at-brewster-uplands/

Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Location: Brewster Uplands.
Further details will be provided after registration.

Host: Peter Ingvoldstad of the Vermont Land Trust and Dede Crettol of the Cambridge Conservation Commission and the Friends of the Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve

SUNDAY 9/13

Alden Bryan Brewster River Trail Hike

A guided 1.25 hike along the Edwards Road section of the Alden Bryan Brewster River Trail. Please email laird.macdowell@gmail.com to register, as this hike is limited to 12 people. Be sure to wear comfortable footwear for trail hiking. Transportation via shuttle bus will be provided from Martells Restaurant to the trailhead near Smuggs Disc Golf, where you will then walk back to Martells on the trail. Don't forget to grab some lunch at Martells when you're finished hiking! Please no pets.

Time: 10 - 11 am

Location: Alden Bryan Brewster River Trail along Edwards Road

Parking: Martell's At the Red Fox
87 Edwards Rd, Jeffersonville, VT

Host: Laird MacDowell as Chair of the Cambridge Trails Committee

Labyrinth Meditation Walk

DETAILS TO COME

Time: 10 - 11 am

Location: Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve
316 North Cambridge Road, Cambridge, VT

Parking: Krusch Preserve parking lot

Host: Sally Laughlin as the Chair of the Peter A Krusch Preserve Committee and the Friends of the Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve, and Dede Crettol of the Cambridge Conservation Commission and the Friends of the Peter A Krusch Nature Preserve

Kickball Game

A traditional kickball game to work up an appetite before the potluck. Kids are welcome!

Time: 2 - 4 pm

Location: Cambridge Recreation Fields
186 School Rd, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

Parking: Cambridge Elementary School parking lot

Host: Keinzie Leikert of the Cambridge Recreation Committee

Community Potluck

Wrap up the weekend with a friendly gathering. Bring a dish to share if you can. Or, just come and be. We'll have plenty to share.

Don't forget your reusable dishwares and utensils for eating the delicious food!

Time: 4 - 6 pm

Location: Cambridge Elementary School Pavillion
186 School Rd, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

Parking: Cambridge Elementary School parking lot

Host: Cambridge Conservation Commission

Raffle Drawing

Raffle tickets can be dropped off at the Cambridge Community Center event tent anytime from 10 to 4 on Saturday or Sunday. Or, at the community potluck. You will be able to choose which item your ticket gets entered in to win! Raffle tickets can be earned by:
Participating in guided TrailsFest activities (one ticket per person per activity)
Completing the scavenger hunt in various ways
Purchasing raffle tickets to support the Conservation Commission, 5 for $5

Raffle Prizes:
Bash Badge for the 26/27 Smuggs Winter Season
Certificate for a 1hour private ski or snowboard lesson at Smuggs
Children's board games
Eco kitchen supplies such as beeswrap
A Cambridge Conservation Commission tee shirt
A Land Trust tee shirt
and more!

Time: 6 pm

Location: Cambridge Elementary School Pavillion
186 School Rd, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

Parking: Cambridge Elementary School parking lot

Host: Cambridge Conservation Commission