St. Albans, Vermont
1/2 mile
Hard’Ack Grace Trail®
Strength in every season.
Hard’Ack Grace Trail®
A pioneering 1-mile roundtrip journey through the heart of the Hard’Ack Recreation Area, where the resilience of the Vermont spirit meets a first-of-its-kind path designed for mental, spiritual, and community healing.
About This Trail
Located at the foot of Aldis Hill, the Hard’Ack Grace Trail® is a landmark for the state of Vermont. Trailblazed by Tracy Lavallee and Trudy Cioffi, this path was born from a shared mission to bring nature-based emotional wellness to St. Albans.
From the summer Afterglow Festival to winter snowshoeing under the trees, the trail serves as a year-round sanctuary for reflection. It is a place where every step is a chance to check in with yourself and find hope, supported by a landscape that celebrates the strength found in both nature and conversation.
ACCESSIBILITY
• Well-graded paths
• Multi-season access
• Lower-elevation loop
• Dog-friendly
• Suitable for all ages + abilities
AMENITIES
• Locally crafted benches
• Nearby playground
• Interactive QR codes
LANDSCAPE
• Amanaged City Forest at Aldis Hill
• Nearby high-activity recreation hub
• Deep woods
• Lighted Nordic loops
EXPERIENCE
• Sunlight through Aldis Hill canopy
• Rustles of Vermont foliage
• Dramatic sunrise and sunset vistas
• Local wildlife
POWERED BY COMMUNITY
Each Grace Trail becomes a reflection of the community that surrounds it. While the questions remain the same, what unfolds along the path is shaped by the people who walk it—through shared moments, personal reflections, and the ways individuals choose to show up for themselves and one another.
From Vision to Action
The Hard’Ack Grace Trail® is a "labor of love" that reflects the heartbeat of St. Albans. Fueled by a $10,000 grassroots fundraising effort and supported by partners like the Afterglow Foundation, the Rotary Club, and local churches, this trail is a community success story.
It was championed by two unstoppable women: Tracy, who brought the wisdom of 12-step recovery and nature-as-sanctuary to the project, and Trudy, a dedicated educator and city leader who has since become the Mayor of St. Albans.
Their partnership proves that when community leadership and personal passion collide, they create a legacy that supports the mental health of every neighbor.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE
This installation is a premier example of Collaborative Stewardship. By transforming existing city forest trails into a systematic path for introspection, St. Albans has set a new standard for public wellness. This trail demonstrates how a dedicated volunteer force, supported by corporate sponsors and municipal backing, can create a living ecosystem that serves everyone from teenagers to seniors.
It is a legacy of resilience that proves a Grace Trail® is not just a project to be finished, but a resource to be lived in—fostering deep personal growth while strengthening the city’s social fabric.
LIFE ALONG THE TRAIL
Along the way, simple moments begin to stand out—what you notice, what you feel, and what stays with you.
FOOTSTEPS
& LIFE
Meandering through wooded terrain near the Canadian border, this trail is walked in every season — from summer hikes to winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Athletes train here. Neighbors gather here. Strength is built on these paths, one steady stride at a time.
NATURE'S
RHYTHM
Four distinct seasons shape the rhythm of Hard’Ack. Snow falls. Trails are groomed. Wildlife moves quietly through the woods. In every climate, the path remains open — reflecting the resilience of those who walk it.
HELD BY
COMMUNITY
In this small northern city with a big heart, the Grace Trail stands as a community success story — supported by residents, civic leaders, and a shared commitment to resilience. Rooted in strength and sustained by connection, it reflects the spirit of a town that shows up for one another in every season.
TALES FROM THE TRAIL
A Breath of Fresh Air
Made Meaningful Here
Here, the trail is a living conversation. You might see a recovery group working through the "Release" station together, or a mother taking a quiet "reset" walk while her children play nearby. It’s a place where the air carries the spirit of a town that refuses to quit.
As Mayor Trudy Cioffi notes, this space is a "positive breath of fresh air" in a world where there is a lot going on.
Whether you are walking to find peace after a difficult week or celebrating hope at the Afterglow Festival, the trail stands as a steady reminder that your community is walking right there with you.
The way this community stepped up to support this project—to bring it to life and invest in the mental health of our neighbors—was truly amazing.
Trudy Cioff
Mayor of St. Albans & Hard'Ack Grace Trail Co-Founder
This is a place where people can come to think, reflect, and be in nature—which is healing in itself. The Grace Trail invites people to slow down and engage with the questions as they walk.
Tracy Lavallee
Hard'Ack Grace Trail Co-Founder
Some days I come for the walk. Other days I come for the questions. Either way, I always leave feeling a little lighter and a little more hopeful than when I arrived.
Danielle S
St. Albans Resident
Shared Beyond the Trail
From statewide news coverage to the thousands raised for local mental health, the Hard’Ack Grace Trail® has become a beacon of Vermont resilience—inspiring towns across the state to turn their woods into windows of hope.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
This trail is the result of a collaboration between the Hard’ack recreation team, local environmental stewards, and community wellness advocates. By integrating the Grace Trail® into the existing mountain landscape, these partners have provided a permanent resource for year-round reflection and outdoor activity for the St. Albans community.
