Make the Most of Hiking Season with a Visit to the Green Mountain Club Visitor Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2025
CONTACT: Chloe Miller, Communications Manager, [email protected], 802-241-8324

Make the Most of Hiking Season with a Visit to the Green Mountain Club Visitor Center

Waterbury Center, Vermont – Though the weather may not feel like it, this Friday of Memorial Day Weekend officially kicks off Vermont’s hiking season. The Green Mountain Club, which manages and maintains 500 miles of trails in the state, including the Long Trail, wants to help hikers get outside and enjoy our wonderful natural spaces this season.

This year, the club has opened the new Rothberg-Birdwhistell Hiker Visitor Center on Route 100 in Waterbury Center to help visitors plan their hikes. Information Specialists can offer advice regarding current trail conditions, recommendations based on needs, and insight into Long Trail history and our natural surroundings.

“The Visitor Center is the perfect place to orient users to the Green Mountains and plan your perfect hike, whether it be a quick nature walk, a challenging summit, or an overnight camping trip on the Long Trail System,” said Emily Mosher, Visitor Services Manager. “Talk to one of our specialists about what you are looking for, peruse trip-planning resources like maps and guidebooks from our Hiker Center, or join an informal Learn to Hike program.”

The Visitor Center will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Programming, including guided hikes on the “Short Trail” and backpacking workshops, will be offered on a regular basis.

This weekend will start out cold and rainy, with snow possible at high elevations, so those hitting the trails should be prepared with plenty of layers, supplies, and a commitment to turn back if weather takes a turn for the worse. Hiker safety is GMC’s top priority, and hikers can refresh their skills at a recorded or upcoming GMC workshop or take advantage of hiking guides on our website and social media.

Out on the trails, hikers can expect to see GMC trail crews, caretakers, and volunteers working and helping visitors statewide. Crews will begin flood recovery work in southern Vermont and continue employing sustainable trail building strategies to further protect recreational assets from extreme weather. Caretakers and volunteers are stationed at busy summits and ponds to help visitors make the most of their hikes and do their part to protect the fragile environments.

Connect with the club for critical hiking information and inspiration all season long. Our trained professionals are available via email ([email protected]), phone (802-244-7037), and social media message (Instagram and Facebook). The Long Trail Hiking — GMC Community Facebook group is a great way to connect with fellow hikers.

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About the Green Mountain Club: The Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 with one goal: to build a long-distance hiking trail that spans the length of Vermont’s mountains. The Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, was completed in 1930. Today, Green Mountain Club staff and volunteers care for roughly 500 miles of trail in Vermont, and take a sustainable approach to trail building and maintenance in the face of climate change impacts and increased year-round use of the trails. We support the hiking community with education and access to enjoy Vermont’s beloved trails.