Green Mountain Club

Maintaining & Protecting Vermont's Long Trail Since 1910

  • About
    • The Green Mountain Club
      • Bylaws
      • Annual Reports
      • Strategic Plan
    • Visitor Center
    • Barnes Camp Visitor Center
    • GMC Rental Cabins
    • Board of Directors
    • GMC Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Our Business Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Hiking
    • Trail Updates
    • Mud Season
    • Hiking 101
    • Trail Systems
      • The Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail in Vermont
      • Kingdom Heritage Trails in the Northeast Kingdom
    • Thru-Hike the Long Trail
    • HikeVT
    • Accessible Trails around Vermont
    • Hiking in Groups
    • Trip Planning
    • Fall Hiking
    • Winter Hiking
    • Guidebooks, Maps & Gear
  • Conservation
    • Protecting the Long Trail
    • Land Conservation
    • Field Programs
    • Burrows Trail Project
    • Regional Partnerships
  • Education & Events
    • Events & Workshops
    • Service Learning & Group Outings
    • Calendar of Events & Outings
    • Leave No Trace
    • Wildlife along the Trails
  • News
    • Trail Updates
    • Blog
    • Long Trail News
    • Press Releases
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer Reports
    • Application
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • Long Trail Legacy Campaign
    • Donate Now
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Your Membership Benefits
    • Join a Section
    • Business Membership
    • Annual Meeting
  • Shop

HikeVT Trail Recommendations

Let’s HikeVT! Browse our hike suggestions below for trails around the state. Choose your next adventure based on the season, location, and ability level. Click any link for hike details. Before you head out, be sure to consult seasonal safety tips. You’ll also want to grab your camera so you can share your photos with the online hiking community (#HikeVT). Happy trails!

Winter Hikes Around Vermont

Camel's Hump is a more difficult HikeVT suggestion for a winter day.
A blue sky backdrops Camel’s Hump in winter. Photo by: Lee Krohn

Winter hiking starts when daylight hours wane, ice and snow coat the trails and summits, and winter parking becomes a real consideration. In early winter, be prepared for variable conditions and thin snow cover with more mud and ice. Check out our winter hiking guide for safety and preparedness tips before you hit the trails.

  • easy winter hikes
  • moderate winter hikes
  • moderate to difficult winter hikes
  • difficult hikes to try in winter
  • difficult winter hikes above 4,000′
  • recommended day hikes for winter

Back to top ↑


Fall Hikes Around Vermont

Kent Pond in Killington, along the AT, offers great foliage vistas and is a HikeVT recommendation
Kent Pond in Killington, along the AT, offers great foliage vistas. Photo by: Todd Wilkinson

Autumn is an ideal time of year for hiking: the bugs have subsided along with the extreme heat, and Vermont’s iconic fall foliage emerges. (It’s also our preferred time for a thru-hike.) However, you’ll face new reasons for caution, such as slippery fallen leaves and hunting season. Follow our fall safety tips for a happy hike.

  • good hikes for hunting season
  • fall hike recommendations by location
  • recommended day hikes for fall
  • leaf peeping hikes in the Northeast Kingdom
  • leaf peeping hikes in the Stowe area
  • alternatives to popular leaf-peeping hikes
  • leaf peeping hikes in the Killington area
  • leaf peeping in the Manchester area
  • people’s choice foliage hikes

Back to top ↑


 


Mud Season Hikes Around Vermont

Hikers overlooking view at Starks Nest, HikeVT
Hikers take in the view at Stark’s Nest. Photo by: Ernesta McIntosh, 2018

Mud season begins with the snowmelt — typically in late March or early April — and lasts through early June. This thawing that occurs between winter and spring causes a ton of mud.Traffic along these muddy trails can cause a lot of damage to the trails and forest itself, so we’ve gathered approved routes to keep you active through Vermont’s fifth season. Please be aware of muddy and undriveable conditions on many dirt roads this year, and check driving directions ahead of time. Learn more about navigating mud season.

  • scenic hikes suitable for mud season
  • high-mileage hikes suitable for mud season
  • mud season alternatives to popular peaks
  • mud season hikes to waterways
  • accessible hikes to try during mud season
  • day hikes suitable for mud season

Back to top ↑


Summer Hikes Around Vermont

Bingham Falls.
Bingham Falls. Photo by: Chloe Miller

Summer hiking season kicks off Memorial Day weekend and stretches through Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend in October. It’s a great time to get outside to explore Vermont’s mountains and soak up Vitamin D after a long winter. Check out our hiking how-to’s and refreshers before you hit the trail.

  • summer hikes by location
  • best hikes to kick off summer
  • summer day hike recommendations
  • kid-friendly hikes for summer
  • alternative hikes to popular peaks in summer
  • beginner overnight hikes for summer
  • summer hikes to swimming spots
  • summer hikes with a sunrise view
  • summer hikes to waterfalls

Back to top ↑


Accessible Hikes Around Vermont

The Barnes Camp Boardwalk is an accessible HikeVT recommendation
Barnes Camp Boardwalk. Photo by: Kristin McLane

There are plenty of level, shorter, and accessible hikes throughout Vermont. Browse this collection of recommendations, suited for those who might need a gentler outing.

  • hikes accessible by car
  • hikes accessible by wheelchair

Back to top ↑


Make sure you plan ahead:

  • Check our COVID-19 Response page for current hiking recommendations and a link to Vermont’s official travel guidelines.
  • Many roads used to access the Long Trail are seasonal. Check the status of specific roads ahead of time using this general map of Vermont roads or this list of US Forest Service Roads.
  • Guidebooks and maps are available for purchase at GMC’s Visitor Center, GMC’s online store, and in most Vermont bookstores and outdoor gear retailers. Many maps have digital versions.

More HikeVT trails to explore, by season:

    • Winter recommendations: easy hikes; moderate hikes; moderate to difficult hikes; difficult hikes; and difficult hikes above 4,000 feet; day hikes
    • Mud season recommendations: scenic hikes; high-mileage hikes; alternatives to popular peaks; hikes to waterways; accessible hikes; day hikes
    • Summer recommendations: by location; first hikes; day hikes; kid-friendly hikes; alternatives to popular peaks; beginner overnight hikes; hikes to swimming spots; hikes with a sunrise view; hikes to waterfalls;
    • Fall recommendations: by location; day hikes; leaf peeping in the Northeast Kingdom; leaf peeping in the Stowe area; alternatives to popular leaf-peeping hikes; leaf peeping in the Killington area; leaf peeping in the Manchester area; people’s choice foliage hikes;

Back to top ↑


Maps:

  • Long Trail Map
  • Winter Hiking Guide
  • Long Trail Guide

Back to top ↑

Questions? Our visitor center staff is here to assist you. Call (802) 244-7037 or email [email protected].

two side by side images showing a small container of soil and water

Ask a Science Teacher: Why is the Long Trail so Muddy?

March 27, 2023

Vermont — and especially the Long Trail — is known for being sort of muddy. We even have an official fifth season, "mud season." Why is Vermont (sometimes known as "Vermud") and the Long Trail so muddy? Why is the Long Trail so muddy? To answer, we asked Joe Bahr, newly minted author of the … Read more

About Mud Season HikeVT Trail Recommendations Become a Member Trip Planning Trail Maps Volunteer Opportunities

Mission

The Green Mountain Club is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail - the oldest long distance hiking trail in America. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of Vermont, the club now also maintains the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and trails in the Northeast Kingdom in its mission to "make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people." Read more...

Featured Sponsors

jfghr-lohgo-topo OG
jfghr-lohgo-topo OG
Lenny's Shoe & Apparel logo
Lennys-Logo
Athletic_Primary_WhiteBG
Athletic_Primary_WhiteBG
Sunsoil logo
SUNSOIL_black_Large
Sunset Lake CBD logo
sunset lake cbd web logo
bbco
concept2

Connect

4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
802.244.7037 | Email GMC

Click here for current hours.
Email us for hiking advice. 

Copyright © 2023 Green Mountain Club · All Rights Reserved. · Site by Earthlogic.

2023 Trail Sign Auction Starts Monday, April 3!