The Green Mountain Club periodically updates this page with trail closures, conditions, and reports on the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail in Vermont, and Northeast Kingdom Trails. We encourage hikers to share their trail observances with the Club either by contacting our Visitor Center or filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Please be aware that all such trail updates sent to the Club may be used and publicized on this page with the source cited.
GMC also posts conditions reports frequently in our Facebook Group.
Trail Changes & Closures
Middlesex Trail – Weekday Forest Road Construction
The Middlesex Trail to Hunger Mountain is closed weekdays Sept 25-October 27 for culvert replacement on the forest road portion of the trail. Use the Skyline Trail or Hunger Mountain Trail from the Waterbury side.
More info on TrailFinder: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/mount-hunger-white-rocks-mountain (closed trail)
Mount Hunger Waterbury Trail: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/mount-hunger-waterbury-trail(open)
Cloudland Road Closure – A.T. Trailhead Access
UPDATED: Pico Camp Reopened
The Green Mountain Club is reopening Pico Camp to the public, effective 8/18. Signage will be removed. After serving a no-trespass order earlier this summer, the unauthorized occupant of the shelter has not been seen there in over a month, and his belongings are no longer present. Note to the hiking public: If you see the unauthorized occupant (Mr. Scott Saltis), please immediately report this matter to the Killington Police (802-422-3200) so that the No-Trespass order can be successfully enforced. If you are ever in an emergency situation or encounter someone on trail who makes you feel threatened, call 911.
We appreciate the ongoing concern and cooperation of the hiking community and support from the Killington Police Department, Rutland Police Department, and Killington Resort in regards to this matter.
Nearby shelters and overnight sites are listed below if hikers prefer to use them:
- Churchill Scott Shelter or Tucker Johnson Shelter on the Long Trail North
- Cooper Lodge or Governor Clement Shelter on the Long Trail South
- The Inn at the Long Trail on U.S. Route 4
Sunrise Shelter: NEW location and structure
GMC crews and volunteers are putting the finishing touches on a brand new Sunrise Shelter, at a new site. The new 3.5-walled shelter sleeps 14-18, and a moldering privy, constructed in 2022, is located nearby. There is no designated space for tent camping at this site. The water source is a small stream that crosses the LT about 75 feet south of the spur trail.
The new site is about 1.5 miles south of the old site, and .2 miles south of the Long Trail’s intersection with the Chittenden Brook Trail. The spur trail is obvious, but not yet signed.
The old Sunrise Shelter is slated for decommission this week, and is now closed to public use. Please do not use the shelter or tent in the area.
Bamforth Ridge Shelter is Closed
Due to flooding damage, the foundation of Bamforth Ridge shelter has been deemed unsafe and is closed. Please do not sleep in or use the shelter until further notice. There are a few tent platforms at the site, but hikers should plan an alternative route in case the tenting sites are full. Primitive camping is not permitted above 2500′. Montclair Glen is 5.5 miles to the south, and Hump Brook Tenting Area is about 6.5 miles south (use the Dean Trail). Buchanan Shelter is 12 miles north. Duck Brook Shelter is also an option, located on the Duck Brook side trail off Stage Road in Bolton (near the Long Trail Route 2/I-89 crossing).
July Flooding Trail Updates
GMC is posting all flood-related closures, updates, and hiker guidance on this webpage. Thanks to the hiking community for showing such support and cooperation during this time. The trail system suffered widespread damage, but had no catastrophic infrastructure losses.
Notice on “Trail Magic” Activities in the Green Mountain National Forest
Hikers and “trail angels” (volunteers) please be advised that the Green Mountain National Forest has issued new guidance on “trail magic” for hikers and backpackers. This guidance comes in response to an increase in unattended food and beverages, leading to concerns around bear activity and waste disposal.
All “trail magic” — including water, cold drinks, snacks, prepared foods — may only be given out with a volunteer physically present. Any trail magic left unattended will be removed and disposed. This guidance applies to cached food and resupplies as well. Thank you for your helping us keep the Long Trail System litter free and a safe place for humans and wildlife to co-habitat.
Forest Road 10 Closure – Old Job Trailhead Access
Forest Road 10 between Mount Tabor and Landgrove (sometimes called the Danby – Mt. Tabor Road) is closed to through traffic due to a significant washout just west of the intersection with Forest Road 30. As of July 18, 2023, it is closed from FR30 east for bridge and culvert work that is scheduled to last to the end of the summer, so road access to the Old Job Trailhead is unavailable. Green Mountain National Forest Alert.
Smugglers’ Notch Parking and Stormwater Improvement Project
The Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC) in partnership with the Vermont Agency the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Vermont Department of Parks and Recreation is completing environmental restoration along the “Notch Road” (VT 108 from Stowe Mountain Resort to Jeffersonville) to preserve and restore the natural beauty and landscape through the Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway Parking Area and Stormwater Improvement Project. Construction activities will take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Impacts to hikers may include some traffic congestion and temporarily closed parking areas. Detailed updates can be found here.
For weekly updates on closures and additional information, please visit the project website. Please direct questions to the Lamoille County Planning Commission and sign up for regular email updates here.
Annual Peregrine Falcon Closures
Peregrine falcons are very sensitive to human presence during their breeding season, so the following areas are closed to hiking and climbing. Please maintain a respectful distance from known nests. Cliffs occupied by peregrines this year are being identified and the current closed hiking areas include:
• Bolton Notch (Bolton) – UUW cliff – cliff access and climbing closed
• Bone Mountain (Bolton) – portions closed to climbing
• Deer Leap (Bristol) – cliff-top and climbing closed
• Eagle Ledge (Vershire) – closed to hiking and climbing
• Fairlee Palisades (Fairlee) – cliff-top closed
• Marshfield Mt (Marshfield) – portions closed to climbing
• Mt Horrid (Rochester) – Great Cliff overlook closed
• Nichols Ledge (Woodbury) – cliff-top and climbing closed
• Prospect Rock (Johnson) – cliff-top overlook and climbing closed
• Red Rocks Park (S. Burlington) – southern cliff access closed
• Rattlesnake Point (Salisbury) – southern overlook closed
• Snake Mt (Addison) – entire western trail closed
These sites will remain closed until August 1 or until Fish & Wildlife determines the risk to nesting falcons has passed. Additionally, sites may be added to the closed list so keep checking in VT Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Glastenbury Fire Tower Closure
As of December 2, 2022, the Glastenbury Mountain Fire Tower is currently closed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently deemed the tower structurally unsafe. Please do not climb or otherwise use the Glastenbury fire tower. Trails in the area including the Glastenbury/West Ridge Loop remain open.
Seth Warner Shelter Relocation
The new Seth Warner shelter is nearly complete and is available for overnight use, though hikers should expect some trail crew activity in the early season. It is located two miles north of the old site, five miles north of the Vermont-Massachusetts border and five miles south of Congdon Shelter. There is a new composting privy and the water source is located north of the shelter on the Long Trail.
The old Seth Warner site was deconstructed and decommissioned in Fall 2022. Dispersed camping is permitted in this area, but hikers should not use the old Seth Warner site to allow it to revegetate.
Stratton Pond Trail Relocations
Last fall, work was completed to reroute the LT/AT and Lye Brook Trail around Stratton Pond. Both trails were moved upslope to a more sustainable location to help protect the pond’s ecosystem. Please follow new signage at the site to stay on trail. You can still hike to and enjoy the pond’s edge via a short spur trail to the Willis Ross Clearing. Final signage is being installed this spring. Early season hikers should be aware that on-site signage is correct, but not yet complete. A new shelter at Stratton View tenting area will be complete in the first half of the hiking season. In the meantime, new tent platforms are available at Stratton View.
Winooski River Footbridge, Parking Closure
Parking is currently blocked at the south side of the footbridge. The only current parking for the bridge is on Route 2.
AT/LT Rootville Bridge Closed
GMNF has closed the AT/LT Rootville Bridge at the end of Rootville Road at the Lye Brook Wilderness Boundary due to a failed abutment. An inspection of the structure determined a replacement will be needed. In the meantime, this is a fairly easy rock hop with steep scrambles on the banks on both sides of the stream.
Black Bear Activity
Forest Service officials announced July 24, 2019, that they are implementing a Forest Order for the entire Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) geared toward minimizing black bear and human encounters and interactions. The order specifies proper food storage and prohibits leaving food, or refuse on National Forest system lands in Vermont. The Order was issued to provide for visitor safety and the conservation of bears. See more information in the press release.
The following acts are prohibited on the Green Mountain National Forest:
- Except while being consumed, all food, food containers and refuse shall be stored in a closed motor vehicle or suspended at least twelve (12) feet above the ground and not less than six (6) feet horizontally from any object. Bear boxes and bear canisters designed specifically for food and/or refuse storage are acceptable.
- All refuse containing food materials or containers shall be deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose, removed from the Green Mountain National Forest to be disposed of properly, or stored in the manner prescribed for food in #1 above (36 CFR 261.58(cc)).
We have had many questions about whether Ursacks are allowed with the GMNF order. Ursacks are currently acceptable under the Food Storage Closure Order, but as with any newer device or technology, they could be unacceptable in the future if GMNF sees issues with them. We recommend that they be used in conjunction with the odor-proof OPSaks recommended by Ursack.
Forest City Trail Bridge Closed
As of Fall 2019, the Forest City Trail bridge is closed. Fording the stream is possible. Alternative access to the Forest City Trail is via stream crossing or via the Burrows-Forest City Connecter Trail accessed at the Burrows Trailhead parking area. Plan on this bridge being closed for at least a year as we explore replacement options with VT FPR.
East Dorset Trail
The East Dorset Trail is currently closed. Trail damage occurred during a heavy rain event in April 2019. The East Dorset Trail took a heavy hit and is completely washed out and impassable about 0.2 miles in from the Forest Service boundary. The river braided and took out a large section of trail and left deep, fast-flowing water in its place. The damage still needs to be further assessed. See the Forest Service Alert.
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