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.
Hiking Season 2023 Update: 5/26/23 – Happy Hiking Season! This Friday marks the “official” beginning of hiking season and all trails around the state (unless marked otherwise below or on TrailFinder) are now open. Most trail reports report dry trails, though patches of snow, ice, and mud may remain.
Trail Changes & Closures
Pico Camp Closure Notice
The Green Mountain Club is closing Pico Camp until unauthorized occupancy of the shelter can be resolved by local authorities. This is a matter of public safety and hikers should find an alternate overnight site or accommodation.
We appreciate the concern and patience of the hiking community as we work to resolve this matter.
Alternative Overnight Suggestions:
- 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
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 is anticipated to begin Monday, June 5, 2023, and continue through the fall of 2023. 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.
Crews will be on site starting May 24, to begin preparatory work in advance of construction, which will include installation of variable message signs and some tree removal as required to complete the work. This preparatory work will take place off the roadway with limited impacts to traffic at the Notch Proper South and Hell Brook North sites. For additional information, please visit the project website. Please direct questions to the Lamoille County Planning Commission and sign up for regular email updates here.
Stowe Pinnacle Parking Lot Closure
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is conducting road maintenance and improvements to the Pinnacle Meadow Road in Stowe. The construction started on May 1, and is expected to run into the second week of June. Public access to Pinnacle Meadow Road and the associated trailhead parking area is closed during construction. During the closure, please use the Stowe Pinnacle Trailhead located on Upper Hollow Road or seek alternative recreation opportunities elsewhere. You can find open trails on Trailfinder.
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.
Temporary Long Trail Relocation in Johnson – June 18, 2021
GMC field staff installed a temporary ~500 foot relocation of a portion of the Long Trail near West Settlement Road in Johnson, to account for a timber harvest by a private land owner. Please use caution while hiking on West Settlement Road to or from Bear Hallow Shelter as this is an active logging site, and be courteous since this is a section of trail that is hosted by private landowners.
Hikers should use the relocation, which is marked with signage and orange flagging, as well as stay alert in the area, leash dogs, and yield to logging trucks.
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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