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Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Vermont’s Hiking Season

May 25, 2016 by Alicia DiCocco 1 Comment

Lake of Clouds Mansfield by C.H. Diegel Photography
Lake of Clouds Mansfield by C.H. Diegel Photography

The holiday weekend is traditionally the start of the hiking season in Vermont. Hiking is one of the state’s top summer tourism draws and we estimate 200,000 people visit The Long Trail each year.
From its rocky summits to gentle valleys, Vermont is home to hundreds of miles of hiking opportunities. This is a great time of year to get outside and enjoy a favorite hike or explore some place new.

Here are a few tips for early season hikers:
• Plan ahead and let someone know where you will be hiking.
• Bring a warm extra layer as mountain tops are chilly year-round and Vermont’s weather can quickly change.
• Stay hydrated and bring food for long hikes.
• Bring raingear; even an emergency poncho or garbage bag will help in a pinch.
• Carry out what you carry in and help protect Vermont’s special places.

“Our volunteers have been working diligently to clear the trails of winter debris, coinciding nicely with our spring weather melting away the snow and lingering ice from both winter and our extended cold weather of April and May,” said GMC Director of Trail Programs Dave Hardy.

“More daylight and a wide palette of spring greens help make hiking irresistible. Be prepared for blackflies, more sun thanks to less leaves on the trees, and the occasional thundershower,” advises Hardy. “Younger hikers may be able to pick up where they left off last fall, but I suggest starting slowly to condition yourself for longer hikes later.”

Start fast or start slow, but please do start hiking.

This season GMC will employ about forty seasonal employees serving as caretakers at high-use sites and fragile alpine summits, a professional trail crew, and a construction crew who will work to improve or rebuild shelters and other trail infrastructure.

To help plan and guide your next hike pick up a GMC waterproof map, the Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont, or the classic Long Trail Guide.

Filed Under: Hiking, News, Trail

Comments

  1. Marble Mountain Ranch says

    April 4, 2017 at 7:05 am

    It is important that you are well prepared before go on hiking. You should be healthy physically so that you can go for a long trail. Hiking will tired you but after everything the beautiful views from the peak of the mountains will gonna amaze you and want you to hike some more.

    Reply

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Camel’s Hump: Hiker Reflections on Their Backyard Mountain

June 26, 2025

Rising from the spine of the Green Mountains, Camel's Hump is home to scenic views, a wilderness feel with its undeveloped summit, and choose-you-own-adventure hiking options. The mountain's proximity to more populated areas like Burlington and Waterbury make it a popular and well-hiked destination, … Read more

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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...

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4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
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Join a guided hike on the Short Trail this summer!

Join the Green Mountain Club’s Visitor Services Manager, Emily Mosher, for a hike on the Short Trail! Learn more about hiking in Vermont, the Long Trail and the Green Mountain Club, and tips to have a successful hike as we explore the 0.5 mile loop at GMC’s headquarters building in Waterbury Center. These hikes are open to hikers of all ages, from beginner day hiker to seasoned backpacker. Hikes take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am, and on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 2pm. Allow about an hour with plenty of stops to explore.

Wednesday, July 16
Tuesday, July 22

Wednesday, Aug 6
Tuesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 20
Tuesday, August 26
Wednesday, Sept 3

No RSVP necessary; for questions, email [email protected] or call 802-244-7037.