Help Protect Fragile Trail Environments
Spring has sprung, although it’s not always easy to tell in Vermont. One day it dumps 6″ of snow, the next it’s 50° and sunny, and the back and forth wreaks havoc on our beloved trails. When the snow finally melts in town and at trailheads, it’s tempting to hope that the entire trail will be just as clear and dry. But experience has taught us that snow and ice hang on late into May at higher elevations, and even into June on the highest peaks. And that middle ground between the trailhead and the summit? It’s a muddy mess.
As the snow melts and the spring rains arrive, the ground can only hold so much water. Deep and wide mud puddles appear, sometimes taking up entire sections of trail. But we’re not just trying to keep you from getting dirty. Trails that are oversaturated are vulnerable to damage from soil compaction and erosion with every footstep. Soil compaction degrades the quality of the trail by reducing its ability to absorb water, causing increased flooding later and making it harder for vegetation to grow. Erosion then carries the soil away, leaving rocks and roots exposed.
Think you can just walk around that mud puddle blocking the trail? Think again – while walking around muddy areas will keep you dry, walking on the edges of trails tramples vegetation, widens the trail, and causes more damage to both trail and environment.
Help us help you! Trail maintainers, many of whom are volunteers, work hard to keep Vermont’s trails in good shape. Let’s not add to their work.
You might say, But it’s so nice out! I want to hike!
Believe us, we get it! Hiking is what we live for, and it’s hard to beat that spring fever. First of all, keep in mind that what the weather is like at the trailhead is not necessarily what it is like farther up the trail. You could still be walking into winter if you somehow made it past the mud. Secondly, maybe try some different activities for the next two months: spring is a great time for other outdoor recreation like cycling, paddling, and even road walking. Check out our outings calendar to join a trip with a GMC section – we don’t just hike! Spring is also a great time to plan out your summer hikes. Who doesn’t love poring over maps and guidebooks? Or take a workshop and learn some new skills for later.
If you really can’t resist the call of the trail, stick to low elevations and south-facing slopes, which tend to dry out earlier in the season. But even in those places, be prepared to turn around if the trail is suddenly muddy. One of the seven principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics is to only travel on durable surfaces. Rock is durable. Hard, dry soil is durable. Mud is not durable. Help us protect the trail for use the rest of the year by turning around when you come upon a muddy section of trail. The trails will dry out and harden again soon enough and you’ll be back out hiking before you know it.
Check out our list of suggested mud season hikes, GMC staff favorite hikes, and even more from VT State Parks (including a weekly trail update with the latest conditions). You can also join the GMC Facebook Group to chat with other hikers and see where other people are finding dry areas to get outside.
Are you planning a thru hike of the Long Trail or Appalachian Trail in Vermont? See even more reasons why you should plan your hike for after mud season over at TheTrek.co.
Mud season has traditionally ended around Memorial Day but climate change is making it harder to predict what the season will look like. If it’s getting later in the season and you suspect the trail you want to hike might be dried out, it doesn’t hurt to check. Call the park that the trail is in for a status update, or call GMC’s Visitor Center at 802-244-7037 (or email [email protected]). We do our best to keep abreast of conditions and we are happy to share any information we have.
Most of all, thank you for doing your part to keep our trails in great shape! Vermont’s trails are some of its best features and we want everyone to enjoy them for a long time.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2017 and was updated in April 2019.
Important message and great cartoon to illustrate!
Thanks for the suggested hike to Black Mountain, Dummerston! WE did it on Monday, April 10th and it was perfect. Only a bit of ice still on the bottom, flat quarter mile. Once you start climbing it was totally dry! Another hiker also suggested several loops that are not on the map.
Thanks again for recommending, it si the first we heard of this one!
You announced that mud season has begun. That’s good to know. Do you also publicize when mud season is over? Even better to know.
We will definitely be making an announcement when mud season is over! We are eager to kick off the hiking season as well.
Is trail closure during mud season simply a fervent appeal by the GMC and Vermont State Parks or is there an actual civil penalty associated with hiking on a “closed” trail? This isn’t clear from the text. Are signs posted at the beginning of particular trails?
While many alpine areas are muddy it is often possible for a careful person to hike on a particular trail without straying into the surrounding vegetation or causing further damage to the trail itself. I’ve never heard about Mud Season prohibition in NH or NY – is this an example of an elevated (no pun intended) VT social consciousness? BTW; I personally stay away from the woods until mid July, when the insect population has abated. Spring and early summer are the time for biking, IMHO.
Hi Steve. You could contact FPR to ask about civil penalties since they are the ones closing the trails. Here at GMC, we are asking people to do the right thing and be kind to our currently fragile trails. ADK and AMC ask the same of hikers in NY and NH – https://www.adk.org/mud-season-adirondacks-fifth-season/ and https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/mud-season-hiking-dos-and-donts/. Signs are posted at some trailheads here in VT, but hikers should be prepared to turn around if they’ve started on a trail that appears open/dry and conditions later change to wet/mud.
Found several wet areas in northern part of Section 2 – Kid Gore Shelter to Arlington-Stratton Road – during trail maintenance this weekend. Most snow gone but ground still saturated and water running off or down the trail. Good reminder for hikers to hold off until the trail has a chance to drain and dry.
With the recent rain and the weather forecast, I’m starting to get concerned that starting the LT NOBO on July 1 will be too muddy! Is it going to dry out?
Hi Tom! The Long Trail is going to have some mud in places even throughout the summer. If there are no rocks or logs to hop to avoid it, just make sure to follow Leave No Trace rules and walk right through the middle of it to avoid widening the trail. Enjoy your hike!
Hoping to hike LT from Johnson/route 15 north this weekend- June 3 & 4. Any idea how muddy it will be? We’ve had so much rain!
Hi Janet! We’re seeing reports that a lot of the Long Trail is still fairly muddy. The trails in Vermont can be muddy throughout the year so just because it’s hiking season doesn’t mean there won’t be any mud. At this point, we ask hikers to walk right through the center of mud if they can’t avoid it in order to avoid widening the trail by stepping on the edges.
looking to section hike rt103 to rt 4 june 9-10
Mudd situation? is this section open?
Hi Tom! The whole trail is open but with all the rain lately, it’s likely to be muddy. We have heard reports of mud down south as well. At this point, we ask hikers to walk right through the center of mud if they can’t avoid it in order to avoid widening the trail by stepping on the edges.
Hi! Is it ok to hike Abraham this Saturday….or is Mud season still on? 🙂
Hi Maryse! It’s okay to hike Abe this weekend but please be careful of the alpine zone on the summit – stay on the trail, don’t step on the vegetation, and leash any dogs. The trails in Vermont can be muddy throughout the year so just because it’s hiking season doesn’t mean there won’t be any mud. Just make sure you’re prepared for all conditions.
Under estimated Mud season… Memorial Day weekend 2017: wife & I brought our kids (9 & 6) to Stowe to hike the Long Trail South (which I have not hiked in almost 20 years).
As a kid, my family would camp in Groton every August and hike the LT South almost every time. Now grown up with my own family, we recently hiked the Toll Road trail in late June 2015, and wanted to hike the LT South. However, I have never hiked during this time of the year. I under estimated the mud and snow (yes snow still on the trail for about a half mile below the Taft Lodge). We still had a great time and our kids keep talking about it even 10 days later! My lesson learned-> invest in high quality footwear!
As much as I love the skiing, I think that I love the summertime hiking in Vermont even more! Thank you GMC Members/Volunteers for the upkeep and maintanence that you perform. Looking forward to many more years of hiking in the great state of Vermont!
I’m currently planning to complete my next AT section, which will bring me into Vermont. I’ll be hiking north. I’m starting in about a week. I know there has been a lot of rain. How are the conditions?
Hi Jamie! We’re seeing reports that a lot of the Long Trail is still fairly muddy. The trails in Vermont can be muddy throughout the year so just because it’s hiking season doesn’t mean there won’t be any mud. At this point, we ask hikers to walk right through the center of mud if they can’t avoid it in order to avoid widening the trail by stepping on the edges.
Hello! I am thinking of hiking this route in july/august. Is this a good time to hike this or not?
July will still have some bugs but both July and August are lovely months to hike.
Hoping to hike Mount Mansfield May 26th or 27th. Is this doable or too early?
The trails on Mount Mansfield will technically be open starting Memorial Day Weekend. However, with this year’s late snowpack, they are likely to still have ice and snow in places, and definitely mud. Please be prepared for all possible conditions and walk on the middle of the trail to avoid trampling vegetation.
Excellent news! We are planning our trip for May 27th and weather looks promising right now so super excited! For sure will respect the trails and mountain. 🙂
Are there any dry/open trails that lead to lean-tos or tent platforms? I’m hoping to get out for a quick overnight. I’m new to VT mud season hiking so it didn’t even occur to me that the trails might be closed. I was planning on hiking up to Camels Hump, but it sounds like that won’t be permitted for another few weeks.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Here are a few options that are fine to stay at right now:
Taylor Lodge, 1.6 miles via Lake Mansfield Trail: still wet but can rock hop pretty easily.
Roundtop Shelter, 3.3 miles via LT North from route 15 in Johnson
Spruce Ledge Camp, 3.0 miles via LT South from route 118
Anywhere on the AT from Maine Jct to NH Border
Pick up after your dogs. I live near some of these trails and every year we are inundated with with more and more dog crap. Also keep your dog on a leash. I don’t care if you tell me it is friendly. I have had too many unpleasant experiences with “friendly dogs”. I now always carry pepper spray and I am not afraid to use it.