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Mud Season Events & Alternative Hikes, by Region

April 28, 2022 by Angie Hilsman Leave a Comment

A mud season event with the Montpelier Section volunteers.
A mud season event in April 2022 with the Montpelier Section volunteers. Photo courtesy: Montpelier Section/ Facebook

Looking for a trail that isn’t slicked with mud? We surveyed the local experts: our section volunteers not only help us maintain trails around the state, they also lead outings all year. Join them this year for mud season events and preseason trail maintenance (details below)! Or, browse their recommendations for appropriate trails to use through Memorial Day weekend. Of course, if you find wet conditions on a hike, either walk straight through the mud or turn around to help preserve trails.

Around Bennington

Bennington Section outing
Bennington Section outing. Photo courtesy: Bennington Section/ Meetup

Try these mud-season-appropriate hikes:

  • Mile-Around-Woods in North Bennington
  • Healing Springs Trail, Lake Shaftsbury State Park
  • Bennington Museum Nature Walk
  • The Hospital Trails, Bennington Area Trail System

Or join the Bennington Section on Tuesday, May 24 @10 AM to bike from Woodstock to Simon Pearce on a hard pack trail. Approximately 7.5 miles; more info.

Around Brattleboro

Help the Brattleboro Section volunteers with trail maintenance between Winhall River and VT 11/30 on Saturday, May 7 @8 AM. Meet at the West Dummerston Covered Bridge at 7 AM to carpool, or the Long Trail parking lot on Rt. 30 at 8 AM, to participate. No prior training necessary.

Around Middlebury

Bread Loaf Section Hike, 2021 Long Trail Day.
Bread Loaf Section hike. Photo by: Ruth Penfield

Join the Bread Loaf Section for these upcoming outings:

  • Friday, May 13: Hike Chandler Ridge in Leicester via the Minnie Baker Trail to Silver Lake. Moderate, 6-mile hike. Contact Ruth.
  • Tuesday, May 17 @9 AM: Hike 3.4 miles of the Bristol Trail Network. Email Porter.

Or try these nearby trails:

  • Trail around Middlebury
  • Bristol Trail Network
  • western Mt. Moosalamoo (lower elevation)

Around Burlington

Burlington Section outing
Burlington Section. Courtesy: Burlington Section/ Facebook

The Burlington Section will be maintaining the Long Trail from the Winooski River Footbridge to Smugglers Notch all month long. Join these upcoming trail work and section outings:

  • Saturday, May 7 @8:30 AM: Help clear the Long Trail and some side trails. Meet at the Richmond Park & Ride (Exit 11). Moderate 5- to 10-mile hike. Contact Paul or Scott.
  • Sunday, May 8: Paddle around the islands of Green River Reservoir to look at wildlife. Email David.
  • Saturday, May 14 @8:30 AM: Help clear the Long Trail. Meet at Richmond Park & Ride (Exit 11). Moderate 5- to 10-mile hike. Contact Paul or Scott.
  • Saturday, May 21 @8:30 AM: Help clear the Long Trail. Meet at Richmond Park & Ride (Exit 11). Moderate 5- to 10-mile hike. Contact Paul or Scott.
  • Sunday, May 22: Follow the Beane Trail to Birch Glen Camp, then head south to Molly Stark’s Balcony. Moderate, 5.6-mile hike. Email Mary Lou Recor.
  • Saturday, May 28 @8:30 AM: Help clear the Long Trail. Meet at Richmond Park & Ride (Exit 11). Moderate 5- to 10-mile hike. Contact Paul or Scott.

Around Connecticut State

Connecticut Section Outing
Connecticut Section outing. Photo courtesy: Jim Fritz/ Facebook

The Connecticut Section connects GMC members in central Connecticut. They maintain the Long Trail between Glastenbury Mountain and Stratton-Arlington Road. Email [email protected] for more info.

Around Rutland

The Killington Section maintains the Long Trail from VT 140 to Maine Junction. Join this group for the upcoming outings:

  • Saturday, May 7: Lend a hand clearing waterbars, downed trees, and brush, and sprucing up shelters. Bring lunch, water and work gloves; tools will be provided. For more info, contact Larry or Dave.
  • Saturday, May 14: Explore the Emerald Lake Vista Trail in Dorset. moderate, 2.4-mile hike, total climb 500 feet. Vaccination required. For more info, contact Herb.
  • Saturday, June 4: Tackle higher areas of the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail in the Killington-Pico area for a National Trails Day Work Party. All are welcome to join. Bring lunch, water and work gloves; tools will be provided. For more info, email Larry or Dave.

Or, try one of its recommended mud season hikes in Killington: the Thundering Falls Boardwalk
and Gifford Woods State Park.

Around St. Albans & Enosburg

The Laraway Section maintains the Long Trial from the Lamoille River to VT 118. Pack your bag with water, snacks, work gloves, and bug repellent and join an upcoming trail clearing trip:

  • Saturday, May 7: clearing Davis Neighborhood to Tree Farm Road in Eden
  • Saturday, May 14: clearing Tree Farm Road in Eden to Ritterbush Pond
  • Saturday, May 28: clearing Davis Neighborhood to Codding Hollow

Register with the Laraway Section for more details: [email protected].

Around Manchester

Manchester Section.
Manchester Section. Photo courtesy: Manchester Section/ Facebook

Join the Manchester Section on Sunday, May 1 @12 PM to hike Angel Falls. Meet at the Ball Mtn Dam Rd. trailhead parking to join the group for a 2.8-mile, roundtrip hike with minor elevation changes. Email Joe to RSVP.

Around Montpelier

The Montpelier Section maintains the Long Trail from Camel’s Hump to the Winooski River footbridge, and from Smuggler’s Notch to Chilcoot Pass. Join Montpelier for trail work and upcoming hikes:

  • Saturday, May 7: 4.5- to 6-mile moderate hike at Peacham Bog. Contact Phyllis or Charlene.
  • Saturday, May 14 @9 AM: All abilities are welcome to help with a spring walk-through and routine pre-hiking season trail work from the Winooski River footbridge, south to Bamforth Ridge Shelter. Email Morgan.
  • Saturday, May 21 @9 AM: Participate on a spring walk-through to evaluate the season’s trail work north of Barnes Camp to Sterling Pond. Tools provided; meet at Smuggler’s Notch.
  • Monday, May 30: Hike around Big Deer Mountain and Osmore Pond at Groton State Forest to look at wildflowers. Email George or Cynthia.

Around Lyndonville

Northeast Kingdom Section volunteers dress for icy summits during mud season events.
Northeast Kingdom Section Outing. Courtesy: NEK Section/ Facebook

The Northeast Kingdom Section maintains trails on Bald, Hor, Moose, Burke, Haystack, Middle, and Wheeler Mountains; the Gnome Stairs and Unknown Pond trails, and GMC’s Wheeler Pond Camps.

Join the section on Sunday, May 1, 9-4 PM, for a trail maintenance day at Cow Mountain Pond Forest in Granby, VT. Meet at the East Burke Clubhouse at 9 AM to carpool. The total hiking distance involved is about six miles. Email the NEK Section with questions or to RSVP.

Around Montgomery

The Northern Frontier Section recommends visiting these areas for mud season:

  • Enosburgh Town Forest
  • St. Albans Town Forest
  • Lake Carmi State Park
  • Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail

Around Morrisville & Stowe

Sterling Section pulls knotweed, one of the appropriate mud season events.
Sterling Section’s knotweed pull. Courtesy: Sterling Section/ Facebook

The Sterling Section maintains the Long Trail in the Morrisville/Stowe area, between Chilcoot Pass and the Lamoille River. Join them for upcoming trail maintenance:

  • May 26 @6-7 PM: Evening knotweed pull at the Lamoille River. It’s a short walk from the road to the worksite. No tools needed, but wear long pants, sleeves, and gloves to prevent poison ivy. Register ahead with Ed Rogers.
  • Saturday, June 4 @9 AM-4 PM: clear and rebuild waterbars on the Long Trail south of the Whiteface summit and on Whiteface Trail (Morristown). Strenuous, five-mile hike; trail work is mild to sweaty. All experience and ability levels welcome. Contact Kevin to register.

Or try these approved hikes for mud season:

  • Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
  • Morristown Forest trail system
  • the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path
  • the 660-foot accessible boardwalk at Barnes Camp in Stowe
  • Sunset Rock Trail for scenic views of Mt. Mansfield

Around Woodstock, VT & Hanover, NH

The Upper Valley Ottauquechee Section maintains the Appalachian Trail from the Maine Junction to the New Hampshire border. Join UVO for the upcoming outings (and browse its complete calendar here):

  • Tuesday, May 3: Explore the Montshire Museum Natural Gardens in Norwich. Less than two miles; fee charged. Email Inge.
  • Saturday, May 7: View the spring ephemerals at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock. ~5 miles; moderate. Contact Debbie.
  • Sunday, May 8: Enjoy Mother’s Day on the Colette Trail in Enfield, NH. 4.2 miles; easy. Email Inge.
  • Sunday, May 15: Hike the Half Mile Pond in Enfield. 5 miles; moderate. Contact Annie.

Around Worcester, Mass.

Worcester, Mass. Section
Worcester Section, Mass. Courtesy: Worcester Section/ Facebook

The Worcester Section connects GMC members around central Massachusetts. It maintains the Long Trail from Stratton-Arlington Road to Winhall River, and maintain the Cedar Meadow Pond Camp in Leicester, Mass. Join Worcester Section on May 21 and 22 @ 10:30 AM for spring trail work at Stratton Pond. More info.

You can also join them in their homestate on August 27 for a hike and lunch at Barre Falls Dam in Barre, Mass. More info.


Looking for more ways to connect? Browse GMC’s outing calendar, register for upcoming workshops, or connect online with our Long Trail Facebook group!

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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

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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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