Stick season, aside being the title of a popular song by Vermont singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, has a reputation for being a melancholy and gloomy time of year. This period of time after the fall foliage has fallen and the trees stand bare before winter’s snows is often overlooked for its lack of bright leaves or classic winter beauty. But this mini “season” is an underrated time of year to enjoy the trails for a few special reasons!
Without summer crowds and peak fall tourists, the trails are quieter and with the leaves gone you can catch views through the trees that are often obscured earlier in the year. Hikers also don’t yet have to contend with the extra challenges of winter hiking through ice and snow. Stick season is a great time to try trading exposed peaks for mid-elevation trails over low ridgelines, which really have the chance to shine!
So where are some of the best places to hike during the season of the sticks? While each of the recommended hikes below are lovely at any time of the year, in stick season they really have the chance to shine!
Explore these recommended stick season hikes:
- West Ridge Trail, Bennington
- White Rocks National Recreation Area, Wallingford
- Green Mountain Trail, Danby
- Mount Abraham via Lincoln Gap Road, Lincoln
- Raven Ridge Natural Area, Monkton
- Snake Mountain and Silver Lake – Addison County
- Camel’s Hump View, Duxbury
- Burrows Trail, Huntington
- Stimson Ridge, Bolton
- Mount Hunger, Waterbury
Reminder: While the conditions in town, in the valleys, and at trailheads may be more mild and fall-like, during stick season you may also encounter winter conditions at higher elevations. Be prepared for a variety of weather and trail conditions while hiking during the shoulder season and be prepared with extra layers, a headlamp, and traction footwear if needed. Also, hunting is permitted on all GMC-owned and managed lands. Hike safely during hunting season and wear visible blaze orange clothing.
West Ridge Trail, Bennington
Mileage and elevation gain variable
The West Ridge Trail runs 6.8 miles between Bald Mountain and where the trail meets up with the LT/AT on Glastenbury Mountain. In stick season, the ridge may offer views of both mountains and the surround Glastenbury Wilderness area from between the trees.
To access the West Ridge, follow the Bald Mountain Trail 4 miles from Bennington or the Bear Wallow Trail 2 miles from Woodford until reaching the trail’s junction with the West Ridge Trail. Another 7.8 miles on the West Ridge will bring you to the summit of Glastonbury Mountain. Hikers should be aware that the only exits from the West Ridge Trail are at either mountain. View this hike on Trail Finder
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White Rocks National Recreation Area, Wallingford
1.4 mi roundtrip, approx. 300 ft elevation gain
“I hiked from White Rocks to Clarendon Gorge last year and loved the silence and the animals I saw. The clouds and the trees were also beautiful” – Alessandra Fabela
For a short and geologically fascinating hike, explore the Ice Beds Trail, from which hikers can view the White Rocks Cliffs, a geological feature of Cheshire quartzite exposed over 12,000 years ago in the last ice age. This hike is 1.4 mi roundtrip, with approximately 300 ft elevation gain. Following the blue-blazed trail from where it begins at the White Rocks Picnic Area, the trail leads up and over a knoll opposite the cliffs, providing great views of the rock features, before descending to the “ice beds” the trail is name for at the bottom of a rock slide. View this hike on Trail Finder
For a more challenging hike option in the area, explore White Rocks via the Keewaydin Trail and the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail. Starting from the White Rocks picnic area, follow the Keewaydin Trail for roughly half a mile until it meets the LT/AT and follow the trail south, climbing steeply for a little over one mile until reaching the White Rocks Cliff spur trail. The 0.2. mile spur trail leads hikers to a scenic overlook at the edge of White Rocks Cliff. Out-and-back, the hike totals 3.4 miles with several hundred feet of elevation change. View this hike on Trail Finder.
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Green Mountain Trail, Danby
6.7 mi round trip, approx. 1,009 ft elevation gain
These directions follow the loop clockwise, but the hike can be enjoyed in either direction. Beginning from the main Long Trail parking lot on Brooklyn Road in Danby, the Green Mountain Trail starts across the road from the lot and a little west of the Long Trail crossing. Follow the blue-blazed trail along an old woods road past the turn for Big Branch Picnic Area. The trail continues to climb gradually past several viewpoints until finally reaches the summit of Green Mountain. Descend until the junction with the Little Rock Pond Loop Trail. Turn left, cross the low bridge at the north end of Little Rock Pond, and immediately come to a T intersection with the white-blazed Long Trail/Appalachian Trail.
Turn right/south on the LT and follow it along the shore of the pond. Pass the turn for Little Rock Pond Shelter and continue on the LT south for 2.2 mi back to the parking area.
For an extra challenge, or if USFS 10 is closed for the season, access this loop from the Homer Stone Brook Trail in South Wallingford. This 2.3-mile trail climbs very gradually to Little Rock Pond, intersecting the loop near the bridge at the north shore of the pond. This route is 11.3 miles with approx 1,800 ft elevation gain.
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Mount Abraham via Lincoln Gap Road, Lincoln
7.2 mi roundtrip, approx. 2,600 ft elevation gain
“Favorite stick season hike – Mount Abe! With Lincoln Gap Road closed, it’s such an interesting way to start the hike by walking up the mile of empty road. Plus, there is the tiny Lincoln Gap View Trail before you reach the top and the LT, which is super cool! And I had never checked it out in summer with all the cars on the road.” – Wes Dunn
Starting from the designated parking area at the base of Lincoln Gap Road, hikers begin a mile-long road walk from the road closure to the top of Lincoln Gap and trailheads for the Long Trail heading north and south. About halfway up the road, a sign points hikers toward the short trail to the Lincoln Gap West Vista on the north side of the road. Hike 1.7 miles on the LT north from Lincoln Gap, gradually climbing until the junction of the LT and the Battell Trail. Continue on the LT for 0.8 miles, climbing steeply to the alpine summit.
Find a Hike: Mount Abraham via the Long Trail
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Raven Ridge Natural Area, Monkton
Mileage and elevation gain variable
“I love that you can see more of the view without the leaves!” – Margaret Moody
Raven Ridge Natural Area, conserved and managed by the Nature Conservancy, hosts a 2.2-mile network of family-friendly trails, including an ADA-accessible boardwalk and gravel path through wetland habitat. From the accessible trail, a hiking path splits off and leads up and along the ridge with views of the Champlain Valley.
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Snake Mountain and Silver Lake, Addison County
Mileage and elevation gain variable
“When I lived in Middlebury, Snake Mountain and Silver Lake were in the regular rotation. The view from Snake Mountain is gorgeous, especially at sunset.
The forest road up to Silver Lake is so accessible, and a dip in the lake in the summer is the best. I love swishing through the leaves during stick season and how the view opens up through the woods as the foliage falls!”
Snake Mountain hosts a network of several miles of hiking trails across Willmarth Woods (managed by the Nature Conservancy) and Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area (managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department). The popular Arthur Gibbs trail to the 1,287 ft. summit begins in Willmarth woods and climbs mildly over the course of 1.8 miles to an overlook vista of the surrounding farmland and across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks. View this hike on TrailFinder.
Moosalamoo Recreation Area, near Salisbury, contains nearly 20 miles of trails, including the 1.3-mile access trail to Silver Lake and Falls of Lana and 2.5 mile Silver Lake Loop (Rocky Point Interpretive Trail). Several other trails traverse the surrounding ridges and hollows. View this hike on TrailFinder.
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Camel’s Hump View, Duxbury
.75 mi round trip, approx. 130 ft elevation gain
This lollipop-style loop trail features multiple views of Camel’s Hump, which are especially good as the leaves begin to fall in autumn. The trail also features several benches, which offer nice rest spots.
From the sign at the parking lot, head out on the main path. Soon you will come to a split where you can go clockwise or counterclockwise on the trail. Whichever direction you choose, be sure to stay on the wide, blue-blazed Camel’s Hump View Trail, as there is a cross-country ski trail which crosses it at one point.
Find a Hike: Camel’s Hump View Trail
NOTE: This is a “universally accessible trail.” However, the trail surface is dirt and gravel, and may not be passable by wheelchairs designed for smooth surfaces, especially once fallen leaves are on the path.
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Burrows Trail, Huntington
4.8 mi round trip, approx. 2,461 ft elevation gain
The Burrows Trail offers the easiest access to the summit of Camel’s Hump and its spectacular view of the Champlain Valley, the Adirondacks, and the major peaks of the Green Mountains. The trail climbs steadily until the last particularly steep 0.5 miles until the Hut Clearing just below the summit, before following the Long Trail for the last stretch to the top. The hut clearing is a sheltered spot that is a great place to put on additional layers for the climb above tree line to the summit.
In stick season, within the first hundred feet hikers can view the summit of Camel’s Hump from the trail.
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Stimson Ridge, Bolton
8.6 mi round trip, approx. 1,600 ft elevation gain
Long Trail parking on Route 2 in Bolton, run and hike up the switchbacks of the Long Trail relocation along Stimson Ridge to its intersection with the Duck Brook Trail (the “Old LT”). Continuing on the Long Trail takes you toward Buchanan Shelter. Without leaf cover on the trees, hikers should be able to have clearer views of the Winooski River Valley and nearby ridges.
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Mount Hunger, Waterbury
3.6 mi round trip, approx. 2,200 ft elevation gain
“One of my favorites for stick season is Mount Hunger! Even if not summiting, fewer leaves make for some sneaky views of Mansfield and the spine of the Greens through the trees.” – Amy Ziobron
Mount Hunger, one of the most popular peaks in the Worcester Range, can be hiked via the Waterbury Trail or the Hayward Trail (formerly Middlesex Trail). The 3.6-mile round-trip hike on the Waterbury Trail climbs steadily to the rocky, exposed summit for panoramic views of the Green Mountains to the west, other peaks in the Worcester Range to the north and south, and White Mountains to the east. These and other trails within C.C. Putnam State Forest are managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.