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.
July 2024 Flooding Update (last update 8.14.24)
GMC is in the process of collecting trail infrastructure reports from field staff. We ask hikers for patience and allow road and emergency crews to do their work. Additional flood events have occurred in more isolated areas since the July 10 flood, so please check local reports before you go.
The most severe damage occurred on access roads to many popular trailheads. Many of these roads have received temporary repair and are open to local/necessary traffic ONLY. Please help maintain the integrity of these temporary repairs by seeking out hikes in unimpacted areas.
Road Access and Guidance:
- Duxbury: Camel’s Hump Road (Duxbury) is open to local traffic only, and the Monroe Trailhead is closed until further notice. (Remains closed as of September 6, 2024)
- Fayston: (Hedgehog Brook Trail) All Fayston road travel should be done on an as-needed basis only. Big Basin Road remains partially closed. (Latest update from town of Fayston, 7/19)
- Bolton: The Bolton Notch Road and Stage Road in Bolton (access to the Duck Brook Trail) are open to local traffic only. Please respect these traffic limitations. (Latest update from Town of Bolton, 7/19)
- Parking in the Long Trail parking lot on Route 2 is open and accessible.
- Stowe: “Roads that were impacted by the storm while passable will take several months to bring back to their pre-flooding condition.” This includes Lake Mansfield Trail (access to LT) and the following other popular trails: Stowe Pinnacle, Pinnacle Meadows, Bingham Falls, Moss Glen Falls in Stowe. (Latest from town of Stowe 7/18)
Flood Related Trail Changes and Updates:
- The Lamoille River floodplain area is OPEN, follow orange flagging for the best crossing route through the high water channel
- LT from Duxbury Window parking lot to Winooski River footbridge is now OPEN. There is some remaining landslide evidence, but the trail is stable.
All water crossings should be undertaken with extreme caution. Swimming and recreating in rivers and lakes is not advised: water is fast-moving and contaminated. Wait until it is clear and calm.
Trail Changes & Closures
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Long Trail Relocations and Closures
Including: Seth Warner shelter relocation, Stratton Pond trails relocations, Sunrise shelter relocation
Parking and Trailhead Access Alerts
Including: Cloudland Road in Pomfret; Forest Road 10 Closure in Mt. Tabor
General Guidelines / Seasonal Closures
Including: Cloudland Road Closure, Trail Magic Guidelines, Peregrine Falcon Closures, Food Storage Regulations
Resolved Alerts
Including: Pico Camp
Long Trail Trail and Shelter Relocations
from south to north
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Lake Mansfield Trail Bridge Closed
Due to structural concerns, the bridge on the Lake Mansfield Trail is closed as of 8/23/24. The trail remains open, and hikers will have to ford the stream until the bridge is replaced. In times of high water it may be a hazardous crossing. At this time, there is no timeline on the bridge’s replacement.
Seth Warner Shelter Relocation
The new Seth Warner shelter is complete and is available for overnight use. It is located two miles north of the old site, at about 5.45 miles north of the Vermont-Massachusetts border and 5.4 miles south of Congdon Shelter. It is down a short spur trail to the west/left. There is a new composting privy and the water source is located north of the shelter on the Long Trail. There is no overflow tenting at Seth Warner, though dispersed camping is allowed following GMNF and Leave No Trace principles (see link). There is currently no bear box, so plan to use a bear canister or a proper bear hang.
The old Seth Warner site, at mile 2.8NB, 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.
New Seth Warner coordinates: 42.79804, -73.11836
Glastenbury Fire Tower Remains Closed.
Please do not climb or otherwise use the Glastenbury fire tower. Green Mountain National Forest is in the process of securing funding to repair the tower.
Stratton Pond Area Trail Relocations, new Shelter Open
The ongoing LT/AT and Lye Brook Trail around Stratton Pond relocations are complete. 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.
There is a new shelter available at the Stratton View Site. From the LT/AT junction with the Stratton Pond Trail, follow signs to the Lye Brook Trail. The relocated spur is about .6 miles around the west side of the pond. There is a moldering privy and tenting capacity here as well.
AT/LT Rootville Bridge Replacement under Construction
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.
Sunrise Shelter Relocation Complete; Shelter Open.
Sunrise Shelter has moved south. The new 3.5-walled shelter sleeps 14-18, and a moldering privy, constructed in 2022, is located nearby. There is no designated space for tent camping at this site. The water source is a small stream that crosses the LT about 75 feet south of the spur trail.
The new site is about 1.5 miles south of the old site, and .2 miles south of the Long Trail’s intersection with the Chittenden Brook Trail. Its coordinates are: 43.8234832, -72.9459424
Parking and Trail Access Closures
Cloudland Road in Pomfret
From Wednesday, September 25 through Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the following traffic pattern changes are in effect in Pomfret, VT:
- Cloudland Road south of Barber Hill Road will be closed to all motor vehicles,
- Barber Hill Road will be closed to eastbound motor vehicles, and
- Parking will be prohibited around the intersection of Cloudland Road and Barber Hill Road.
The portion of Cloudland Road at the Appalachian Trail crossing is located will remain open, but arriving traffic will need to approach from the north and traffic departing southbound will be diverted west at Barber Hill Road. See the town’s summary notice of these closures.
Forest Road 10 Closure
Forest Road 10, which connects Mt. Tabor to Landgrove, also called Danby Mountain Tabor Road, is closed to through traffic through the end of the year. Access to the Long Trail / Appalachian Trail, Old Job, and Little Rock Pond trailheads on FR10 is only available from the Mt. Tabor side, accessed via Route 7. The closure is to replace an aging culvert that had caused washouts and closures in recent years.
Forest Road 273 Closure
Forest Road 273, also known as Prospect Mtn. Road, will be closed through mid-October for a culvert replacement. This closure impacts access to a little-used Long Trail / Appalachian Trail trailhead at the end of FR273.
Winooski River Footbridge, Parking Closure
Parking is not allowed on the south side of the footbridge. The only current parking for the bridge is on Route 2. Map it.
General Guidelines / Seasonal Closures
Foliage Season Road Closures in Promfret, VT
From Wednesday, September 25 through Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the following traffic pattern changes are in effect in Pomfret, VT:
- Cloudland Road south of Barber Hill Road will be closed to all motor vehicles,
- Barber Hill Road will be closed to eastbound motor vehicles, and
- Parking will be prohibited around the intersection of Cloudland Road and Barber Hill Road.
The portion of Cloudland Road at the Appalachian Trail crossing is located will remain open, but arriving traffic will need to approach from the north and traffic departing southbound will be diverted west at Barber Hill Road. See the town’s summary notice of these closures.
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
- Dummerston Quarry (Dummerston) – upper quarry 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.
Notice on “Trail Magic” Activities in the Green Mountain National Forest
Hikers and “trail angels” (volunteers) please be advised that the Green Mountain National Forest has issued new guidance on “trail magic” for hikers and backpackers. This guidance comes in response to an increase in unattended food and beverages, leading to concerns around bear activity and waste disposal.
All “trail magic” — including water, cold drinks, snacks, prepared foods — may only be given out with a volunteer physically present. Any trail magic left unattended will be removed and disposed. This guidance applies to cached food and resupplies as well. Thank you for your helping us keep the Long Trail System litter free and a safe place for humans and wildlife to co-habitat.
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.
Resolved Alerts
UPDATE: Moss Glen Falls, Stowe Pinnacle and Pinnacle Meadows Parking Access restored, drive with caution.
Driving and parking access has been restored in the Moss Glen Falls, Stowe Pinnacle, and Pinnacle Meadows area. Construction will continue for the remainder of the season, so please drive carefully and proceed with caution. Other hike recommendations in the area include Mount Hunger (access from the Waterbury side only) or Sterling Pond Trail.
UPDATE: The Long Trail through the Winooski Valley Farm Fields is OPEN
Following flooding in December 2023, the Long Trail through the Winooski Valley farm fields is now open. The stiles over electric fences have been replaced, mowing has occurred, and signage now directs hikers into the field rather than the road. Please use care around active agricultural practices and walk around chicken coops if necessary.
UPDATE: Forest City Bridge Construction is Complete
GMC crews finished construction of a new bridge over Brush Brook on the Forest City Trail (.25 miles from the Forest City trailhead in Huntington). The old bridge closed in 2019 due to structural concerns and was removed in November 2023 after sustaining further damage in the July 2023 floods.
UPDATED: Pico Camp Reopened as of 8/16/23
After serving a no-trespass order last summer, the unauthorized occupant of the shelter has not been seen. Note to the hiking public: If you encounter individuals on trail who make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, consider moving on to the next shelter or camping spot. f you are ever in an emergency situation, call 911. General Notices
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