FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2025
CONTACT: Chloe Miller, Communications Manager at Green Mountain Club, , 907-632-7405
Waterbury Center, Vermont – Following a particularly snowy winter, a warm stretch and rapid thaw last month have quickly transitioned the Green Mountains to mud season.
The Green Mountain Club encourages trail users to avoid muddy trails, follow any seasonal trail or road closures, and help protect the treadway and vegetation during this sensitive season.
“During mud season, hikers can help us do the important work of protecting the trails and fragile mountain environments,” said Keegan Tierney, GMC’s Director of Field Programs. “This time of year, muddy trails are oversaturated with moisture and more vulnerable to erosion, while the rare and fragile vegetation in the mountain’s alpine zones lose their protective winter layers of snow and ice. We thank the Vermont hiking community for being good stewards of the mountains and keeping the trails in good condition for hiking season by avoiding high-elevation muddy trails and exploring low-elevation durable surface alternatives.”
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) closes some trails during mud season. GMC will work closely with FPR to update the hiking public on official mud season trail closures over the next several weeks until the end of mud season, which is typically Memorial Day weekend.
Make the most of mud season with these resources from GMC:
- Find closures through TrailFinder and GMC’s Trail Updates. Stay up to date on trail access and closures. Not all active road or trail closures may be listed, so always follow posted road signs or signage at the trailhead.
- Recommended Hikes: While many high-elevation trails close during mud season, there are many mud-season-friendly hikes. Mud season is a great time to explore local trail systems and other new hikes. Check out tons of mud season hike recommendations or try one of our favorites:
- Bristol Trail Network — 2.4 miles of low-elevation, well-draining trails circle the town and the New Haven River. Try an out-and-back for 5 miles of mud season-suitable hiking.
- Mount Ascutney Toll Road — 7.4 miles round trip with 2,300’ of elevation gain for a challenge and views without damaging the trails.
- South Shore Trail, Willoughby State Forest — 2-mile loop skirts the edge of Lake Willoughby.
- Pond Loop at Grout Pond Recreation Area — 2.6-mile loop travels around Grout Pond with minimal elevation change, several wooden boardwalks to navigate the wet, low-lying areas, and views of nearby Stratton Mountain.
- Colchester Causeway on the Burlington Greenway/Island Line Trail — This 4-mile, 10-foot-wide gravel path extends out in the middle of Lake Champlain, providing water views all around. Access the Causeway from Airport Park and or Mills Point Road Lot in Colchester, or add on miles with the Burlington Greenway.
- Visit GMC’s New Visitor Center. The club’s visitor center on Route 100 in Waterbury Center is open throughout mud season to help hikers find open and mud-season-friendly hikes and prepare for hiking season. Visit Wednesdays-Saturdays, or register for an upcoming workshop: Backpacking 101, Essentials of Map and Compass, Hiking the Long Trail End-to-End.
- Learn more about mud season in Vermont. Why does Vermont get so muddy, and why is it important to protect the trails this season? Explore the science behind the mud, become familiar with spring wildflowers and wildlife, and keep track of your mud season experiences with mud season bingo.
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About the Green Mountain Club: The Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 with one goal: to build a long-distance hiking trail that spans the length of Vermont’s mountains. The Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, was completed in 1930. Today, Green Mountain Club staff and volunteers care for roughly 500 miles of trail in Vermont, and take a sustainable approach to trail building and maintenance in the face of climate change impacts and increased year-round use of the trails. We support the hiking community with education and access to enjoy Vermont’s beloved trails.