Mud Season is Here! Help Us Protect Fragile Trail Environments

Vermont – Today the Green Mountain Club (GMC), maintainer and protector of Vermont’s Long Trail and Vermont’s hiking trails advocate, along with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), manager of Vermont State Forests and Parks, and the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF), announce the return of mud season to the Green Mountains.

The wet soils on and around hiking trails are very susceptible to erosion at this critical time of year.  To protect fragile soil and surrounding vegetation, some trails may be closed by the land manager during this time.  Please respect the signage you see.  Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibit natural drainage of our beloved hiking trails.

“It can take hours for a volunteer or trail crew to fix what takes just moments to damage by hiking on muddy trails,” says Jessica Savage, FPR’s recreation program manager. “In between spring showers, we are all ready to hit the trails after a long, cold winter. But even as your yard is drying out, soils are still thawing at higher elevations.  Saving your mountain hikes until the trails are dry will ensure a better, longer hiking season for all.”

Play in the mud in your yard,
not on the trails!

The period of snowmelt and muddy trails varies considerably throughout Vermont depending on elevation, solar orientation, depth of snowpack, and amount of spring rainfall.  Even as it warms up in town, our mountains are hiding cold, wet, snowy, and icy conditions that may persist deep into spring. Hikers who find themselves at high elevations will need better traction and warmer clothes than the valley may hint at.  The GMC encourages hikers to use their best judgment.  If you encounter conditions you are not prepared for, please turn around. The mountain will be there another day.  If a trail is muddy, even if it is not officially closed, please find an alternative area to hike in.

“Dry trails at lower elevations, dirt roads, and recreation paths all provide excellent opportunities for spring activities,” says Mike DeBonis, executive director of the Green Mountain Club.  “Until the end of May, consider hiking on south-facing slopes and lower elevations where the sun can dry out the trails sooner. “

The Green Mountain Club, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the Green Mountain National Forest thank hikers for their cooperation in helping to maintain one of Vermont’s finest recreational resources, our hiking trails.

For information on mud season and alternative hike suggestions, call the GMC’s visitor center at 802-244-7037 (or email gmc@greenmountainclub.org) or the Vermont State Parks Call Center at 1-888-409-7579 (Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm). In addition, a weekly trail update with the latest conditions and a list of alternative hikes will be posted on the Vermont State Parks website at: http://vtstateparks.com/hiking.html#mudSeasonHiking

Established in 1910 to build the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club is a private non-profit organization with over 9,500 members. The GMC is dedicated to maintaining, managing, and protecting Vermont’s historic Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Northeast Kingdom lands and advocating for hiking opportunities in Vermont. Every year more than 1,000 volunteers work so that future generations will enjoy the 500-mile Long Trail System.

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont’s forest resources, the operation and maintenance of the State Park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and our visitors.  In addition, FPR is responsible for the acquisition, planning coordination and administration of all Agency of Natural Resources lands.  Department employees are stationed throughout Vermont, including offices in Montpelier and at five regional locations. For more information, visit http://fpr.vermont.gov/

The Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) encompasses more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont, forming the largest contiguous public land area in the State. Located within a day's drive of more than 70 million people, the GMNF is a destination for visitors seeking a variety of recreation opportunities. The Forest includes three nationally designated trails: The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT), Long National Recreation Trail (LT), and the Robert Frost National Recreation Trail. The Forest also includes approximately 900 miles of multiple-use trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and bicycling. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl