Mud Season Hiking in Vermont State Parks

By -


Please help protect state lands and trails by avoiding muddy trails! You may not know it, but trails and vegetation are super vulnerable during mud season and hiking on them during this time can cause irreversible damage by compacting soils and surrounding vegetation which accelerates erosion and the need for maintenance.


High elevation trails are especially vulnerable during this time and take considerably longer to dry than lower elevation trails, so the state closes high elevation trails from April 15 – Memorial Day Weekend.

So, if you’re looking to get out and go hiking in the early spring, these trails make for some great options:

Southeast Vermont
Mt. Ascutney State Park Parkway after mid April (after the ice melts off)

Southwest Vermont
D & H Rail Trail
Emerald Lake State Parks roads
Button Bay State Parks roads

Northwest Vermont
Niquette Bay State Park (check at trail head for closures)
North Hero State Park roads
Grand Isle State Park roads and trails
Alburg Dunes Beach road
Underhill State Park: CCC Trail only

Northeast Vermont
Brighton State Park – NEK Nature Trail (short)
Smugglers' Notch VT Route 108 only thru May 15; other trails open May 16
Waterbury Center State Park Nature Trail
Little River State Park roadways and forest access roads
Cotton Brook Trails in Mount Mansfield State Forest
Groton State Forest- Owl’s head, Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail, Little Deer Mt. Trail, Big Deer Mt. Trail

Additional Mud Season Guidelines:


Comments

Post a Comment

Feel free to let us know what you think.

Popular posts from this blog

Vermont State Parks Total Eclipse Updates

By -
Image
Although it falls outside our regular park season, several Vermont State Parks will provide good viewing locations for solar eclipse on April 8. These parks include:   Bomoseen, Boulder Beach, Branbury, Crystal Lake, DAR, Elmore, Mt. Philo, Grand Isle, Knight Point, Lake Shaftsbury, Lake St. Catherine, Niquette Bay, Silver Lake, and Waterbury Center. Address and other general park information is available at www.vtstateparks.com .   The following previously listed state parks are no longer recommended eclipse viewing areas: Emerald Lake, Little River. Please be aware that park facilities will still be closed for this event. Portable toilets and/or pit/composting toilets will be available. Park staff may be available on a limited basis.   Parking will be available at each of these locations, but it may be limited depending on the number of visitors. When lots are full, please do not park on the grass or in other areas of the park as resource damage is likely due to soft ground condit
Read more

July Flood 2024 State Parks Status Updates

By -
Image
Post last updated at 08/26/24 at 9:00 AM The only park affected by the flashing flooding on 7/30/24 was Brighton State Park. The park is fully reopened on Wednesday, August 7th. Roads were damaged in the park, locally in the town, as well as the nearby state highway. Park staff have contacted affected reservations.  All parks affected by the July 11 flood have reopened, although 3 parks still have reduced operations. This page will be regularly updated as more information is made available and road repairs are made. Swimwater results are current . Swim areas are posted when there is an increased risk of impaired water quality. For water monitoring results outside of Vermont State Park swimming areas, check out the Vermont Department of Health Cyanobacteria Tracker Map . Parks in the NE part of Vermont bore the brunt of the storm.  Park visitors with affected reservations have been contacted by the parks.  We apologize for this inconvenience. Our priority is to protect the health and
Read more

Join Vermont State Parks for Fun, Guided First-Day Hikes

By -
Image
  First Day Hikers stand in front of Butler Lodge in 2023. Start the new year on the right foot with a hike in the great outdoors. On January 1, 2024, everyone is once again invited to join a free, guided, family-friendly hike taking place at many state parks, state forests, and other public lands across Vermont. Hikes are led by professional guides and outdoor educators eager to share their knowledge and love of Vermont’s outdoors. Don’t need a guide? No matter where you live in Vermont, a state park or state forest is always close by, and you can still get outside to enjoy it. State Park entry is free on New Year’s Day (and all winter long). You’ll discover a whole new world in winter.  First Day Hikers warm up at the CCC shelter at Owl's Head. Please pre-register by contacting hike leaders ahead of time. On hike day dress for the weather and bring snowshoes if the snow is deep, and micro-spikes or traction aids in case of ice. Please also bring beverages and snacks. In the event
Read more