Protect Vermont’s trails during mud season
April 1, 2022 | By Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation | News Release
Vermont's trails are wet, soft, and muddy! Don’t lose your shoes or more. Stick to low elevations, gravel roads, and bike paths until soils dry out for summer fun. Illustration by Emily Benning
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation reminds the public that many trails around the state are closed from now during mud season through Memorial Day weekend.
Mud season conditions typically last through the duration of April and May as hiking and biking trails are extremely wet and muddy due to the combined effects of snow melt, thawing ground, and seasonal rain. The public is asked to avoid muddy, soft trails, especially at high elevations in order to protect the trails and alpine vegetation and leave trails in good shape for the hiking and biking season.
“Trail organizations and land managers, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, work hard to keep the trails in good condition throughout the hiking and biking season. We seek the public’s help in reducing mud-season damage done to the trails, so that we may enjoy them for many seasons to come,” said Forests, Parks, and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder.
High-elevation areas are particularly susceptible to mud season damage that will last throughout the year.
“We know that people are eager to get outside now that it’s a bit warmer, but high-elevation trails are extremely fragile at this time. Foot traffic and erosion cause irreversible damage to the rare and delicate alpine plants found at Vermont’s high elevations,” said Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs at the Green Mountain Club. “Hikers can help protect these valuable ecological zones by seeking alternative places to hike during mud season.”
Nick Bennette, executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, said bikes can do significant damage this time of year to biking trails found at lower elevations. “If your tires leave a noticeable rut in the trail, turn around and find a durable surface to ride elsewhere. If you encounter a puddle, ride on the dry area of the trail or straight through if there is none,” he said. “Mountain bikers can show our commitment to being a community of responsible trail users by using these simple guidelines and some common sense to protect our trails.”
Why is Vermont so muddy?
With our long, cold winters, the ground freezes solid and takes several weeks of above-freezing temperatures to thaw out. While the surface snow and ice melts, the ground below is still solid, so water has nowhere to drain. Soils are even more waterlogged because the trees are still without full sets of leaves, and cannot absorb as much groundwater as they do later in the season. These conditions will likely persist in many places, particularly at high elevations, until Memorial Day.
Tips for getting outdoors in Mud Season
State Forests Parks and Recreation officials share these guidelines for mud season:
Official closures and trail conditions vary widely throughout the state. You can check resources like Trailfinder.info, Green Mountain Club Visitor Center (802-244-7037), VMBA Trail Conditions, or Trailforks.com to find out what trails are closed or open near you. But to keep it simple: Avoid all wet and muddy trails during this time, especially trails at elevations above 2,500 feet.
Seek out durable surfaces to hike or bike on, like gravel roads, paved roads, rail trails, and bike paths, as these are more resilient to mud season. If you do encounter mud, go through it instead of around it. This will help protect the fragile plants and soil along the edges of trails.
Avoid hiking in the alpine zone to protect rare and fragile vegetation. It takes careful stewardship to protect these environments so they can continue to thrive. Foot traffic through the mud causes soil compaction and erosion, which makes it harder for plants to take root and survive in their environments. Always stay on the trail and walk directly on the rocks when hiking in the alpine zone to avoid trampling fragile plants.
Local Vermont Mountain Biking Association chapters often post signs regarding closures. Please respect these signs. Even if a trail appears to be open, if you arrive and discover muddy conditions or notice your bike tires are leaving ruts more than ½-inch deep, turn around and ride elsewhere. Trail conditions can change rapidly during mud season, so please don’t use the lack of a closure – either physical or online – to justify poor judgment.
Weather conditions differ at higher elevations. It may be sunny and warm in town but windy, slippery, snowy, and/or cold on the mountain. Check weather reports for your destination and always be prepared with extra layers, traction, and a contingency plan.
There are plenty of ways you CAN get outside! Ride rail trails or hike paved mountain roads like the ones on Mt. Philo, Mount Ascutney, and the Mount Mansfield Toll Road. Explore new parks and trail systems in your town. Try paddling, gravel biking, birdwatching, fishing, or turkey hunting. Check out greenmountainclub.org/hiking/hikevt-mud-season-index/ for mud-season appropriate trails of all categories and difficulties.
If you encounter conditions you are unprepared for, please turn around. It keeps you, and the trails, safe.
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and partners thank trail users for their cooperation in helping to maintain Vermont’s trails!
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation 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 visitors. More information online at fpr.vermont.gov.