Hiking season in Vermont officially begins
May 26, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout
A hiker takes in the view including Camels Hump. Photo by Nathanael Asaro, courtesy of the Green Mountain Club
Memorial Day weekend officially kicked off the 2026 hiking season in Vermont and the Green Mountain Club, which manages and maintains 500 miles of trails, including the Long Trail, says trails are in good shape.
The hiking community showed good stewardship during the spring mud season break by staying off closed trails and allowing them to dry, according to club trail supervisors. Spring showers may leave some spots with wet stretches, but the trails are relatively dry by this time of year.
Information specialists at the Green Mountain Club Visitor Center on Vermont Route 100 in Waterbury Center can offer advice on current trail conditions, recommendations based on hikers’ interests, abilities and goals as well as insight into Long Trail history and the natural surroundings.
“Whether you’re just getting started hiking or want to tackle a new challenge or find new trails, these experts are committed to getting you outdoors safely and responsibly,” said Emily Mosher, Visitor Services Manager.
The Visitor Center will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Programming, including guided hikes on the Short Trail located at the visitor center grounds and backpacking workshops, will be offered on a regular basis. The club works to promote safety on the trails and has both upcoming in-person workshops and recordings of prior sessions available with tips for hikers. The center also has a number of hiking guides with more information available on the club website, greenmountainclub.org.
During the hiking season, Green Mountain Club caretakers and volunteers will be stationed on Mount Mansfield and at Lincoln Gap to offer trail advice and orient hikers to some of the most sensitive alpine environments found on Vermont’s highest summits.
The club also will have trail crews with volunteers working this summer to improve trails statewide, particularly to do flood recovery work on eroded trails and damaged bridges. Repairs and maintenance are being done with an eye toward using sustainable trail-building strategies to protect trails from future damage from extreme weather.
Visit the Green Mountain Club website for details on upcoming workshops, presentations, guided hikes and more including:
May 27: Hiking 101 Workshop on hiking in Vermont, particularly the Long Trail; also a guided Short Trail hike.
Online resources for trip planning and seasonal hike recommendations.
Maps and guidebooks to help plan hikes on the Long Trail System, including the Long Trail Guide and Long Trail Map, both updated in 2025, and a new digital-first End-to-Ender's Guide, now an interactive PDF that’s free to download, updated in 2026.
Inspiration to set a hiking season goal, such as undertaking a seasonal challenge like: How to Hike the VT5,Hiking the Side-to-Side Challenge
Contact: Hike experts are available all season by phone at 802-244-7037, email gmc@greenmountainclub.org, or visit the Visitor Center. The Long Trail Hiking — GMC Community Facebook group is a good way to connect with fellow hikers.