All Mad River Riders trails are closed now that the ground has dried out and the MRR join the Green Mountain Club and other environmental groups in reminding people to stay off the trails until the mud has dried up.
“All Mad River Riders-managed trails are closed now that the ground has thawed out. The conditions are muddy. We ask people to refrain from biking or walking on the trails until they dry out and we have completed spring cleanup. Check TrailForks.com for current conditions,” said MRR board chair Bob Kogut.
With warmer temps and intermittent snow, trails are softening as drivers navigate mud season on local roads. Trails too, go through their own 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. As a reminder, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (VTFPR) issues trail closures on state land as conditions change, available on TrailFinder.
“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 mountains and keeping the trails in good condition for hiking season by avoiding high elevation muddy trails and exploring low-elevation durable surface alternatives.”
Follow GMC and VTFPR to stay up to date 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 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, and evaluate conditions on the ground as well: if a trail or road is overly saturated, turn back and find a different place to hike.
- Recommended Hikes:. While many high-elevation trails close during mud season, there are tons of mud season-friendly hikes. Check out mud season hike recommendations
- Prepare for hiking season with workshops and resources from the Green Mountain Club Visitor Center. Want to do an End-to-End hike? Attend the upcoming End-to-Ender’s Panel. Learn about the Side-to-Side Hiking Challenge or gear up to hike the VT5 this year. Want to connect deeper with the hiking community? See if our Volunteer Trail Steward role is right for you.
- Learn more about why Vermont trails get so muddy and how GMC manages mud. Interesting? Join a volunteer trail work day to help get the trails ready for summer hiking season.
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