Get muddy: Experts stress hiking decorum on Vermont trails post-flood

Roughly two months after the devastating July floods, hiking is almost back to normal in Vermont.

Despite a few closures during the flooding, hikers are now free to roam all trails, save for a few bridges and shelters on certain routes. Compared to many parts of Vermont, the trails fared well.

"The July flooding was catastrophic in so many ways, but GMC has been planning for the impacts of climate change for many years," said Keegan Tierney, the director of field programs for local nonprofit and trail steward Green Mountain Club.

Tierney said the organization saw several of their investments pay off during the flooding. For instance, Bolton's Winooski River footbridge, which was constructed in 2015, and the adjustments made to the Camel's Hump Burrows Trail in 2022 and 2023 proved resilient against the storms.

"That's a testament that our investments and strategies for addressing climate change are working," Tierney said.

Overall, the 500-mile trail system managed by Green Mountain Club suffered no significant infrastructure damage or loss. But that doesn't mean the storms withheld their wrath completely.

Twenty years of rain in one month

Although its impact could have been worse, the flooding still caused mild to moderate damage to sections of the trails, including severe erosion, washouts and some impairment to bridges and shelters that will require restoration.

"You can definitely see the impacts and aftermath of all the rain and flooding on the trails," Tierney said. "Trails everywhere are pretty universally muddy. In some areas there are deep mud puddles that must be crossed to continue hiking. This can impact the hiking experience as well as the surrounding environment."

The worst damage occurred along the state's waterways, such as the Winooski River Valley, the Lamoille River crossing and multiple side trails adjacent to streams and brooks in Southern Vermont. In particular, Rutland County's Old Job Trail and Homer Stone Brook Trail experienced major washouts and erosion.

The Winooski River Valley portion of the Long Trail was one of the only hiking spots to shut down during the July storms. When the fields flooded, wooden stiles that normally protected hikers from live electric wires along the trail were swept away. Volunteers replaced the stiles in late August and the trail has since reopened.

Currently, only two GMC-managed bridges (Peru Peak and Forest City bridges) and one shelter (Bamforth Ridge shelter) remain closed and will likely be inaccessible throughout fall and winter. Repairs may begin next year during "field season," the time between late May and October when most trail revitalization projects occur.

However, a full recovery could ultimately take years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, Tierney said. The damage comes with other costs as well. Post-flood recovery efforts will likely delay necessary routine trail maintenance projects.

"With the amount of rain received during the flooding and all the rain that preceded and came after, the trails weathered 20 years in just a month," Tierney said.

The mud accumulated during the flooding will likely persist the entire fall. Because of this, Tierney said Green Mountain Club anticipates hikers will unintentionally widen trails and cause more erosion in an attempt to avoid mud puddles.

How you can help Vermont's trails to recover

One of the simplest ways to help Vermont's trail system recover from flood damage is to hike responsibly, Tierney said. That means not stepping off the trail to avoid mud patches, but instead walking directly through the puddles.

"Stepping around mud tramples vegetation and widens the trail, increasing the human impact on the surrounding environment," Tierney said. "This is especially damaging at higher elevations where there is less soil and more fragile and rare vegetation."

If a trail becomes too muddy to cross, trekkers should turn around and select a different hike.

Hikers who wish to brave the mud should wear sturdy and waterproof shoes or boots, as well as gaiters if possible.

"Be prepared to get your feet muddy," Tierney said.

Another way to support trail recovery is to volunteer.

Although there are no flood-specific cleanup events currently scheduled, each of the Green Mountain Club's 14 regional chapters holds fall work days when volunteers trim back brush, clean waterbars and report any larger concerns about the trails' condition. Check the Green Mountain Club's calendar for fall work day opportunities.

Additionally, Vermonters can help by becoming a member of or making a donation to Green Mountain Club.

"We can't do the work to repair and improve trails without contributions from hikers like you," Tierney said.

Lastly, the public can also participate in Long Trail Day, an annual fundraiser and celebration that gives people a reason to explore the oldest long distance hiking trail in the country either by themselves or on one of the Green Mountain Club's five guided hikes. The event, held on Oct. 7, is free but donations are suggested.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Flooding leaves Vermont hiking trails vulnerable to erosion, damage