Location: Camel’s Hump State Forest
State: Vermont
Length: 5.7 miles / 9.1 km
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 2,445 ft / 745 m
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Best Season: Spring, Summer
Camel Hump Trail glistens with winter snow in Vermont
Trail Information:
one of the most beautiful and interesting hikes in the Green Mountains, the trail ranges mostly through deciduous forests that give way to a series of beautiful views as you clamber up smooth boulders and steep rock to the spectacular summit of Camel’s Hump.
Enter the forest and almost immediately reach a junction, by a small bridge just before the trailhead register. Turn right onto the Burrows-Forest City connector trail (straight ahead, over the bridge, is the Burrows Trail - your return route). The connector descends through attractive open forest beside a gorge, crossing a couple of bridges.
After 5 minutes join the Forest City Trail, where you bear left towards Long Trail and Camel’s Hump summit. For the next 45 minutes, climb moderately through mainly deciduous forest - attractive in fall - marked by blue blazes. A stream flows through a gully to the right, giving a nice open outlook.
There is a cautionary notice just beyond the junction which you would do well to pay close attention to: “The Long Trail North to the summit is often difficult to follow in winter. The white blazes and signs are often buried under snow. Do not attempt this section without prior knowledge of the route and a map and compass.”
Climb steeply up boulder and rock for 10 minutes to the first viewpoint. There are sweeping views for miles to the south and east, including the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the distance. At your feet, the promontory falls precipitously to a vast expanse of forest, cut by a river and pond to your left.
From the viewpoint, you will be moving up and around huge boulders and up very steeply sloping bare rock with more great views. Make your way across open rock, covered with low conifer - you can see the summit of Camel’s Hump directly ahead to the north. Again there are magnificent views to the east, over to the White Mountains.
Soon you enter forest again, making your way towards Camel’s Hump on a rocky and root-bound trail. This section can be wet and muddy under foot. For 30 minutes the gradient is largely level, interspersed with short climbs up bare rock. The next 30 minutes are harder - a steep climb of rock ’steps’. Gaps in the forest reveal beautiful views south-west over verdant, rolling hills.
At 3.1 miles, a sign announces that Camel’s Hump summit is just 0.2 mile away, right above you. The trail bears left, moving clockwise around the base of the rocky summit - you have now reached treeline, and fabulous views open up. Clamber over some boulders to approach the summit from the west. A final climb over bare, open rock takes you to the top of Camel’s Hump (around 2.5 hours walking time from the start).
The 4.083-ft summit has truly magnificent, 360-degree views: Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the west, Green Mountains and the forested spine of the Long Trail to the south, the White Mountains in the distance to the east, and Mount Mansfield (the highest in Vermont) to the north.
To descend, head north from the summit (the route over the rock is clearly blazed). Enjoy more views towards Champlain before quickly dropping into conifer to a four-way junction in a level clearing. Here you leave the Long Trail, turning left onto Burrows Trail (blazed blue).
The 2.3-mile descent, on a stony trail through evergreen forest, is increasingly steep and rocky. After 45 minutes, the gradient lessens noticeably and becomes easier under foot. As you get lower, more deciduous trees appear, and the final 30 minutes is extremely pleasant walking through open forest, beside bubbling brooks. Complete the loop at the short wooden bridge by the trailhead registration box.
NOTE: Do take compass and map with you and your best bet is not to attempt the trail alone. The steep climb and boulders do ot make this a hike that the beginner or novice should attempt without company on the trail.
Directions:
Take exit 11 off I-89 to Richmond in a little over 1 mile. At the traffic lights in Richmond, turn right (signed to Huntington). After 10 miles, in Huntington Center, turn left onto Camel Hump Rd.
