Camel's Hump Hiking Trail

The difficulty varies significantly depending on the specific trail you choose within Camel's Hump State Park. The Camel's Hump Hiking Trail itself is rated easy, but other summit trails are moderate to strenuous. For example, the **Camel's Hump View Trail** is an easy, universally accessible loop. However, popular summit routes like the **Burrows Trail** and **Monroe Trail** are considered challenging, involving significant elevation gain, roots, rocks, and steep sections.

You'll encounter varied terrain. Lower elevations feature dense birch, beech, and maple forests, transitioning to red spruce higher up. You might pass rushing streams and beaver ponds. As you approach the summit, trails become more rugged and rocky, often involving scree and boulder scrambles. Above the treeline, a delicate alpine plant community thrives, and the summit itself is exposed bedrock.

Specific parking areas are available at the trailheads for popular routes like the Burrows Trail and Monroe Trail. It's advisable to arrive early, especially during peak season, as parking can fill up quickly.

Generally, dogs are allowed on trails within Camel's Hump State Park, but they must be kept on a leash at all times. Always practice Leave No Trace principles, including packing out all pet waste.

No, there are typically no permits or entrance fees required to hike the trails in Camel's Hump State Park.

The trails are popular for hiking in summer and fall, offering pleasant weather and vibrant foliage. While accessible year-round, winter hiking requires appropriate gear for snowshoeing or backcountry skiing, especially on trails like the Burrows Trail.

Camel's Hump is notable for its iconic 'double-humped' silhouette, making it Vermont's most recognizable and third-highest peak. It's also celebrated for its preserved wilderness, its connection to the legendary Long Trail, and the unobstructed 360-degree panoramic views from its summit, which include Mount Mansfield, the Presidential Range, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks.

Yes, the **Camel's Hump View Trail** is an excellent option for families or those seeking an easy hike. It's an 0.8-mile universally accessible loop with gentle grades, offering pleasant strolls through the woods and views of the summit with an approximate 130 ft elevation gain.

From the summit of Camel's Hump, you are rewarded with expansive 360-degree panoramic views. These can include Mount Mansfield to the north, Owl's Head in Canada, Mounts Ethan and Ira Allen and Killington to the south, Mount Washington and the Presidential Range to the east, and the Champlain Valley and Adirondack Mountains to the west.

Yes, the route passes through sections of the **Camel's Hump Hiking Trail** and the **Camel's Hump Forest Service Road**. The legendary Long Trail, a 273-mile footpath spanning Vermont, also passes directly over the summit of Camel's Hump.

For summit hikes, bring plenty of water, snacks, sturdy hiking boots, layers of clothing (weather can change quickly), a map and compass or GPS, a first-aid kit, and sun protection. Even in summer, conditions at the exposed summit can be windy and cool.