Camel's Hump Trail is a 6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Waterbury, Vermont that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Camel's Hump Trail is one of the best day hiking trails in the Green Mountain National Forest, along with being the third highest peak in the state. The summit offers unbeatable views in every direction, including Killington Peak. The trailhead can be accessed off of Camel’s Hump Road, where there is a small parking area for visitors. Users recommend arriving early in the warmer months and on weekends, since the road is not an option for parking. This trail can be completed as an out-and-back hike, which is 6 miles round trip via the Monroe Trail, or a loop route via Monroe Trail, Dean Trail, and Long Trail - all part of the Appalachian Trail. Alternatively, Camel's Hump can also be reached from the Burrows trailhead via the Forest City Trail to Burrows Trail. For this out-and-back route, users will start the hike on the Monroe trail which is steep, but does include plenty of leveling off during the hike. From the Monroe Trail users will reach the Dean Trail intersection, at which point users have the option to turn left onto Dean Trail and then take the Long Trail up to the summit or continue straight on the Monroe Trail to the summit. If continuing straight on Monroe Trail, users will reach the hut clearing at which point the Monroe Trail ends and becomes the Long Trail. It is then a short climb to the summit. The last part of the hike can become very steep and narrow. If afraid of heights this may not be the trail for shaky legs. But, the fear is worth it once reached the summit, as users have a 360 degree view of nearly every mountain range in the area. You will see Mount Mansfield to the north and Mount Washington to the east. On a clear day you can even see Canada! From the summit, take the Long Trail south back to the Monroe Trail. To enjoy the descent and get a pat on the back!
April 11, 2021Need spikes for sure! Hiked on 3/30. Burrows trailhead was still open. Dogs made it up to summit too! Best hiking trail so far in VT!
April 10, 2021Was definitely glad to have brought crampons - still very icy at the top. Snow melt has created a lot of beautiful streams. Not muddy yet, but will be soon! Nice spring hike - nothing very steep or scrambly.
March 31, 2021Absolutely loved the hike! View was incredible! However bewarned, the topish half of the trail is completely covered in ice and snow. snow shoes or ice spikes should definitely be used this time of year
March 30, 2021Too early in the season to do it. Tons of snow and ice. Made it go from hard, to very hard.
March 27, 2021March 24, 2021March 15, 20213/15/21: trail conditions were pretty good in microspikes. Went through knee/thigh deep a couple times but not often. Keep an eye out for the yellow trail markers if you’re doing the loop. No visible trail to follow.
March 2, 20213/2/21: Did a solo hike of Camel's Hump this morning doing the out and back Monroe Trail route. I broke trail the whole way, mostly hard pack underneath snow drifts. Drifts were not unbearable. No snowshoes needed, spikes did the trick; although, snowshoes would've been helpful in spots. Quite a cold and gusty day, could only spend 10 minutes or so at the summit. Overall, great hike, will have to do again when it's warmer so I can take in the views up top and don't have to worry about losing my fingers!
February 13, 2021January 26, 20211/25: Follow the blue blazed trail up the Monroe Trail. Despite the ski / skin track this is the Monroe Trail. Not a random cross country ski trail. Easy tracking the rest of the trail. Follow blue blazes. Follow signs for Monroe and it's a pretty straight forward out and back. Mostly packed powder from skis and previous hikers with the occasional post hole.
January 22, 2021please bring snowshoes or skis. i suffered through this trail in spikes. great hike, pretty challenging but beautiful
January 13, 2021Great hike! Plenty of snow as of 1/10, but it’s nicely packed down. Not a ton of ice. I didn’t wear my spikes on the way up, but was glad to have them on the way down.
December 27, 2020December 12, 2020November 29, 2020I took Forrest City Trail to the Long Trail up and Burrows Trail down. It was BEAUTIFUL! I have done these trails many times, but the misty trip through a cloud was a touch of magic. We did not need spikes up, but very much appreciated them most of the way down. There has been enough rain over the past few days that the oft travelled Burrows Trail is a bit muddy and icy.
November 27, 2020Went on 11/21, got icy halfway through, was able to reach the tree line without spikes. To summit you should have micro spikes. Some people tried without and they looked miserable, it was not safe.
November 21, 2020November 16, 2020Monroe trail is well marked even at night. Icy!! Spikes required to top the summit.
November 8, 2020Sunny day, was in shorts and a t-shirt all the way up to the summit. Some ice along the Long Trail approaching the summit but otherwise very good.
