A serious issue in Vermont, often called the "Fifth Season", is mud season and related trail closures. The problem is complex and if not addressed the damage caused by relatively few people can be horrendous and take years to remove. As the snow and ice melt above ground, ice just beneath the surface prevents percolation of extraneous water. This water then saturates the thawed inch or two of the tread way that when stepped on creates mud. Avoiding the water in the trail along with the mud, people will walk on the sides of the trail, creating more mud, expanding the trail from a footpath a few feet wide, to a mud road ten feet wide in some areas. Though trail closures mostly impact the higher elevation trails, some lower elevation trails may be closed periodically based on conditions.
Mud season typically starts near the end of March or first week of April and ends at the Memorial Day weekend. According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, mud season trail closures have begun despite there being snow in places. The Green Mountain Club (GMC) who maintains the trails in VT, Vermont Department of Forests and Parks (FPR) who manage State Forests. and the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) who manage the National Forest are asking the hiking public to respect trail closure signage as the melt off continues. The Vermont State Parks website (
https://vtstateparks.com/hiking.html) has a list of low elevation trails that are recommended for use during mud season that may help figure out a route or two. They expect the closures to lift on or about May 22, but that date can move either way depending on weather conditions.
Also the GMC COVID-19 closures and changes on the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail remain in effect. Shelters and privies along these trails remain closed currently, the good news is they are eyeing a late June change to these closures.
Never great news to get, but better to be informed of the closures than not!