State Park · Vermont
Vermont's most iconic alpine summit, the only undeveloped peak above 4,000 feet in the state, reached by the Long Trail and the classic Burrows and Monroe routes on a wild 24,000-acre landscape.
Field briefing
Camel's Hump State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Trailhead parking at Burrows fills by 9 a.m. on summer weekends; arriving before 7 a.m. or choosing the Monroe Trail from North Duxbury solves the crowding problem. The alpine zone above treeline is fragile, so stay on bare rock and cairns. Overnight backpackers can use the GMC-supervised Montclair Glen Lodge or the Hump Brook Tenting Area, with a 2-night limit and a caretaker fee. Vermont's new rolling 11-month reservation system at vtstateparks.com covers roofed lodging at other nearby parks if you want a bed.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Muddy season through May; trails are soft and upper alpine zones remain snowy into late May and sometimes June.
Pack Waterproof boots, gaiters, layers, and patience for slow going in the high mud and snow.
Warm lower slopes, cool and often windy above treeline; afternoon thunderstorms build quickly on the summit.
Pack Rain shell, extra warm layer for the exposed summit, water, and an early start to beat afternoon lightning.
Crisp and spectacular from mid-September through mid-October, with hardwood color visible from the summit.
Pack Warm insulating layer, wind shell, traction for early-season ice above treeline, and a camera.
Full alpine conditions above treeline: deep snow, ice, and wind. A backcountry winter objective requiring crampons and ice axe.
Pack Full mountaineering cold-weather kit, crampons, ice axe, navigation tools, and summit-or-turn-back discipline.
Burrows Trail to the summit
The most popular route, climbing the northwest flank through UVM research forest where early acid-rain studies took place, meeting the Long Trail at the Hut Clearing 2.1 miles up, then 0.3 miles to the 4,083-foot open summit.
Monroe Trail from North Duxbury
The eastern approach, longer and more gradual than Burrows, starting at the end of Camel's Hump Road in Duxbury and joining the Long Trail near the summit. Quieter parking area than the Burrows trailhead.
The Long Trail ridgeline and alpine zone
Above treeline, Camel's Hump exposes a fragile arctic-alpine zone with rare plants found nowhere else in Vermont. The Long Trail runs through the summit cone; staying on marked rock cairns protects the vegetation.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Camel's Hump State Park, make Burrows Trail to the summit the non-negotiable, add Monroe Trail from North Duxbury only if the first stop runs clean, and keep The Long Trail ridgeline and alpine zone as the flexible finish.
Turn Camel's Hump's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Camel's Hump State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Camel's Hump State Park packing list
0 of 21 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
21 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Camel's Hump asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Backcountry overnight options are the Montclair Glen Lodge and Dean Shelter, both GMC-supervised from May through October with a 2-night limit and a caretaker fee, and the Hump Brook Tenting Area on the eastern approach. Reservations are not accepted at GMC facilities; it is first-come. For roofed lodging, Waterbury, Stowe, and Burlington are the nearest towns with hotels, inns, and full services.
Camping reservations
Camel's Hump has no drive-in campground. Overnight options are limited to the Green Mountain Club-supervised shelters and the Hump Brook Tenting Area on the backcountry trail network, with a 2-night stay limit during the supervised season.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
No advance reservations accepted at GMC shelters. First-come, first-served during the supervised season (roughly May through October). GMC caretakers are present and collect a nightly fee.
Where to book or verify
Official Vermont State Parks page with trail maps, park rules, and access information.
GMC trail guide for the Long Trail, Monroe, and Burrows routes including shelter details.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Car strategy
The Burrows trailhead is off Camel's Hump Road in Huntington, reached from Interstate 89 Exit 11 near Richmond.
Car strategy
The Monroe trailhead starts at the end of Camel's Hump Road in North Duxbury, accessed from Interstate 89 Exit 10 near Waterbury.
Car strategy
Both require a car; Burlington is about 25 miles west and Waterbury is the closest town with services.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
It is a strenuous day hike with significant elevation gain: about 2,400 feet over 4.8 miles round trip via Burrows, or longer via Monroe. The upper section is exposed above treeline and requires good footwear and weather awareness, not technical climbing.
Most hikers use the Burrows trailhead in Huntington, which is shorter to the summit. On busy summer weekends the parking lot fills by 9 a.m., so consider an early start or the Monroe Trail from North Duxbury, which is longer but quieter.
Yes, but only in designated backcountry facilities: Montclair Glen Lodge, Dean Shelter, and the Hump Brook Tenting Area, all managed by the Green Mountain Club. No reservations are accepted; it is first-come with a 2-night limit and a nightly caretaker fee.
It is the only undeveloped peak above 4,000 feet in Vermont and carries a fragile arctic-alpine zone at the summit that is among the rarest ecosystems in New England. Its silhouette is one of the most recognizable in the state.