Trail Updates

Vermont – Severe Flooding (UPDATED 9/6/23)

For updated Trail conditions, visit the Green Mountain Club’s July 2023 flood page.

Hikers who had to skip the Vermont section due to the flooding in early July are still eligible for 2,000-miler status. Read our full 2,000-miler recognition policy here. 

09/06/2023

Update: A period of relatively dry, sunny weather has helped bring river and stream levels back down to normal seasonal levels. However, since the soil is still saturated from the heavy rain earlier this summer, any additional heavy rain will likely cause water levels in rivers and streams to rise rapidly. Hikers should continue to use caution at river and stream crossings, carry extra food, and be prepared to wait, turn around, or find an alternative route if a crossing is impassable.

Always check the forecast before beginning a hike. Visit weather.gov for the latest forecast.

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08/08/2023

Update: Much of Vermont is under a flood watch through tomorrow. Water levels in river and stream crossings will likely rise. Hikers should exercise extreme caution and be prepared to wait or turn around if a crossing becomes dangerous. The closures listed below are still in place.

Always check the forecast before beginning a hike. Visit weather.gov for the latest forecast.

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08/02/2023

Update: A stretch of relatively dry, sunny weather has helped to significantly improve conditions throughout the northeast. The closures listed below are still in place and hikers should continue to use caution at river and stream crossings. Keep to the center of the footpath and use care when walking on muddy, erosion-prone sections of the Trail.

Always check the forecast before beginning a hike. Visit weather.gov for the latest forecast.

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07/18/2023

Update: The bridge just north of Peru Peak Shelter is still closed (NOBO mile 1,665.5), and the Green Mountain Club in partnership with the Green Mountain National Forest has flagged a short, temporary reroute to ford the brook. Hikers should not use the closed bridge and should instead follow the detour. The other Trail closures listed below under our 8:25 a.m. update on 07/12/2023 are still in effect. 

River and stream crossings in Vermont remain high, and more rain is in the forecast. Hikers should continue to carry extra food and supplies in case they need to turn around, find an alternative route, or wait for the waters to recede. Hikers should continue to exercise extreme caution along the Trail in Vermont and follow all directions and advisories from local officials and emergency management agencies.

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07/14/2023

Update, 10:30 a.m.: From the Green Mountain Club’s July 2023 Flood page:

GMC Crews have completed an initial rapid assessment of road and trailhead access, bridges, and high-use portions of trail. Our initial findings are quite positive: no major infrastructure was compromised and while there is on-trail damage, nothing that indicates a major threat to hiker safety or trail continuity. The below closures remain in place, and hikers are urged to use extreme caution and judgment if heading out in the woods. Emergency resources statewide remain taxed, and many trailside communities are grappling with destruction of their homes, businesses, and livelihoods.

Hikers should continue to use extreme caution at river and stream crossings, carry extra food and supplies, and be prepared to turn around or find an alternative route if the water is too swift and/or deep.

More rain is expected in Vermont in the coming days. For an updated forecast, visit weather.gov.

For up-to-date state road closures, visit New England 511. To find out which U.S. Forest Service roads are closed in Vermont and road conditions, contact the Green Mountain National Forest.

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07/12/2023

Update, 4:40 p.m.: Hikers in Vermont who need non-emergency assistance due to the floods, such as a place to stay or help with transportation, should call Vermont 211. The public is being asked not to call local police or towns in order to keep those lines open for emergencies and urgent requests for assistance.

In an emergency, always call 911.

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07/12/2023

Update, 8:25 a.m.: The Green Mountain Club (GMC) has conducted a preliminary Trail assessment and posted several closures along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Vermont as a result of the flooding:

• Kelley Stand Road is currently partially open and is down to one lane of traffic in spots (NOBO mile 1,637.7).
• The bridge just north of Peru Peak Shelter is closed (NOBO mile 1,665.5).
• Forest Road 10 is closed due to a previous washout (NOBO mile 1,672.9).
• Cold River Road is closed from the west side (NOBO mile 1,691.6).
• Road access (Gilman Road) to Governor Clement Shelter is closed (NOBO mile ~1,693.8).
• The Gulf Stream bridge on the A.T. at Route 12 has an extremely washed-out approach, but the bridge structure remains safe and passable (NOBO mile 1,729.0). Do not attempt to ford the stream. Note that an earlier version of this update listed the bridge as closed. This revision is correct.

This is just an initial assessment of access points and major infrastructure. It is NOT a complete list of trail conditions, and the GMC anticipates further closures as they assess the rest of the Trail over the coming days. For more information, visit the GMC’s website.

Vermont is still under a state of emergency and expecting more rain today through the weekend. Hikers should continue to postpone or cancel their hikes in Vermont until conditions improve. 

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07/11/2023

Update, 10:55 a.m.: Many of the flood warnings for the region have ended. However, rivers and streams remain abnormally high and many are still impassable, and will likely remain high for several days.

Flood waters brought catastrophic destruction to areas of New York and Vermont, and the condition of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont is unknown at this time. Widespread road closures and washouts in Vermont may make accessing the Trail impossible in some areas of the state. Hikers should postpone their hikes in Vermont until emergency management officials advise that leisure travel can begin again and conditions improve. For up-to-date state road closures, visit New England 511. To find out which U.S. Forest Service roads are closed in Vermont, contact the Green Mountain National Forest. 

For more information on the condition of the A.T. in Vermont, visit the Green Mountain Club’s live Trail Updates page.

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07/10/2023

Update, 10:30 a.m.: A state of emergency has been declared in Vermont due to flash flooding and flood watches/warnings are in effect for counties along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and southern Maine. Several roads have been closed in southern Vermont which may affect access to the A.T. The heavy rain may cause flooding along areas of the Trail.

Emergency management officials in many of the affected areas are advising against travel. Hikers in these areas should consider leaving the Trail for their safety and waiting in a safe location for flood waters to recede.

The heavy rain will likely cause river and stream crossings to become dangerous or impassable, particularly in Vermont. Hikers should continue to use extreme caution at river and stream crossings, carry extra food and supplies, and plan to turn around, wait for waters to recede, or find an alternative route around dangerous crossings.

For more information, visit weather.gov. If you find yourself in danger due to flood conditions, call 911.

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