Mud season has returned, accompanied by state officials’ annual reminder to stay off soggy trails until they dry out.  

“We encourage the public to get outside this spring, but to avoid closed and muddy trails,” Becca Washburn, the director of lands, administration and recreation for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, said in a March 31 press release. “Enjoy the spring sunshine on open trails, like paved and gravel bike paths, and save the summit destinations for summer.”

Mud season generally occurs during a six-week period between snowmelt and Memorial Day, according to the department. Due to their increased susceptibility to damage during this period, trail closures, especially in high-elevation areas, can last until late May.

Varying conditions throughout the state mean that the severity and duration of mud season are difficult to predict, according to Claire Polfus, recreation program manager at Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources.

Marvin Boyd, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said the amount of rainfall in Vermont this year is slightly higher than the climatological average over the past 30 years, which could suggest a muddier year.

However, more rain does not necessarily correlate to a worse mud season, especially in terms of road conditions. Conditions deteriorate on wetter roads, but drainage and infrastructure could also impact how long they stay muddy for, he said. 

“There’s no measurement for muddiness,” meaning mud reports are often subjective, he said.

While popular high-elevation areas such as Mount Mansfield typically remain closed until the start of the summer hiking season, The Green Mountain Club has a list of alternatives to popular peaks that close during mud season and seasonal hiking recommendations.

Hiking muddy trails can cause long-term damage since excess foot traffic creates soil compaction — or denser soil that cannot easily absorb water. This leads to increased flood risk, and makes it difficult for vegetation to grow. 

Additionally, hikers can widen the trails by walking along their edges to avoid mud puddles. Doing this can trample vegetation, causing more environmental damage, according to the Green Mountain Club.

Less disruption to the trails during mud season “makes life a lot easier” for trail crews during the remainder of the year, according to Keegan Tierney, the club’s director of field programs. 

Trail maintenance is primarily a volunteer-driven operation, Tierney said, and the responsibility to repair hiker-induced damage often falls upon trail crews and volunteer groups. 

“Our crews are working every summer to fix up our trails,” Polfus said. “Every time we add more to their to-do list, it’s taking away from their overall progress.” 

Although the recommendation to wait out the mud can be frustrating, Polfus said staying off delicate trails is a way individuals can help protect the environment.

“We all have spring fever and want to get out to our favorite place, but Vermonters care, and the best way to care is to just wait until May, or late May,” she said.