Why would anyone want to hike in the winter in the freezing cold? I used to ask myself this question as well, but have really found so much joy in exploring the outdoors in the cold weather. One key to hiking in the winter is finding trails that are good for winter hiking. Camel’s Hump is one of the best winter hikes in Vermont. Read further to learn all you need to know to hike Camel’s Hump in the winter.
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*****Everything in this article is my personal opinion and experiences. Check your own resources and choose to do anything I discuss at your own risk. Some of the things in this post may be dangerous and not recommended for every body.
About Camel’s Hump, Vermont
Camel’s Hump is the the 3rd tallest mountain in Vermont. It is known for its distinct shape, even being featured on the Vermont State Quarter. In addition to being the main attraction of Camel’s Hump State Park, it is also designated as a National Natural Landmark.
There are 2 different sides of Camel’s Hump with trail access. In the winter, the best side for accessing the summit is on the western side, closest to the town of Huntington, Vermont. The trail on this side of Camel’s Hump is the Burrows Trail.
Where is Camel’s Hump?
Camel’s Hump is located in Northern Vermont. The closest town to the west is Huntington, VT and the closest town to the east is Waterbury, VT. Camel’s Hump is around 30 miles from Burlington, VT. Camel’s Hump is around 300 miles from New York City.
How to get to Camel’s Hump
The best way to get to Camel’s Hump in the winter is by car. There is not really any public transportation around this area of remote Vermont. There is the possibility of a locally organized group trip, but I am not entirely sure about the extent of these. Be sure to check local social media accounts, such as for Camel’s Hump State Park or surrounding towns, to see if there are any group trips organized at the time of your visit.
Where to stay near Camel’s Hump
We stayed at the absolutely cutest Airbnb that is literally beside the Burrows Trail trailhead! From the front door of the Airbnb, you could see the top of Camel’s Hump. This Airbnb made a perfect base camp for our hike, going from the windy and snowy hike to warming up with hot chocolate within minutes. Find on AirBnb: Camels Hump Trailside – Hikers/Skiers paradise
If you’re not able to stay at the Camel’s Hump Airbnb, the nearby town of Waterbury has some great options. Booking.com has several options for Waterbury, Vermont. Airbnb also has some great options.
How to Hike Camel’s Hump in the Winter
The best trail for hiking to the top of Camel’s Hump in winter is the Burrows Trail which accesses the mountain from the western side, close to Huntington, VT.
There is a large parking lot at the trailhead, which was not full at any point during our trip, even on the weekend.
Getting to the Trailhead
The road to the trailhead is a little steep and has gravel. The gravel portion of the road is about 4 miles long. It snowed a little before we arrived and our Subaru was able to make it fine. You may have difficulty reaching the trailhead in the winter if there has been a lot of recent snow and you have a car that does not handle snow well. Park your car here.
Camel’s Hump from the Burrows Trail
In the winter, it is best that you use at least microspikes for this trail. We had brought snowshoes that we planned on using, but the trail is well packed due to the amount of people that hike this in the winter, so snowshoes were not needed.
Enter on the only trailhead from the lot at the far end of the lot. In the winter when the trees are bare, you should be able to see Camel’s Hump summit from the top.
At the signboard of the trailhead, the trail will split. Take the path on the left. There will be a sign stating Burrows Trail. (Turning right will take you on a longer loop trail that is harder to navigate in the winter). Continue on this trail for 2.1 miles. For about a mile, the trail will be relatively flat or have a gentle incline.
After hiking about 1 mile, the forest will turn from a deciduous forest to a pine forest. The forest will remain pine for the remainder of your hike. From here, the trail gets a bit steeper. The snow actually makes the steepness more manageable as you are walking up a gradual snowy slope rather than climbing up and over rocks (as it is in the summer).
The snow will get deeper (along the sides of the unpacked trail) the farther you go up. Admire the snow piled onto the pine tree branches like whipped cream. After about a mile in the pine forest, you will reach a flat landing where several trails intersect. It will likely be windy here and for the rest of the hike.
Take the first trail to your right to reach the summit. There should be a signboard at the beginning of this trail pointing towards the summit.
In the winter, this trail can be a little less clear as the wind is blowing snow onto the packed trail. Luckily, there is only one trail to follow so just continue following the clearing through the trees. This is the only portion of the trail where snowshoes could have been useful, but it was not worth hauling them up the mountain only for several meters of walking.
There are some steep parts here, but they are very brief before the trail levels off to being relatively flat. Look behind you every so often as the views change every few steps you take up the mountain. The trail wraps around the western side of the mountain before summiting which blocks most of the wind until right before the summit.
Soak in all the views. On a clear day, to the west you can see all the way to the Adirondack Mountains. We were able to see both Mount Marcy and Whiteface Mountain from the summit of Camel’s Hump. There is a geologic marker at the top inscribed with “Camel’s Rump.”
At the summit, it is very very windy. Stay as long as you want at the summit, but I will say that it is much colder than the rest of the trail. On the day we hiked there in the winter, it was a negative 50 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill. Within a few minutes, it had sucked any little bit of warmth out of us.
Leave the summit when you’re ready and backtrack the entire way you came up. Part of the way down from the summit, we slid on our butts for a short little bit because it was faster (and more fun). Enjoy your trek down.
Why Hike Camel’s Hump in the Winter
1. It is Less Crowded
In the summer, Camel’s Hump is super crowded and even though the parking lot is large, it can fill up early in the day. It is said that the summit can be especially crowded, especially since the area where you can walk at the summit is limited due to alpine plant growth.
2. Fluffy Snow
The snow that covers the trees, especially closer to the summit, adds a unique element to the hike. Snow covers the pine trees like whipped cream. While you will need spikes or maybe even snowshoes for this hike, the snow can make the climb a little more gradual and less strenuous.
3. Unique Views
In the winter, leaves are off the trees, which allows you to have views from various points in the trail that you don’t have when hiking in the summer or fall. For example, on the Burrows Trail in the winter, we had views of Camel’s Hump along most of the trail, which you would not have in the summer. When the leaves are off the trees, you can peak at areas that you usually wouldn’t get to see.
Gear to Bring Winter Hiking
Puffy Coat
My puffy coat is an absolute lifesaver. I take it with me on every hike. It is a great insulator and keeps the heat in, but it can also squish really small into my backpack if I am not using it. While my current puffy jacket that I use is no longer for sale, here is a super similar one on Amazon that has the same features as the one I love taking with me on hikes.
Hand Warmers
Hand warmers can make a huge difference when hiking in the cold. The hands and feet are the first body parts that become cold and have the highest risk for frostbite. Hand warmers can fit into your gloves and keep your hands from getting cold and keep you happy on your hike. You can buy hand warmers on Amazon.
Mittens
While we used to also use gloves with fingers, once we discovered mittens, we decided that we will never be going back. Mittens keep your hands much warmer than gloves with fingers do. Instead of material covering each individual finger, mittens keep your index finger through pinky all together, which allows them to share warmth and prevent them from becoming cold. Also, if you use hand warmers too, they easily fit into the mitten. There are many different versions at all different price points, but this pair on Amazon is very similar to what we have.
Microspikes
If you have read any of my other winter hiking posts, you will know that I am a huge proponent of having microspikes in your winter hiking pack. Especially in the northeast, trails can be super icy and dangerous for up to 5 months of the year. Microspikes make these icy trails more accessible. Microspikes are like 4 wheel drive for your feet. You can buy microspikes on Amazon.
Neck Gaiters
While often people don’t forget their coat when hiking in the winter, one thing that is often forgotten is coverage for your neck and face. Neck gaiters are worn around your neck and can be pulled up over your mouth and nose to give you breathable protection from the cold and wind. This is especially important when the weather begins being in the negative temperatures or is really windy. Gaiters are pretty cheap and come in all different colors. This fleece gaiter on Amazon is especially nice.
Other things to do near Camel’s Hump
Visit Waterbury
Waterbury, Vermont is one of the closest towns with amenities nearby Camel’s Hump. It is around 20 miles (40 minutes) away from the Burrows Trail parking lot. Waterbury is an adorable town with cute coffee shops, wonderful restaurants, and lots of things to do. Check out my other blog post on Waterbury which includes a full-day itinerary for visiting the town.
Visit Burlington
Burlington, Vermont is one of the most well-known towns in Vermont. There are many things to do in Burlington in all months of the year. Burlington is located along Lake Champlain. Burlington, VT is around 45 minutes from the Burrows Trail parking lot.
Visit Montpelier (the state capital)
Montpelier is the state capital of Vermont and is around 50 minutes from the Burrows Trail parking lot. It is the smallest state capital in the country and has a super cute main street with many shops and restaurants. We visited a really nice Maple Syrup Farm right outside of Montpelier called Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks that is worth a visit if you have the time!
Overall, Camel’s Hump is an incredible winter hike!
Have you been to Camel’s Hump in the winter? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for reading!
-Liz
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