Camel's Hump - Hiking Camel's Hump

Hiking Camel's Hump

"With the only undeveloped alpine area in the Green Mountain State and a skyline that sets it apart from everything else, Camel's Hump may be Vermont's finest peak," says Michael Lanza in his guidebook for New England hiking enthusiasts. The views from the summit are panoramic, and on a clear day one can see the highest peaks of the following states: Mount Marcy in New York, Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Vermont's Mount Mansfield.

Burrows ascends the west face from the end of Camel's Hump Road taken east from Huntington and is roughly 2.4 miles (3.9 km) from trailhead to summit. The Burrows Trail is also used in the winter as a snowshoe and ski route.

An alternative trailhead approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) downhill from the Burrows trailhead on Camel's Hump Road, the Forest City Trail heads farther south, passes some very picturesque streams and waterfalls, and meets the Long Trail at Montclair Glen Lodge. From this location, the Long Trail climbs the south face, which is steep and mildly technical towards the summit. There is a short connector trail, connecting the bottom of Burrows Trail to the waterfall bridges at Forest City, for those choosing to use the Burrows Trail upon descent.

The Monroe Trail ascends the east face, which is an easy to moderate trail similar to the Burrows Trail, but slightly longer.

The Long Trail continues north from the summit, and there are numerous side trails around the summit itself that are good for exploration in the summer.

There is a clearing approximately 200 yards (180 m) north of the summit, where the Burrows and Monroe Trails intersect the Long Trail. The clearing is the last protected environment one faces when climbing the mountain from the north, and once above treeline winds and temperatures can be severe at times.