Camel's Hump State Park

State: Vermont. Type: undeveloped state park protecting Camel's Hump, at 4,083 feet Vermont's third-highest peak (tied with Mount Ellen), straddling Chittenden and Washington counties. The mountain hosts about 10 acres of alpine tundra at its summit. Origin of today's park: philanthropist Joseph Battell's 1911 donation of roughly 1,000 acres to the state (per Wikipedia; some sources cite 1905/1,200 acres). No entrance, no visitor facilities, no entry fee. Featured on the Vermont state quarter.

Camel's Hump is one of Vermont's most recognizable mountains, its distinctive humped silhouette rising to 4,083 feet in the Green Mountains and appearing on the Vermont state quarter. The Abenaki people called it Moziozagan, or 'moose's shoulder,' and French explorer Samuel de Champlain reportedly named it 'Le Lion Couchant' (the crouching lion) in 1609; the current English name emerged around 1830. In the early 20th century, philanthropist Joseph Battell donated a large tract of land around the mountain to the State of Vermont, the founding gift that grew into today's state park. Unlike a typical developed state park, Camel's Hump has no entrance gate, visitor center, staffed office or entry fee; it spans five towns and is reached from a scattering of undeveloped trailhead parking areas. The summit's roughly 10 acres of rare alpine tundra support unusual plant species and were the site of pioneering 1980s research by scientist Hub Vogelmann linking acid rain to red spruce decline, work that influenced amendments to the federal Clean Air Act. Nearly 26,000 hikers reached the summit in 2016 via its network of trails, making it one of the state's most popular hiking destinations despite its undeveloped, rustic character.

Camel's Hump straddles Chittenden and Washington counties in Vermont's Green Mountains, with the mountain's north slope bordered by the Winooski River. The state park spans five towns; there is no central park office or entrance, only a set of separate trailhead parking areas.

As a mountain summit reaching over 4,000 feet, Camel's Hump experiences colder temperatures, higher winds and more precipitation than the surrounding valleys, including a shorter growing season that supports its alpine tundra zone. Specific temperature or snowfall data were not available from the sources fetched; hikers should expect conditions that can be significantly colder and windier at the summit than at the trailhead.

Summer and early fall are the most popular hiking seasons, when trails are clear of snow and ice; fall foliage viewing is a particular draw given the mountain's visibility across the surrounding valleys. Because the park is undeveloped and unstaffed, conditions on the alpine summit can turn cold and windy even in summer, and winter/spring hiking requires appropriate gear for ice and snow.

The Abenaki people knew the mountain as Moziozagan ('moose's shoulder'). Samuel de Champlain is credited with naming it 'Le Lion Couchant' in 1609 during early European exploration of the region, and the modern name 'Camel's Hump' came into use around 1830. The mountain's protection began when philanthropist Joseph Battell donated a substantial tract of land to the State of Vermont in the early 1900s (sources vary between roughly 1,000 acres around 1911 and 1,200 acres around 1905), forming the core of today's state park. In the 1980s, University of Vermont researcher Hub Vogelmann's studies on the mountain identified acid rain as a cause of red spruce decline, research that fed into later revisions of the federal Clean Air Act, giving Camel's Hump a notable role in American environmental science history beyond its recreational appeal.

Hiking to the summit is the primary activity, with multiple trailheads offering routes of varying length and difficulty; nearly 26,000 hikers reached the summit in 2016. The Burrows Trail, the shortest route at 2.4 miles, is a popular option, alongside longer trails including sections of Vermont's Long Trail and the Monroe Trail. The alpine tundra summit rewards hikers with wide views and unusual high-elevation plant life.

The 4,083-foot summit itself, with its roughly 10 acres of rare alpine tundra, is the park's central destination. Trailheads include the Burrows Trail (end of Camel's Hump Road, Huntington), the Monroe Trail (end of a different Camel's Hump Road, Duxbury), the Long Trail/Bamforth Ridge Trail (River Road, Duxbury), and the Long Trail at Appalachian Gap on Route 17 (Buel's Gore).

Camel's Hump State Park has no single entrance; hikers drive to one of several trailheads across the towns it spans, including access points in Huntington, Duxbury and Buel's Gore reached via local roads and Vermont Route 17. Sources fetched did not specify a nearest commercial airport.

The park has no office, gate or set opening/closing hours since it is an undeveloped, unstaffed area accessed via multiple trailhead parking lots.

There is no entry fee for Camel's Hump State Park; parking at the trailheads is also free, per research on the official Vermont State Parks program.

A summit hike via the shorter Burrows Trail (2.4 miles one-way) typically takes several hours round trip; longer routes via the Monroe Trail or Long Trail sections require correspondingly more time. Plan for a half-day to a full day depending on chosen trail and pace.

Because the park itself has no lodging or campground, overnight stays are typically found in nearby towns such as Huntington, Waterbury or the broader Mad River Valley/Waitsfield area, which offer inns and other Vermont-style lodging; sources fetched did not name specific properties.

There are no dining facilities within the park itself; hikers typically bring their own food and water, with restaurants available in nearby towns such as Huntington, Richmond or Waterbury. Sources fetched did not name specific restaurants.

The Mad River Valley and its ski resorts lie to the south along the Green Mountains. The town of Waterbury, with its own attractions, sits to the north. Other Green Mountain hiking areas and sections of Vermont's Long Trail connect to the wider Camel's Hump trail network.

Sources fetched did not identify a nearest commercial airport; the park is reached by personal vehicle to one of its scattered trailhead parking areas, since there is no public transit serving the trailheads directly.

Because the summit is exposed alpine tundra, weather can change quickly and be significantly colder and windier than at the trailhead, so carry warm layers even in summer. Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile alpine plant community. There is no park office or staff on-site, so hikers should be self-sufficient, carry adequate water, and let someone know their hiking plan. For any emergency, dial 911.

Sturdy hiking boots, warm layers (even in summer, given exposed alpine conditions), rain gear, sufficient water and food, and a map, since there is no visitor center or staff to provide on-site orientation. A charged phone is useful for emergencies, though cell service in mountainous terrain can be unreliable.

Because there is no visitor center or entrance station, review your chosen trailhead and route in advance, using resources like the Vermont State Parks or Green Mountain Club trail information. Popular trailheads such as Burrows Trail can fill their small parking areas on busy fall-foliage weekends, so an early start helps secure parking. Staying on marked trails protects the summit's rare alpine tundra habitat.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general park information, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's regional (Essex) office can be reached at 802-879-6565, per research; note the park itself has no on-site phone or staff.

Vermont State Parks - Camel's Hump - https://www.vtstateparks.com/parks/camels-hump

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.