Long Trail to Camels Hump

This route begins at the Bamforth Ridge Trailhead on Duxbury Road and follows the Long Trail south to the summit of Camel’s Hump. From the trailhead, the route climbs steadily through dense hardwood forest, quickly gaining elevation along the spine of Bamforth Ridge. The trail remains steep and unrelenting for much of the ascent, making this one of the most strenuous day hikes in Vermont. At a prominent shoulder partway up the ridge, hikers begin entering montane spruce-fir forest, with occasional breaks in the canopy offering partial views west toward Lake Champlain. The route steepens across open ledges and slick rock, with sections of exposed Class 2–3 scrambling near the summit. The final approach is often windy and subject to rapidly changing weather. At the top, expansive alpine views stretch across the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack High Peaks to the west.