The In-Between Season: What to Do in Vermont During Mud Season

Somewhere between winter’s last snowfall and spring’s first green shoots, Vermont transforms into something locals call “mud season”. This in-between state is unpredictable and messy, but if you know where to look and what to do in Vermont during mud season, you’ll find it’s one of the most rewarding and underrated times to visit.

At our Lodging in Vermont, we see mud season guests return year after year to explore what makes this time special.

What Is Mud Season?

Snow melts. Rivers swell. Dirt roads turn to chocolate pudding.

Mud season is Vermont’s transition from winter to spring, typically running from late March through early May, though the exact timing shifts with weather patterns. As temperatures rise above freezing during the day and drop below at night, the frozen ground thaws from the top down. The result is a layer of mud sitting on still-frozen soil beneath, creating conditions that can turn roads and trails into thick, impassable muck.

Trail networks shut down sections to prevent erosion damage. Swimming holes that were frozen solid weeks ago become raging torrents of snowmelt. The landscape looks brown and gray, and can feel a little uninviting compared to winter’s white blanket or summer’s green canopy.

But here’s what the guidebooks don’t tell you: mud season is when you get Vermont to yourself. Ski crowds have left. Summer tourists haven’t arrived. The people you’ll encounter are mostly locals going about their daily routines. Restaurants have tables available. Brewery taprooms have elbow room. Here are our favorite ways to embrace mud season:

Indoor Escapes

Taste Craft Beverages at Vermont Breweries and Distilleries

Vermont’s craft beverage scene provides the perfect escape from the muddy roads. Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield remains a must-visit for fresh IPAs and pilsners in a welcoming taproom atmosphere. Stop by on a Tuesday for “Tuesday Tunes” live music or Thursday for their Fresh Catch seafood popup, where raw bar offerings and lobster rolls pair perfectly with their beers.

Other nearby options worth your time include Frost Beer Works, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, and Bent Hill Brewery in Braintree. Each offers distinct styles and atmospheres, making brewery hopping an excellent mud season activity.

For spirits enthusiasts, Mad River Distillers operates a tasting room in Waitsfield where you can sample their award-winning rye whiskey and other spirits while learning about Vermont craft distilling.

Get Creative at Local Art Studios and Workshops

Several local studios offer classes, workshops, and gallery time perfect for rainy afternoons.

Blockhouse Studio in Waitsfield serves as a creative hub offering classes in everything from painting to printmaking. Check their schedule for current offerings.

Luke Iannuzzi Pottery in Warren offers pottery classes where you can learn to throw on the wheel or hand-build pieces. There’s something satisfying about working with mud intentionally when you’re trying to avoid it everywhere else.

Unwind with a Wellness Retreat

Mud season practically demands self-care. When you can’t be outside without getting filthy, Vermont’s best spas offer the perfect alternative.

The Mad River Valley hosts massage studios, infrared saunas, and yoga classes that welcome mud season visitors looking to unwind. With fewer tourists and more flexible scheduling, mud season is ideal for booking that massage or trying a new wellness experience without the summer rush.

Outdoor Activities (That Won’t Destroy the Trails)

Here’s the mud season paradox: you should get outside, but you also shouldn’t hike most trails. When trails are muddy, foot traffic causes serious erosion damage that takes years to repair. Responsible mud season visitors stick to activities that don’t harm the landscape.

Experience the Magic of Maple Sugaring

If there’s one thing that redeems mud season’s reputation, it’s maple syrup. Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state in the U.S., and late March through mid-April is when the maple sugaring magic happens.

Sugar maples need specific conditions to run sap: freezing nights, warm days, and ideally temperatures bouncing around the freezing mark. That’s exactly what mud season provides. When temperatures hit that sweet spot, sap flows from trees into collection buckets or tubing systems, then gets boiled down in sugarhouses across the state.

Visit a sugarhouse on a weekend in March or early April, and you’ll see steam billowing from roof vents, smell the sweet maple-scented air from the parking lot, and have the opportunity to tour the facilities with an expert explaining the process. If you’re staying with us at Warren Lodge and you see the metal buckets hanging on the trees in the backyard, feel free to try the fresh sap for yourself!

Witness Warren Falls at Peak Flow

Vermont’s famous swimming hole transforms into a powerful cascade during mud season snowmelt.

Important safety note: Do not attempt to swim or get close to the water during high flow periods. The current is deadly. View Warren Falls from a safe distance on the roadside and appreciate the raw power of snowmelt without putting yourself in danger.

Take a Short Walk to see Spring Ephemerals

As mud season progresses into late April and early May, wildflowers called spring ephemerals emerge in Vermont forests. These delicate blooms, including trout lily, spring beauty, and bloodroot, appear before trees leaf out and shade the forest floor. Look for them on short, well-maintained paths at low elevation that can handle foot traffic, not on muddy woodland trails.

The Mad River Path offers paved and crushed stone sections perfect for walking or biking without trail damage concerns. While some sections may be muddy or wet, the maintained surface prevents erosion.

Check www.trailfinder.info before heading out for any longer hikes to see what trails are open.

Bike Vermont’s Gravel Trails

As conditions begin to dry out in April, Vermont’s gravel roads offer excellent riding during mud season. Gravel surfaces drain better than dirt roads, staying rideable even during wet conditions. Beginning in April, Riders Outpost in Waitsfield offers gravel bike rentals and can recommend routes ranging from short rides to all-day adventures. The quieter roads and emerging spring landscape make this an ideal time to explore Vermont’s backcountry by bike without the summer traffic.

Visit the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm

Experience the unique gait and gentle nature of Icelandic horses on a guided ride. These hardy animals handle mud season conditions better than most, making this a viable outdoor activity even when other options are limited. Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm offers rides year-round, including during mud season.

Take a Farm Tour at von Trapp Family Lodge

The von Trapp family property offers farm tours that operate regardless of mud season conditions. Visit their sustainable farm, meet the animals, and learn about their agricultural practices.

Mud Season Events in the Mad River Valley

While mud season lacks the packed event calendars of summer and winter, several traditions mark the transition period:

Annual Pond Skim Events: Both Mad River Glen and Sugarbush host pond skimming events where brave souls attempt to ski or snowboard across pools of water, usually in costume, rarely successfully, always hilariously.

Mt. Ellen Closing Day Party: Sugarbush’s Mt. Ellen typically closes for the season in late March with a party celebrating the ski season’s end and welcoming the transition to mud season.

Spring Fling Concert: Sugarbush hosts an annual Spring Fling outdoor concert in mid-April, marking the shift toward warmer weather with live music and mountain vibes.

Check out our Mad River Valley area events page for current year schedules and specific dates.

What to Pack for Mud Season

Waterproof boots: Not just water-resistant, but waterproof with ankle support too. These will be your most important piece of gear.

Layers: March mornings can be below freezing. April afternoons might hit 60 degrees. Bring everything from fleece to t-shirts.

Rain jacket: Mud season means rain. A good waterproof shell is essential.

Extra shoes: You’ll want something clean and dry to change into after outdoor activities.

What to Avoid During Mud Season

Hiking Muddy Trails: When trails are muddy, hiking causes lasting erosion damage. Respect trail closures and “Muddy Trail” signs. Your desire to hike doesn’t justify years of erosion repair work.

Driving Down Closed Dirt Roads: Many Vermont towns post “Road Closed” or “Class 4 Road” signs during mud season. These aren’t suggestions. You can get stuck, damage your vehicle, or cause expensive road damage that taxpayers must repair.

Expecting Summer Swimming Holes: Swimming holes are too cold and too dangerous during mud season snowmelt. Save swimming for June or later when water levels drop, and temperatures rise.

Why Stay at Mad River Lodges During Mud Season

When you’re planning what to do in Vermont during mud season, having the right home base matters. Our four lodges in the Mad River Valley offer comfortable, practical spaces designed for unpredictable spring weather.

All properties feature contactless check-in and modern amenities including strong WiFi, private bathrooms, and welcoming common areas. Warren Lodge’s condos and apartments come with full kitchens, perfect for cooking comfort food on rainy afternoons. Mad River Lodge’s family units also include kitchens, giving you flexibility when the weather keeps you indoors.

Tucker Hill’s charming honeymoon suites offer the perfect retreat for couples relaxing between activities. White Horse Lodge’s game room offers quality indoor fun if the mud becomes too much or you need a place to wind down after a day of adventure.

Start Planning Your Spring in Vermont

Vermont’s mud season often gets a bad rap, but it’s actually one of the best times to visit Vermont. You’ll watch as the landscape transitions from white to brown to green. You’ll have unhurried conversations with locals (and get a better understanding of why they talk about mud season with equal parts dread and fondness). You’ll taste maple syrup hours after it was made. You’ll see waterfalls at their most powerful. And you’ll appreciate summer’s arrival in ways few others can.

Book your stay and discover the unique Vermont experiences of mud season.