Camel's Hump Mountain

Camel's Hump is an icon of Vermont. Its image is found on the Vermont coat-of-arms and on Vermont's contribution to the United States series of twenty-five cent coins. Its terrain attracts cross-country skiers, snowshoers, hikers, and environmental scientists from around the world. Its peak is located along Vermont's Long Trail.

The mountain was called Dowabodiwadjo by the Abenaki peoples living in the area before European adventurers arrived. French explorer Samuel de Champlain referred to it as Lion Couchant (resting lion). The current name, Camel's Hump, evolved from Camel's Rump—its name on a late 18th century map produced by an early settler, Ira Allen.

Access to Camel's Hump may be found in Bolton at the Long Trail parking lot along Duxbury Rd, in Huntington Center at the Burrows Trail and Forest City Trail parking lots and in Duxbury at either the Monroe Trail parking lot during spring, summer and fall, or at the Wilson Place winter parking lot. In addition, access from the south via the Long Trail is possible from Rt. 17 in Waitsfield and by using various side trails that intersect the Long Trail.

The hiking trails on Camel's Hump are well-maintained by the Green Mountain Club and by employees of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The trails are cleared and blazed but can be rocky, wet and steep in many locations. Hikers and other visitors to the mountain should come prepared with recent maps or guidebooks, water, snacks, sturdy shoes, warm clothes and rain gear because weather can change rapidly on the mountain and those who are unprepared will suffer. Cellphone reception is unreliable. Rescue of lost, sick or injured hikers is coordinated by the Vermont State Police in conjunction with officers of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and members of skilled volunteer backcountry rescue groups from across the area.

Maps of the Camel's Hump trail system are located on bulletin boards at its various trailheads. Visitors are encouraged to register in the trail logbooks at the trailheads and sign out when leaving. Doing so will help in maintaining an accurate census of visitors and may provide useful information for rescuers.

Although the peak may be in the clouds on some days, hikers who reach the summit of Camel's Hump often can be rewarded with a 360º view that encompasses Lake Champlain, the Champlain Islands, and the Adirondack Range to the west; Mount Mansfield, Bolton Mountain, the Worcester Range and Jay Peak to the north; Lincoln Peak, Mount Ethan Allen and Molly Stark Mountain to the south and, on an exceptionally clear day, New Hampshire's Mount Washington to the east.