The long trail is a 272 mile trail that runs from the massachusetts vermont state border through vermont to the canadian border. It is the oldest long distance trail in the us and runs along the main ridge of the green mountains and provides many backcountry campsites throughout. The long trail is the oldest long distance hiking trail in the united states. Vermont rambler long trail section hike based in vermont. Grant is 3,623 ft tall and the view from the summit offers a panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains including the champlain valley, mount abe, and mount mansfield, vermont s tallest peak.
Every few years, and after any major reroutes they rerelease a long trail guide book the guide book is great for planning and i cut mine into sections to bring on the trail with me so i didnt have to carry the whole thing and add extra weight to my bag. The simply named long trail is the oldest long distance trail in the united states. The mission of the green mountain club is to make the vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the long trail system and fostering, through education, the stewardship of vermont s hiking trails and mountains. This path traverses the green mountains, which run along the center spine of vermont from the massachusetts border to the canadian one. I expected the long trail s southern portion the 105 miles concurrent with the appalachian trail, which i hiked last year to be hard, only because i was out of trail shape. The catamount trail is here to help facilitate those experiences. The green mountain club is the founder and maintainer of the long trail the oldest long distance hiking trail in america.
To the west, mountains roll out in waves beyond the valley of vermont and the marble quarries of danby. Proceeds benefit the work of the club to maintain and protect vermont s hiking trails. On this part of the trail you will mainly be hiking through very dense forests and occasionally get to peak out above treeline to incredible. Our sections the green mountain club has 14 regionallybased chapters that maintain specific areas of the long trail, appalachian trail in vermont, and northeast kingdom trails. Section hikers tackle the trail in bursts, often completing the long trail over the course of many years. I section hiked the long trail or lt in 2008, and have been giving free advice to. Vermont fall colors hiking tour vermont hiking vacation. In my opinion this is overkill, but it has significant value in a wealth of data. Pair difficult terrain with some bad weather and youre in trouble. A retrospective by reidun nuquist, green mountain club, 90 pages. Nov 07, 2019 as the appalachian trail moves north through new england, the sections get steadily longerand so do the climbs. When forester benton mackaye was conceiving the appalachian trail in 1921, he drew inspiration from an earlier path vermont s long trail source.
Oct 01, 2008 the 272mile long trail lt, completed in 1930, is the countrys first thruhikers trail. In this backpacking guide i will cover the first section of the long trail from route 2 williamstownnorth adams, ma to route 1 manchester center, vt. Section hike suggestions long trail planning guide. Dont you think vermont is our happiest little state. The trail is 272 miles in length running the length of vermont from the. Many beginners and family choose certain sections of the trail. Sections and their members and volunteers are an integral part of the work the green mountain club does to maintain and protect the long trail system. It was established before the appalachian trail and is said to have been the model upon which the at was based. Section hike suggestions long trail planning guide long. Long trail school is an independent school serving grades 612 in southern vermont. Reidun nuquist navigates a century of long trail guides.
The long trail patrol was established in 1931 as the official trail crew of the green mountain club and has been a staple of our field staff ever since. The long trail, vermonts 272mile hiking path from massachusetts to canada, turned 100 in 2010. In 1930, trailblazers cut the final link of the long trail from jay peak to the canadian border. Section hikers and aspiring long trail thru hikers will find everything you need to. The green mountain club gmc is the organization that takes care of and maintains the long trail. This brilliant footpath runs through all of vermont s finest wilderness and has the perfect trek for any level of hiker. Top 10 long distance hiking trails in the us walking.
Crew long trail patrol trail crew vermont department. The long trail is a hiking trail located in vermont, running the length of the state. There are a variety of access points and segments to take along the vermont long trail, so much so that you can enjoy an entirely new. Long trail planning guide your guide to planning a long. Because of the rural nature of this part of vermont, it is not really possible to shorten this final stretch, unless you took side trails to get off the trail earlier. It is this year thats considered the starting point for the trail. Find out about best timing, start and end points, difficulty, shelters, resupply areas, gear, water, food, trail towns, navigation apps and guidebooks, dog policy and more. The primary purpose of the long trail state forest is protection of the long trail. At 24x 36 this vermont map and poster shows the long trail, all its shelters, gaps, and 14 of vermont s highest peaks. The long trail runs the entire distance of the state of vermont. This book is best for section hikers and residents of vermont who will be.
Route 2 williamstownnorth adams, ma to route 9 bennington this section is 18. Section hiking vermonts long trail the weirs times. The green mountain club has 14 regionallybased chapters that maintain specific areas of the long trail, appalachian trail in vermont, and northeast kingdom trails. Thats what eliza keller, a post mills native now living in boston, was wondering when she put her question to brave little state. This full color poster is a wonderful long trail souvenir. It can be hiked point to point as a long distance backpacking trip or segmented as shorter day hikes or weekend overnight trips. Many section hikers use this map to keep track of their section hikes. Oct 05, 2018 the 272mile long trail follows green mountain ridgelines from one end of vermont to another. Over the next ten years, gmc members and other volunteers constructed an additional 209 miles and raised 44 trail shelters. Only one body was found and the fates of the other missing persons remain a mystery. The gmc has been producing the long trail guide book since 1917, and this year for. The section of the long trail between woodford on vermont state route 9 just east of bennington, vt and glastenbury mountain some 10 miles 16 km farther north has gained notoriety because six people vanished in that area between 1945 and 1950. It runs the entire length of the state from the massachusettsvermont state.
Catamount trail sections catamount trail association. I volunteer as a long trail mentor for the green mountain club which maintains vermont s long trail. The gmc has a guide book for the long trail, last updated in 2011. You dont know how difficult a section is going to be until you get there. Maintains the appalachian and northeast kingdom trails. Vermont s long trail mapby green mountain club the new 4th edition of vermont s long trail waterproof hiking map includes elevation profiles and uptodate information about shelter and trail locations and mileages. Available at the green mountain club visitor center in waterbury center or at. In june 2015 the long trail was relocated from duxbury road to jonesville to cross the winooski river over a new suspension footbridge. It actually runs the entire length of the state, and it has the added distinction of being the oldest long distance trail of its kind in the country.
The oldest long trail hiking the long trail in vermont. Catamount trail sections the length of vermont on skis. Grant is 3,623 ft tall and the view from the summit offers a panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains including the champlain valley, mount abe, and mount mansfield, vermont. Since 1986, parcels have been acquired with that goal in mind and in 1996 the long trail state forest was established as a result of a partnership between the state of vermont and the green mountain club. The trail typifies new england hiking as it winds its way on the main ridge of the green mountains and crosses vermont s highest peaks. Construction began in 1912, and the first completed section ran from sterling pond to camels hump. Hiking the long trail endtoend green mountain club. The focus of the crew is to work on heavily used and damaged sections of trail throughout vermont that require intensive trail repairs. In this backpacking guide i will cover the first section of the long trail from. Each year, hundreds of thru hikers set out to complete the trail in one go, a journey that has been completed in under 5 days but typically takes multiple weeks.
Vt 140 to us 4 nearly 7,000feet of climbing are spread over this 22mile pointtopoint on vermont s long trail. There is one way to get to the northern terminus of the long trail. How to hike the oldest long distance hiking trail in the united states, the long trail in vermont. The new 4th edition of vermont s long trail waterproof hiking map includes elevation profiles and uptodate information about shelter and trail locations and mileages. Route 108 stowe to journeys end this section is 66. Five years after completing the appalachian trail, this was the first trail that i genuinely thruhiked. Affectionately called the green tunnel, its route is lined with maple, beech, and oak trees and paved with rocks and mud.
As the name implies, the vermont long trail is, well, long. Hiking vermonts high ridge green mountain club, dave hardy, steve larose, ben rose on. I mean, vermont basically invented the long distance trails. Ive planned it out at 20 days with one zero, i have a limited time to get it done only have so much vacation time. This is my southbound hike of the long trail through the colorful autumn of 2007. Here are a few historical facts about vermont s long trail. Located in vermont, it runs the entire length of the state, weaving itself through towns and countryside, mountains and valleys. The long trail in vermont runs 273 miles from the ma vt border to canada, along the spine of the green mountains. After a short shuttle we will meet up with the famous long trail as we prepare to hike to the summit of mt. Our adventure takes us along a section of the long trail, monroe skyline. The history of the long trail vermont historical society. The guide is very helpful whether you are day, section, or thru hiking the long trail. Along the long trail a short 5 mile section can be extremely challenging because of terrain.
From its southern terminus on the vermont massachusetts border, the long trail traces the spine of the green mountains en route to canada, passing archetypal landscapes of rolling pastures, red barns, and grazing holsteins. Stretching 150 miles between massachusetts and new hampshire, vermont beckons with maple syrup, charming ski slopes, and a mysterious if not downright suspicious lack of rocks in the trail. I section hiked the long trail or lt in 2008, and have been giving free advice to people ever since because it was such a transformative personal experience for me. The history of the trail remains inseparably linked with the founder of the green mountain club, james p. If it were a sovereign nation, it would clearly be a utopia. Use the journeys end trail as the approach trail hiking from journeys end road 1. The gmc has been producing the long trail guide book since 1917, and this year for the 100th anniversary, they will be releasing the 28th edition, which will include a retrospective by long trail history writer reidun d. This was my first time hiking in vermont and it did not disappoint. By the time i got to the north which i heard was more rugged, id be back in hiking shape, and the trail would be fine.
Sep 16, 2020 the newly protected property includes one of the last unprotected sections of the long trail, the oldest long distance hiking trail in the united states. Nov 02, 2015 most of the long trail is in the woods, and the trail can feel like a green tunnel at times, but the view from baker peak is wide open and majestic. I started at the canadian border on september 26th and entered massachusetts on october 20th. Built by the green mountain club in 19101930, it is extremely rugged, steep and rocky.
Mar 31, 2021 after getting back into hiking over the last few years, and doing a few sections of the lt and at last year. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of vermont, the club now also maintains the appalachian trail in vermont and trails in the northeast kingdom in its mission to make the vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people. The first long distance hiking trail in america, the long trail is a beautiful but tough hike over dozens of mountains, and for many seasoned hikers, completing its entire 273mile 439kilometer length is a badge of honor. It runs the entire length of the state from the massachusetts vermont state. Catamount trail association 1 mill street, suite 350 burlington, vt 05401 p. The ultimate guide to vermonts long trail down the trail.
The first 100 miles of the long trail coincide with the appalachian trail, but the lt keeps going north at white river junction as the at breaks east and. This guide is designed for endtoenders, section hikers and day hikers, so there is a lot of information in there that endtoenders dont really need. Discover the vermont long trail and these 4 sensational hikes. The section of the long trail between woodford on vermont state route 9 just east of bennington, vt and glastenbury mountain some.
Sections and their members and volunteers are an integral part of the work the green mountain club does to maintain and protect the long trail. Just ordered the map i have the 2 books and hope the map is as good as you claim. The long trail has a long history of speed record attempts, as is detailed in part on at david hortons site. The trail now follows duxbury road west for 1 mile and then follows a path along the river and the edge of farm fields before rejoining the road 2tenths of a mile from the bridge.
The volume provides turnbyturn descriptions of the entire trail. Section of the long trail permanently protected the trust. Sep 17, 2019 the northern section of long trail in vermont is hard far more difficult than i had imagined. The long trail lt extends the length of the state of vermont and is considered one of the iconic backpacking trails. For those unfamiliar with backpacking in that area, the long trail is americas oldest footpath. In planning i didnt worry so much about the mileage, as the ascent. Sep 09, 2017 the long trail is the hardest trail ive hiked. Approximately 200,000 people use the long trail each year, and it is recognized by the vermont general assembly as a unique, historic and irreplaceable resource, whose protection is of. The long trail is the oldest longdistance hiking trail in the united states. So whether you plan to ski a section, part of a section, or the entire length of vermont, consider inviting a friend or two, or join one of our many tours. Shortly upon arriving back on trail the at and the long trail say goodbye and the long trail almost immediately becomes more difficult as the foot traffic dissipates and the climbs become ever more frequent. Hikers who hike every mile of the long trail, whether in day trips, multiday sections, or all at once, are. The trail now follows duxbury road west for 1 mile and then follows a path along the river and the edge of farm fields before rejoining the. For more history, read the story on the catamount trail published in the green mountain clubs winter 2005 long trail news.
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