The Long Trail
Location: VT
Distance: 270 Miles
Terrain: Moderate to difficult.
Maintaining Organization: Green Mountain Club
Overview: The Long Trail is the oldest long distance hiking path in the United States, preceding even the Appalachian Trail which it shares tread with for the southern 100 miles. It was first conceived by James P Taylor in 1910. The Green Mountain Club (GMC) was formed & construction began in 1912. The final link to the Canadian Border was completed in 1930. It stretches from the Massachusetts border for 270 miles to the Canadian border. It has 54 shelters along length ranging from 3 sided shelters to lodges (enclosed cabin). Fee are charged for some of the high use sites where there is a caretaker in residence during the hiking season. The terrain is moderate in the southern half growing more rugged in the northern end as it follows the spine of the Green Mountains up through the center of VT. It a nice mix of shaded hikes, with ponds, steams, views from several fire towers, ski resorts, & alpine terrain. Supply is generally easy as locals are aware of the trail & very friendly.
Getting there: Like The Appalachian Trail, the Long trail terminus require hiking to get to. The nearest towns to the trail are Williamstown, MA at the southern end & North Troy, VT at the northern end. Major airports serving the trail are Logan Airport in Boston, MA & Burlington Airport in VT http://www.burlingtonintlairport.com/, and Albany Int Airport, Albany , NY. From the airports one can catch a Greyhound close to the southern terminus in Willamstown, MA. Getting to the northern terminus requires a hitch or a shuttle. The End to Ender’s Guide lists some but for up to date information .it’s best to call the GMC. There is also local buses that parallels the southern half along the Rt 7 corridor rub by Marble Valley Transit. http://www.thebus.com/.
Amtrak: http://www.amtrak.com/home also Makes stops close to the trail in the towns of: Brattleboro Bellow Falls, Waterbury, White River Junction, Rutland, and Burlington.
Greyhound: https://www.greyhound.com/ You can get to Williamstown, MA via Greyhound. They also service Bellows Falls( See "THe Bus" website above for connections close to trail from here) , Brattleboro, Montpieler, Burlington, & White River Jct..
For current shuttles your best bet is contacting the GMC for an up to date list.
Resources: The GMC offers all you need for your hike. Their “Long Trail Guide” give in depth trail description, overview map & trail maps for Camel Hump & Mt Mansfield. I feel it is more information than I need on the trail. I highly advise their “End to Ender Guide” it gives you the information you need on shelters, town resources, shuttlers, and other information needed for a long distance hike. Along with their waterproof topo map the two should be all you need. Although I found their map to be good I noticed that several snowmobile trails weren’t listed on it. Not a big deal, just be aware of it.
Re-supply: Re-supply is fairly easy from the LT. Hitching from a trailhead into town is fairly easy. Most hiker use Manchester Center, Rutland/Killington, Jonesville/Richmond, & Johnson. There are several other option available. Manchester Center & Rutland have
several large markets, outfitters, hotels & restaurants. Jonesville has a PO close to the trail but for any other services you have to hitch in Richmond or Waterbury. Johnson lost their grocery store (due to re-open) in Hurricane Irene so if you need more than a mail drop & gas station food you will need to hitch to Morrisville or Jeffersonville. There are several other option available depending on how often you want to resupply.
Some places not to miss:
The Inn on the Long Trail http://www.innatlongtrail.com/Home.html This hiker friendly in is a great place to relax at the 100 mile mark northbound. Great food & spirits. If you are on a budget they have free camping across RT 4 from them. Be warned it is at the peak of the hill & can get noisy with trucks climbing it. You can catch a local bus at it to head into Rutland to re-supply or about a mile down the road is a good size market/deli next to the Killington, PO.
The Long Trail Brewery: http://www.longtrail.com/ a short hitch down RT-4 in Bridgewater Corners. Take a tour of their facilities & enjoy a meal their pub.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: http://www.benjerry.com/ See where it all started & take a tour of their plant in Waterbury, VT. While in Waterbury, stop in the GMC office.
Green Mountain Club
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd.
Waterbury, VT 05677
Tel: 802 244-7037 Fax: 802 244-5867
Email: gmc@greenmountainclub.org
Website: http://www.greenmountainclub.org/
Always willing to help out when I can. Feel free to email me if you have any mountainsmike@yahoo.com
Mountain Mike
Location: VT
Distance: 270 Miles
Terrain: Moderate to difficult.
Maintaining Organization: Green Mountain Club
Overview: The Long Trail is the oldest long distance hiking path in the United States, preceding even the Appalachian Trail which it shares tread with for the southern 100 miles. It was first conceived by James P Taylor in 1910. The Green Mountain Club (GMC) was formed & construction began in 1912. The final link to the Canadian Border was completed in 1930. It stretches from the Massachusetts border for 270 miles to the Canadian border. It has 54 shelters along length ranging from 3 sided shelters to lodges (enclosed cabin). Fee are charged for some of the high use sites where there is a caretaker in residence during the hiking season. The terrain is moderate in the southern half growing more rugged in the northern end as it follows the spine of the Green Mountains up through the center of VT. It a nice mix of shaded hikes, with ponds, steams, views from several fire towers, ski resorts, & alpine terrain. Supply is generally easy as locals are aware of the trail & very friendly.
Getting there: Like The Appalachian Trail, the Long trail terminus require hiking to get to. The nearest towns to the trail are Williamstown, MA at the southern end & North Troy, VT at the northern end. Major airports serving the trail are Logan Airport in Boston, MA & Burlington Airport in VT http://www.burlingtonintlairport.com/, and Albany Int Airport, Albany , NY. From the airports one can catch a Greyhound close to the southern terminus in Willamstown, MA. Getting to the northern terminus requires a hitch or a shuttle. The End to Ender’s Guide lists some but for up to date information .it’s best to call the GMC. There is also local buses that parallels the southern half along the Rt 7 corridor rub by Marble Valley Transit. http://www.thebus.com/.
Amtrak: http://www.amtrak.com/home also Makes stops close to the trail in the towns of: Brattleboro Bellow Falls, Waterbury, White River Junction, Rutland, and Burlington.
Greyhound: https://www.greyhound.com/ You can get to Williamstown, MA via Greyhound. They also service Bellows Falls( See "THe Bus" website above for connections close to trail from here) , Brattleboro, Montpieler, Burlington, & White River Jct..
For current shuttles your best bet is contacting the GMC for an up to date list.
Resources: The GMC offers all you need for your hike. Their “Long Trail Guide” give in depth trail description, overview map & trail maps for Camel Hump & Mt Mansfield. I feel it is more information than I need on the trail. I highly advise their “End to Ender Guide” it gives you the information you need on shelters, town resources, shuttlers, and other information needed for a long distance hike. Along with their waterproof topo map the two should be all you need. Although I found their map to be good I noticed that several snowmobile trails weren’t listed on it. Not a big deal, just be aware of it.
Re-supply: Re-supply is fairly easy from the LT. Hitching from a trailhead into town is fairly easy. Most hiker use Manchester Center, Rutland/Killington, Jonesville/Richmond, & Johnson. There are several other option available. Manchester Center & Rutland have
several large markets, outfitters, hotels & restaurants. Jonesville has a PO close to the trail but for any other services you have to hitch in Richmond or Waterbury. Johnson lost their grocery store (due to re-open) in Hurricane Irene so if you need more than a mail drop & gas station food you will need to hitch to Morrisville or Jeffersonville. There are several other option available depending on how often you want to resupply.
Some places not to miss:
The Inn on the Long Trail http://www.innatlongtrail.com/Home.html This hiker friendly in is a great place to relax at the 100 mile mark northbound. Great food & spirits. If you are on a budget they have free camping across RT 4 from them. Be warned it is at the peak of the hill & can get noisy with trucks climbing it. You can catch a local bus at it to head into Rutland to re-supply or about a mile down the road is a good size market/deli next to the Killington, PO.
The Long Trail Brewery: http://www.longtrail.com/ a short hitch down RT-4 in Bridgewater Corners. Take a tour of their facilities & enjoy a meal their pub.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: http://www.benjerry.com/ See where it all started & take a tour of their plant in Waterbury, VT. While in Waterbury, stop in the GMC office.
Green Mountain Club
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd.
Waterbury, VT 05677
Tel: 802 244-7037 Fax: 802 244-5867
Email: gmc@greenmountainclub.org
Website: http://www.greenmountainclub.org/
Always willing to help out when I can. Feel free to email me if you have any mountainsmike@yahoo.com
Mountain Mike