Last updated September 22, 2026
Long Trail Vermont: Thru-Hike Guide, Map & Shelters
Vermont’s Long Trail follows the spine of the Green Mountains for 272 miles from the Massachusetts border to Canada. Built between 1910 and 1930, it is America’s oldest long-distance hiking trail. A typical End-to-End thru-hike takes 21–25 days and crosses all five of Vermont’s 4,000-foot peaks while linking more than 70 free backcountry shelters and campsites.
How Long Is Vermont’s Long Trail?
The Long Trail is 272 miles from the Massachusetts–Vermont state line to the Canadian border. Green Mountain Club says a typical thru-hiker—known as an End-to-Ender—takes about 21–25 days. The southern roughly 100 miles share tread with the Appalachian Trail before the AT turns east toward New Hampshire at Maine Junction in the Killington area. North of that split, the Long Trail continues alone through increasingly rugged Green Mountain terrain to Canada.
Taft Lodge is closed for structural repairs from September 8 through the end of October 2026. Tenting and hammocking are prohibited around Taft Lodge and elsewhere above 2,500 feet in the Mount Mansfield area. Current alternatives include Butler Lodge, Twin Brooks Tenting Area and Sterling Pond Shelter. Always check Green Mountain Club’s current trail alerts immediately before a trip.
Long Trail Vermont Map.
The trail runs almost the full north–south length of Vermont’s Green Mountains, progressively linking southern AT terrain, Killington, the Monroe Skyline, Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, Jay Peak and the Canadian border.
What Is the Long Trail Actually Like?
The number 272 makes the Long Trail look modest beside the AT, PCT or CDT. The terrain explains why a typical thru-hike still takes more than three weeks.
AT Country
The LT and Appalachian Trail share the same white-blazed path for roughly 100 miles. Stratton Mountain, ponds, shelters and rolling Green Mountain terrain define this opening section.
Maine Junction
The AT turns east toward New Hampshire while the Long Trail continues north. From here the LT develops its own quieter identity.
4,000-Foot Peaks
Mount Abraham and Mount Ellen place the route onto sustained central-Vermont ridges before it drops and climbs again.
Rock + Alpine Zone
One of Vermont’s signature mountains adds steep trail, protected alpine vegetation and substantially rougher footing.
The High Point
The Long Trail crosses Vermont’s 4,393-foot state high point and one of the state’s rare alpine environments.
The Harder Finish
Steep pitches, roots, ladders, wet rock and shorter mileage days become increasingly normal before Jay Peak and Canada.
The First 100 Miles Are Also the Appalachian Trail.
Long Trail hikers begin inside a much larger long-distance trail culture. The shared corridor brings AT thru-hikers, established shelters and classic southern Vermont landscapes before Maine Junction sends the two trails in different directions.
Little Rock Pond · Wikimedia CommonsHow Much of the Long Trail Is the Appalachian Trail?
Green Mountain Club says the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail overlap for roughly 100 miles from Massachusetts to Maine Junction near Killington.
| Feature | Long Trail | Appalachian Trail in Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Historical origin | Conceived 1909; GMC founded 1910 | Conceived later and partly inspired by the Long Trail |
| Shared section | ≈100 miles | Same tread from Massachusetts to Killington area |
| Maine Junction | Continues north | Turns east toward New Hampshire |
| Long Trail destination | Canadian border | Not applicable |
| AT destination | Not applicable | Continues toward Maine and Katahdin |
| Trail markings | White blazes | White blazes |
The Long Trail did not borrow the Appalachian Trail.
The chronology runs the other direction. James P. Taylor conceived the Long Trail before the AT existed, Green Mountain Club began building it in 1910, and the established Vermont footpath later became part of the model and route used by the Appalachian Trail.
Northbound vs Southbound on the Long Trail.
Green Mountain Club says northbound is the more common direction. The main reason becomes obvious when the route profile is understood.
Build Into the Hard Terrain
Start with the generally gentler southern trail and develop trail legs before Camel’s Hump, Mansfield and the rough northern Green Mountains.
Start With the Crux
Beginning near Canada means immediate immersion in steeper, rougher and quieter northern Vermont before reaching the shared AT corridor.
Weather Can Change the Choice
GMC notes that autumn hikers may consider southbound travel to move toward generally warmer southern Vermont as the trip progresses.
How to Build a 21–25 Day Long Trail Thru-Hike.
The strongest itinerary is built around terrain and resupply blocks rather than forcing the same mileage every day. Northern miles are slower than southern miles.
| Phase | Typical time | Route area | Useful resupply | Main objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4–5 days | MA line → Manchester area | Bennington / Manchester | Settle the pack, feet and pacing while following the shared AT corridor. |
| 2 | 4–5 days | Manchester → Killington / Rutland | Manchester / Killington / Rutland | Move through southern Green Mountain peaks and reach Maine Junction. |
| 3 | 4–5 days | Killington → central Vermont | Waitsfield | Transition from the shared AT into the independent northern Long Trail. |
| 4 | 4–5 days | Monroe Skyline → Camel’s Hump → Mansfield | Waterbury / Stowe | Manage major elevation days, alpine zones and increasingly rugged terrain. |
| 5 | 5–6 days | Mansfield → Jay → Canada | Stowe / Johnson | Allow shorter mileage days for the roughest part of the trail and finish with margin. |
This is a planning framework, not a campsite prescription. Shelter availability, weather, personal pace and current closures should determine each overnight stop. GMC’s current Long Trail Guide, map and End-to-Ender’s Guide should control the final itinerary.
Camel’s Hump Is Where the Long Trail Stops Feeling Gentle.
The summit’s distinctive profile is one of Vermont’s landmarks, but a thru-hiker experiences it differently from a day hiker: with weeks of accumulated fatigue, a full backpack, wet rock and another major mountain still ahead.
Photo: Niranjan Arminius · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0The Long Trail Crosses Vermont’s Highest Mountains.
Green Mountain Club notes that the Long Trail travels over all five of Vermont’s 4,000-foot peaks. That makes the trail unusually mountain-focused for its relatively modest overall distance.
Stratton Mountain
The historic southern summit is associated with Benton MacKaye’s early Appalachian Trail vision and lies inside the shared AT/LT corridor.
Killington Peak
Vermont’s second-highest major summit sits close to the point where the AT and Long Trail separate.
Mount Abraham + Ellen
The Long Trail follows the high central Green Mountain ridge through two of Vermont’s major 4,000-foot summits.
Camel’s Hump
A steep, rocky summit with protected alpine vegetation and one of the state’s most recognizable profiles.
Mount Mansfield
The Long Trail crosses The Chin at 4,393 feet, the highest point in Vermont and the highest point on the trail.
Jay Peak
A major final mountain before the trail approaches the Canadian border and Journey’s End.
Mount Abraham and Ellen Turn the Trail Into a True Ridge Traverse.
Unlike a summit hike that returns to the same parking lot, the Long Trail keeps going. The cumulative rhythm—summit, descent, shelter, another climb—is what makes the route feel much larger than 272 miles.
Photo source: Wikimedia CommonsHow Hard Is the Long Trail?
Green Mountain Club describes rocks, roots, mud and steep climbing as defining features, particularly in the northern half.
Moderate for a Thru-Hike
272 miles is manageable inside roughly a month, but it is long enough for foot care, nutrition and recovery mistakes to accumulate.
Very Rugged in the North
Roots, rocks, mud, steep slabs and short scrambling-style moves can make ten Vermont miles feel very different from ten smooth trail miles.
Wet + Changeable
Humidity, heavy rain, wind and cold can occur during the normal summer hiking season.
Repeated Climbing
The trail is low compared with western U.S. thru-hikes but constantly gives elevation back before climbing again.
A Real Trail Feature
Vermont’s soils hold water. Mud can slow travel well beyond what a mileage-based pace calculator predicts.
Hiking, Not Climbing
The normal summer route remains a hiking trail, though some steep northern sections require hands and careful movement.
Do not compare Long Trail pace directly with PCT pace.
A hiker comfortable covering 20-plus miles on smooth western trail may discover that Vermont’s roots, rock, mud and repeated short climbs produce a much lower sustainable daily mileage. Train for time on rough ground, not only distance.
Long Trail Shelters and Camping.
Green Mountain Club currently describes 72 free rustic shelters and campsites on the Long Trail System. Overnight sites are communal and first-come, first-served.
Free
GMC eliminated caretaker-site overnight fees in 2023. The current network operates on a free, donation-supported model.
First Come
Long Trail shelters are not hotel bookings. Popular sites can fill, particularly during summer and foliage season.
Roughly 5–10 Miles
Sites are frequent enough to create itinerary options, but shelter spacing should not dictate an unsafe hiking pace.
Rustic
Expect an outhouse and untreated natural water source rather than electricity, food service or guaranteed sleeping space.
Carry Your Own Shelter
GMC recommends carrying a tent, hammock or other shelter even when planning to sleep in lean-tos.
Camping Restrictions
Camping is prohibited above 2,500 feet in protected areas. Use designated overnight sites and follow each land manager’s rules.
The Lean-To Is Part of the Long Trail Experience—not Your Emergency Shelter.
A free shelter every few miles creates flexibility and community, but thru-hikers should remain self-sufficient. A full shelter, current closure or weather-driven itinerary change should never leave you without a safe sleeping system.
Photo: broken Images · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Do You Need a Permit to Hike the Long Trail?
Individual hikers do not need a trail-wide permit to hike or thru-hike the Long Trail. Green Mountain Club says the trail system is free and open to the public.
No Permit
You do not enter a lottery or buy one end-to-end hiking permit.
No Reservation
Standard LT shelters and campsites are free and first-come, first-served.
Different Rules
Organized groups may need notifications or special-use permission depending on group size and land manager.
No permit does not mean no regulations.
The Long Trail crosses federal, state and private land. Camping, fires, food storage and fragile alpine-zone rules can change by jurisdiction. Use GMC’s current guide rather than applying one campsite rule to the entire 272 miles.
Long Trail Resupply Strategy.
Green Mountain Club says many thru-hikers carry roughly three to five days of food at a time and resupply several times during the trip.
| Resupply area | Trail role | Useful for | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington | Early southern resupply | Food, lodging, reset | Useful soon after the Massachusetts start if carrying a light first food load. |
| Manchester | Major southern town | Full resupply | One of the strongest early-trail places for food and town services. |
| Killington / Rutland | AT/LT transition | Major resupply / zero | Natural logistics point around Maine Junction and the end of the shared AT section. |
| Waitsfield | Central Vermont | Food and recovery | Useful around the Monroe Skyline / Appalachian Gap portion of the trip. |
| Waterbury | Camel’s Hump region | Full-service stop | Strong central-Vermont option before the Mansfield country. |
| Stowe | Mount Mansfield | Major resupply / lodging | A useful town break immediately around Vermont’s highest mountain. |
| Johnson | Northern trail | Final substantial resupply | Common option before the final northern push toward Jay and Canada. |
You probably do not need to mail seven boxes.
Stores and trail towns make buy-as-you-go resupply realistic for many hikers. Mail a package when dietary needs or a specific stop justify it; otherwise flexibility is valuable when pace, weather and town choices change.
Best Time to Hike the Long Trail.
Green Mountain Club describes Vermont’s unofficial hiking season as running from around Memorial Day through Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October. A thru-hike fits best once spring mud has dried and before sustained late-autumn weather arrives.
| Period | Trail conditions | Advantages | Main problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| April–May | Mud season | Low-elevation alternatives | High trails should generally be avoided until dry |
| Late May–June | Trail drying / early season | Long daylight, fresh water | Mud, insects and wet conditions |
| July | Full hiking season | Long days and open infrastructure | Humidity, rain, bugs and AT traffic in the south |
| August | Full hiking season | Warm weather and mature trail conditions | Humidity, storms and occasional lower water |
| September | Excellent | Cooler weather and early foliage | Shorter days and increasingly cold nights |
| Early October | Late season | Foliage and fewer insects | Cold rain, shorter daylight and possible snow |
| Late fall–winter | Winter travel | Specialized objective | Snow, ice, limited daylight and substantially higher commitment |
Mud season is a stewardship issue, not merely an inconvenience.
Hiking saturated high-elevation trails widens tread, damages vegetation and accelerates erosion. GMC asks hikers to stay off muddy high trails until they dry—typically around Memorial Day, though the date changes with the year.
The State High Point Comes Deep Into the Thru-Hike.
The Long Trail crosses Mount Mansfield’s summit ridge rather than merely passing beneath Vermont’s highest mountain. The exposed alpine ecosystem and steep surrounding terrain make this one of the most consequential sections of the entire route.
Photo: Jared C. Benedict · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SAFood Storage Matters on the Long Trail.
Black bears live throughout Vermont’s Green Mountains. Green Mountain National Forest requires proper storage of food, trash and other scented items.
- Use an available bear box where one exists.
- A bear canister is GMC’s preferred personal storage method.
- Approved hanging methods are allowed where properly executed.
- Store food, garbage, cookware and scented toiletries.
- Carry out all trash and food scraps.
Green Mountain Club also operates a free first-come bear-canister lending program at multiple Vermont locations.
Vermont’s dense forests are poor places to discover that your food-storage system only worked in theory.End-to-Ender Certification.
Finishing the Long Trail has had an official identity for generations. Green Mountain Club recognizes hikers who complete all 272 miles either as one continuous thru-hike or in sections.
End-to-Ender
GMC uses this term for anyone who completes the entire Long Trail.
Thru or Section
You do not need to complete all 272 miles in one continuous trip to qualify.
7,000+ Certified
More than 7,000 hikers have received official End-to-End certification.
Free
Certification is available directly through Green Mountain Club after completing the route.
Historical Archive
Applications and journals become part of the Vermont Historical Society’s collections.
Side-to-Side
GMC separately recognizes hikers completing all 88 blue-blazed Long Trail side trails.
Jay Peak Means the Canadian Border Is Finally Close.
The northern trail remains rugged almost to the end. Jay is one of the final major mountain landmarks before the Long Trail reaches the international boundary and hikers leave the route by the Journey’s End approach.
Jay Peak · Wikimedia CommonsThe Long Trail Inside the Triple Crown Cluster.
The Long Trail is the historical ancestor of American long-distance hiking and a natural bridge between shorter backpacking trips and the three season-long Triple Crown trails.
Three Guides to Prepare for Vermont Terrain.
Weather, navigation and physical durability matter more when 272 miles of roots, wet rock and climbing are stacked together.
Use Green Mountain Club’s Current Long Trail Resources.
Trail work, shelters, bridges, mud closures and bear activity change. The current guide and trail-alert system should outrank an old itinerary saved months earlier.
Long Trail Vermont FAQ.
The questions that most often determine whether an End-to-End plan actually works.
How long is Vermont’s Long Trail?
The Long Trail is 272 miles from the Massachusetts–Vermont state line to the Canadian border along the spine of Vermont’s Green Mountains.
How many days does it take to thru-hike the Long Trail?
Green Mountain Club says End-to-End thru-hikers typically take 21–25 days. Faster and slower hikes are possible, but the rugged northern half often limits daily mileage.
Is the Long Trail the oldest long-distance hiking trail in America?
Yes. James P. Taylor conceived the trail before Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910. Construction occurred from 1910 through 1930, making it the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States.
How much of the Long Trail overlaps the Appalachian Trail?
Green Mountain Club says roughly 100 miles of the southern Long Trail share tread with the Appalachian Trail. The trails separate at Maine Junction in the Killington area.
Do you need a permit to thru-hike the Long Trail?
No. Individual hikers do not need a trail-wide permit to hike the Long Trail. Groups can be subject to different notification or special-use requirements.
Are Long Trail shelters free?
Yes. Green Mountain Club’s Long Trail shelters and designated overnight sites are currently free and communal. Standard sites are first-come, first-served.
How many shelters are on the Long Trail?
Green Mountain Club currently describes 72 free rustic shelters and tent campsites across the Long Trail System, with more than 70 designated overnight options available to backpackers.
Should I hike the Long Trail northbound or southbound?
Northbound is more common. It begins with generally gentler southern terrain before reaching the rougher northern Green Mountains. Southbound starts with the most rugged terrain immediately and can work well for experienced hikers or some late-season schedules.
What is the highest point on the Long Trail?
Mount Mansfield is the highest point on the trail and the highest mountain in Vermont at 4,393 feet according to Vermont state and USGS figures.
Does the Long Trail cross Camel’s Hump?
Yes. The Long Trail crosses Camel’s Hump at 4,083 feet as part of its central Vermont route.
What is the best time to hike the Long Trail?
The normal hiking season runs from around Memorial Day into October. July through September generally provides the most practical continuous-thru-hiking window, while spring mud season should be avoided on vulnerable high-elevation trails.
What is Vermont mud season?
Mud season occurs as snow melts and saturated trails become especially vulnerable to erosion. It typically runs from late March or early April into late May, although exact timing changes each year.
Where do Long Trail hikers resupply?
Green Mountain Club identifies Bennington, Manchester, Killington/Rutland, Waitsfield, Waterbury, Stowe and Johnson among the common resupply areas used by End-to-End hikers.
How much food do Long Trail hikers normally carry?
Green Mountain Club says many hikers carry roughly three to five days of food between resupplies.
Do you need a bear canister on the Long Trail?
Proper bear-safe food storage is mandatory on Green Mountain National Forest land. GMC recommends a bear canister as the simplest and most secure personal method and provides free loaner canisters on a first-come basis.
Is the Long Trail difficult?
Yes. The distance is relatively short by thru-hiking standards, but the trail is famous for roots, rock, mud, steep grades and slow terrain, especially north of the Appalachian Trail split.
Can you section hike the Long Trail?
Yes. Green Mountain Club recognizes both continuous thru-hikers and hikers who complete the 272 miles in sections as official Long Trail End-to-Enders.
What is an End-to-Ender?
An End-to-Ender is a hiker who has completed all 272 miles of the Long Trail. More than 7,000 people have received official Green Mountain Club End-to-End certification.
Do Not Let 272 Miles Fool You.
The Long Trail is short enough to fit into three or four weeks, free of a competitive thru-hike permit and supported by one of America’s great shelter networks. Its challenge is the ground beneath your feet: wet rock, roots, mud, steep repeated climbing and a northern half that becomes harder just as fatigue accumulates. Start conservatively, carry independent shelter and food storage, protect the trail during mud season and leave extra time for Vermont’s hardest miles.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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