The Long Trail.

272 miles

3 to 4 weeks

June to mid-Oct

Why hike the Long Trail?

The oldest trail in the USA, it all started with the Long Trail.

• The Green Mountain State - Vermont is home to beautiful mountain ranges and views from Killington Peak, Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield.

• Hike 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail - the Long Trail joins the AT in the southern terminus, up to the Maine junction (near Killington), before you hit the more rugged, mountainous section of the trail in the north.

• Campsites and shelters - one of the few long distance trails to offer a choice of around 70 overnight sites, conveniently dotted along the trail around every 6 to 10 miles - sleep at a tent site, shelter or hut.

• Easy to navigate - marked by white blazes from start to finish, the trail is relatively easy to navigate and well marked.

• Late hiking season, up to mid-October - overseas travellers can avoid flying over the summer peak and save money on international flights.

Trail obstacles.

Vermont has it all, from black flies to bears!

• Black flies and mosquitoes - just what you need right?! The Long Trail is popular with black flies and mosquitoes around mid June to late July.

• Difficult and varied terrain - a difficult hiking trail, expect to encounter mud, snow, roots and rocks on the path - as well as lots of rain.

  • Vermont is often referred to as ‘Vermud’ by AT hikers, due to the mud season that typically occurs April to May. Yep, there’s a mud season.

• Bear encounters - Green Mountain Club has reported increased bear activity on the trail in the past few years, requiring the use of a bear box, bear canister or preparations to hang your food.

The Long Trail map.

Border to border hike through Vermont, the Long Trail offers rugged terrain and is split into six sections with most people opting to hike northbound, from Massachusetts to Canada.

Elevation Profile.

North Terminus:

Vermont/Canada border - Journey’s End Rd

From North Troy, VT

• 10 mile drive to the North Terminus - no public transport available.

South Terminus:

Massachusetts/Vermont state line

From Williamstown, MA:

• 3.5 miles drive from Williamstown to the state border line (catch a taxi or Uber) - followed by a short walk to the trailhead (less than 1 mile).

When is the best time to hike the Long Trail?

The Long Trail can be hiked from June to mid-October, however you may want to take into consideration the following when deciding when to start:

• Black flies - late June to July

• Weather conditions - heat, snow and mud

• Crowds - the trail can be busy early summer

Aim for mid-September to avoid black flies and mosquitoes (although snow may be present at the higher elevations).

Hike northbound or southbound?

The most popular direction is hiking from south to north, as the first 100 miles are the easiest - allowing you to get your trail legs before you reach the more rugged and difficult northern section.

• NOBO (Massachusetts to Canada border) is the most popular direction to hike

How long will it take?

Most hikers take around 3 to 4 weeks, however you may be quicker or slower, dependent on many factors such as:

• Fitness level and total number of miles you want to cover on a daily basis

• Total number of nero days (low number of miles hiked) and zero days (0 miles hiked) you take

• Side trips you may want to take

Do I need a permit?

No permit is required to hike the Long Trail.

One less thing to worry about!

Is public transport available?

Getting to and from the South Terminus is fairly easy as Williamstown is well serviced by public transport.

The North Terminus - not so much! You may have to pay for a shuttle or taxi to reach North Troy.

How is the water availability?

Water availability is good along the trail, due to the large number of rivers and streams that you will encounter.

You will need to be equipped and prepared to filter and/or purify all water collected.

Is the trail busy or quiet?

The first 100 miles will be busy, as you hike alongside Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, becoming more quiet for the last 170 miles.