Managing and Maintaining 500 Miles of Hiking Trails in Vermont
The Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 with one goal: to build a long-distance hiking trail that spans the length of Vermont’s mountains. The first of its kind, the Long Trail was built as a “footpath in the wilderness” for hikers to experience Vermont’s natural beauty. The trail later served as the inspiration for the creation of the Appalachian Trail.
Over the years, the Green Mountain Club has evolved as an organization to manage and maintain more than just the Long Trail. We have staff and volunteers that care for roughly 500 miles of trail in Vermont, including the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, the Long Trail and its side trails.
Working on the trails is a dynamic process as we adapt to changes in use and the climate and the resulting impacts to the trail and the hiking season. GMC’s programs have the hiker in mind; both to maintain the trails and shelters and to support the hiking community by investing in resources for all to enjoy Vermont’s hiking trails.
Trail Work
Trail work at the Green Mountain Club began in 1910 when volunteers joined together to build the Long Trail. Today, professional trail crews, seasoned volunteers, and partner organizations use modern sustainable trail building techniques to manage over 500 miles of trail and backcountry shelters and privies. Trail building and maintenance has evolved in the 100+ years since the Long Trail was built, and our trail program has evolved with it.
Professional trail crews conduct technical, highly skilled trail work projects and maintain the 70 backcountry overnight sites and facilities.
Individuals and group volunteers adopt portions of the trail for annual maintenance, and assist GMC’s professional crews on larger projects.
Sustainable backcountry waste management is a critical piece of the work we do. This involves managing the composting process at 75 backcountry privies for the health and comfort of hikers and the protection of the local ecosystem.
Land Conservation and Stewardship
Successful trail management involves caring for the land on and around the trail. Since 1986, GMC has been working to secure the entire route of the Long Trail and the forested landscape it traverses, so that it can remain open for public access. Today 98% of the LT is protected and GMC remains committed to conserving the last 4.5 miles through acquiring ownership or easements. As we consider the future of Long Trail protection, we are integrating a strategic approach to conserving side trails that access the Long Trail and other lands we manage.
Once land is conserved, our stewardship work begins. This involves working with partner agencies and organizations on how land should be managed, in some cases for multiple uses, all while maintaining the natural hiking experience and ensuring the health of the forested landscape. A critical component of this work is monitoring the conserved lands to ensure legal protections are upheld and boundary lines are well marked.
Hiker Education
Your experience is important to us. Whether you are planning a thru-hike of the Long Trail or a one-hour walk, we can help you prepare for a successful trip. Our visitor center staff are a knowledgeable resource that help you in person and online through our three Visitor Centers: the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Visitor Center in Waterbury Center, Barnes Camp in Stowe, and the Mount Mansfield Visitor Center at the top of the Stowe Toll Road. Our education staff provide free or low-cost workshops and programs to build your outdoor experience level and increase your knowledge of the outdoors.
The most popular summits, ponds, and overnight sites on the Long Trail are staffed with caretakers and volunteers knowledgeable about the surrounding area and sustainable hiking practices. This includes how to best protect some of the endangered alpine plants, where you can camp, and where the best water sources are.
Building an Inclusive Hiking Community
We know that enjoying the outdoors is important to everyone for different reasons, and all trail users deserve to feel at home and comfortable in the woods. We strive to foster a robust, inclusive hiking community and build strong connections to Vermont’s natural landscape.
GMC is a membership organization, with 9,500 members from Vermont and beyond who support the club’s operations and trail work.
The club’s 14 regional sections offer guided hikes and other outings. Each section maintains a portion of the trail and leads regular work trips and trainings to foster an active and capable volunteer corps.
GMC staff, members, volunteers, and partners provide educational workshops and inspiring speaker series, social opportunities, hiking advice, trail magic, and outings that cultivate a spirit of volunteerism and love for the outdoors.
