The 0.9-mile relocation of the Long Trail employs sustainable trail design strategies, permanently protects land, and provides a better hiker experience
Media Contact: Chloe Miller, Communications Manager, Green Mountain Club
, 802-241-8324
For Immediate Release: September 23, 2026
EDEN — The Green Mountain Club (GMC) today announced the opening of a new route of the historic Long Trail on Belvidere Mountain in Eden, showcasing the innovative trail construction and sustainable design practices the club is using to meet the modern challenges facing Vermont’s trails.
Built over the past two years by GMC’s professional trail crews and volunteers, the 0.9-mile relocation replaces a steep, heavily eroded section of trail north of Route 118 with a new route thoughtfully designed to withstand erosion and provide a more enjoyable experience for hikers. The new route opened to the public on September 4.
Large-scale trail relocations like this one require careful coordination of private and public land boundaries, bear and bat habitat, permitting, challenging terrain, and construction logistics. Crews combined mechanized equipment with labor-intensive hand construction, including incorporating the use of a mini excavator to cut the new route. This equipment has the potential to accelerate construction timelines, save money, and reduce the physical demands of trail work on staff, improving our ability to construct sustainable trails in difficult terrain.
“The historic Long Trail is a Vermont treasure, but due to its age, much of it follows steep, unsustainable grades that are increasingly vulnerable to major storms, flooding, or overuse,” said GMC’s Director of Field Programs Keegan Tierney. “The new section of Long Trail north of Route 118 works with the landscape and applies sustainable design guidelines, which will reduce potential for erosion and increase the trail’s longevity.”
The Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 to build the Long Trail across Vermont’s highest ridgelines, and continues to adapt its trail construction and recreational management strategies to meet modern challenges to this day.
The Belvidere trail relocation also moves 0.25 miles of Long Trail from a private landholding to the public Long Trail State Forest, advancing the long-standing goal of permanently protecting the Long Trail corridor. The project was funded by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation; a state Recreation Facilities Grant; and private donations from supporters of the Green Mountain Club.
Hikers can experience the new route of the Long Trail by hiking north from the parking lot on Route 118 in Eden. After about 0.2 miles, the trail bears west onto the new route for about 0.9 miles. Continue another 1.8 miles to reach Belvidere Saddle, then hike east on the Forester’s Trail for 0.2 miles to the Belvidere summit, home to a 70-foot fire tower with sweeping scenic views. The hike is 6.0 miles round trip and is considered difficult. Hike Details and Map.
About the Green Mountain Club: The Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 with the goal to build a long-distance hiking trail that spans the length of Vermont’s mountains, and make the mountains play a larger role in the life of the people. The Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, was completed in 1930. Today, Green Mountain Club staff and volunteers care for roughly 500 miles of trail in Vermont, and take a sustainable approach to trail building and maintenance in the face of climate change impacts and increased year-round use of the trails. We support the hiking community with education and access to enjoy Vermont’s beloved trails.