Long Trail Day, the Green Mountain Club’s annual fundraiser and hike-a-thon for the trails, is on Saturday, September 19! On this unofficial club holiday, we’ll celebrate hiking in Vermont and the pinnacle of our summer-long fundraising efforts with group hikes, trail magic, and trail work parties up and down the Long Trail and with a few post-hike celebrations at local supporting businesses.
Show your love and support for the trails by making a gift to Long Trail Day and join us for a hike or celebration on Saturday, September 19.
From south to north, find and join a celebration near you:
Rutland and Killington — Killington Section
Volunteers from the Killington Section will be at the Rte 103 Long Trail Crossing Rt with trail magic, hiking information, snacks, stickers, and a donation jar for those interested in supporting Long Trail Day.
Addison County — Bread Loaf Section
Volunteers from the Bread Loaf Section will be leading 3 hikes near Bristol and Middlebury of varying length and difficulty. Continue the celebration with post-hike food, beverages, and cheer at at Hogback Mountain Brewing in Bristol from 4-7 p.m.
- Emily Proctor & Cooley Glen Loop, Lincoln – 13 miles. Strenuous hike connecting the Emily Proctor Trail and Cooley Glen Trail via the Long Trail.Thehike climbs over Mts Roosevelt and Wilson, Elevation gain is more than 2,000 feet. Early start is planned. Contact Ellen Cronan at (908) 595-2926
- Sunset Ledge and Mt. Grant, Lincoln/Ripton – 8 miles. Moderate out and back 8-mile hike to great western views at Sunset ledge and then on to the Bread Loaf wilderness and Mt. Grant in the Vermont Presidential range. Elevation gain is about 1,200 feet. Contact Ken Corey at (802) 349-3733 or .
- Deer Leap, Bristol – 3.5 miles. This afternoon hike is about 3.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet. First stop is at Deer Leap with beautiful views. On the way back we will stop at the ledges with views of Bristol and beyond. Please contact Ruth Penfield at for details, including start time, meeting location to register.
Chittenden County — Burlington Section
Volunteer from the Burlington Section will be tabling in Underhill with hiking information and trail magic at both the Underhill State Park and Stevenville Trailheads.
From the Stevensville trailhead, one group hike with go up the Butler Lodge Trail to its namesake and return. Moderate to difficult Hike. Moderate pace. 4.2 miles. 1600′ elevation gain. Group limit 10. Contact leader by 9/17. David Hathaway, or 802-899-9982 (landline, no texts).
Stowe Area — GMC Staff
Staff members from the Green Mountain Club will be at the Barnes Camp Visitor Center at the base of Smugglers’ Notch in Stowe celebrating Long Trail Day from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join us for hike recommendations, snacks, stickers, and general Long Trail Day fun! A guided hike up the Sterling Pond Trail will leave in the afternoon after meeting at Barnes Camp. Exact hike time TBD.
At the GMC Visitor Center on Route 100 in Waterbury Center, staff will be leading a free Hiking 101 workshop from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.. Learn the basics of planning and enjoying a day hike on Vermont’s hiking trails. Then join a guided hike on the 0.7-mile Short Trail on the GMC grounds.
Another guided Short Trail hike will depart the Visitor Center at 2 p.m. Discover historical and geographical features of what you will see on Vermont’s trails, learn more about the Green Mountain Club, and discover more day hike options around the state. Perfect for families, first time hikers, and anyone wanting to spend some time on the trails.
Morrisville — Sterling Section
Give back to the trails by joing a volunteer trail work day with the Sterling Section near the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Use downed logs to frame a turnpike trail, then fill it with crushed rock to create a dry, durable hiking surface. It’s a five-mile hike to the work site, climbing gently up the Beaver Meadow Trail, then more steeply up Whiteface Trail, then even more steeply on the LT up and over the summit. We’ll be carrying (large!) logs through the woods, turning large rocks into small rocks, and generally getting muddy, sweaty, and tired before hiking the five miles back down at the end of the day.
Meet at the Beaver Meadow trailhead at 8 a.m. and plan to be back at the cars by 5 p.m. Contact Kevin Hudnell at with any questions or to RSVP!
Northeast Kingdom — Northeast Kingdom Section
The NEK Section will pick up where they left off last year hiking southbound on the Long Trail to celebrate. This year, the group hike will tackle the 8-mile section from the Frank Post Trailhead to Tillotson Camp, then south to Rte 118 with a break at the summit of Belvidere. RSVP to hike leader John Predom at . Carpooling is encouraged, as trailhead parking is limited. Hike starts at 9 a.m. Bring layers, waterproof shell, food, hydration, and headlamp.
Jay Peak — Northern Frontier Section
Volunteers from the Northern Frontier Section will be Jay Pass (Rte 242) with hiking information and trail magic from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Other hikes:
- Join the Montpelier Section for a group hike on Saturday, September 26 up Belvidere Mountain in Eden starting at the Rte 118 parking lot and trail crossing at 9 a.m.
- Join the Upper Valley Ottauquechee Section (UVO) for a point-to-point hike on the Vermont Appalachian Trail on Friday, September 25. The hike will go from Cloudland Road to Stage Road in Pomfret, VT. Enjoy splendid views on DuPuis Hill (1730 feet); see the Machu Picchu of central Vermont. 4.0 miles, moderate. Car spot needed. RSVP to hike leader Debbie Marcus: 978-578-4198 or .
Can’t hike as part of Long Trail Day this year? You can make a gift to help reach our $80,000 fundraising goal – our most ambitious Long Trail Day goal yet! No matter how much you’re able to give, Long Trail Day is for everyone, and we hope you join us. See you on the trails!
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