Hiking in Groups

Not all overnight sites on the Long Trail System can accommodate groups. Groups should always plan to tent and leave shelter space for individual hikers (except at Taft Lodge, as tenting is prohibited, and the lodge is big enough for groups.) A full list of sites with group tenting space is available on the Group Notification Calendar.

We also recommend using established front country campgrounds hosted by the Green Mountain National Forest or Vermont State Parks as a home base and taking day trips from there.  

GMC does its best to manage group use on the trail. By notifying us of your group’s itinerary, we can offer resources and advice, and determine group use is spread out along the trail. We use a group use calendar system to ensure no single overnight site is overcrowded with groups. Certain times of year, such as back-to-school and college orientation weeks, see heightened group use. 

Use the Group Notification System and get in touch with us at or (802) 244-7037.

Permit requirements differ depending on whether you are hiking in the Green Mountain National Forest or on VT state land. If you will be hiking between the Massachusetts border and Mt. Ellen (except Cooper Lodge), or between Route 4 and the New Hampshire border on the Appalachian Trail, you will be in the Green Mountain National Forest. If you will be hiking between Mt. Ellen and the Canadian border, or staying at Cooper Lodge, you will be on VT state land. Permits allow both agencies to be sure that the land is seeing intended use and to provide educational resources for your group. For both agencies, please submit your permit application at least 30 days prior to the start of your trip.

You will need a permit from the Green Mountain National Forest if any of the below apply to your trip:

• Charging more than the cost of basic trip expenses (i.e. food, travel, etc).
• Paying the trip leaders (includes trip leaders that are doing the trip as part of their normal salaries such as teachers, camp counselors, or non-profits).
• Providing equipment for a fee as part of the trip.
• Collecting plants, animals, historical artifacts, or other items.
• The trip is for a commercial endeavor (photo shoot, movie filming, etc).
• You have more than 75 people in your group.
• You do not need a GMNF permit if you are covering basic costs and are entirely volunteer (such as a scout troop). Permits are required regardless of trip length.

Green Mountain National Forest Special Use Permits

You will need a permit from VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation if any of the below apply to your trip:

• The group is organized and/or publicized (regardless of if fees are being charged or not).
• The group is larger than 10 people.
• It’s an activity or event where a fee is being charged.
• Trip leaders are being paid (just like for the GMNF) or gear is being rented at a fee.
• You will be collecting plants, animals, historical artifacts, or other items.

You may still need a Vermont state permit even if you are just covering the basic cost of the trip (like a scout troop); however, the office may be able to waive the application fee. For help, you can contact the District Office of the area that you will be hiking in.

Vermont State Parks Special Use Permit

GMC would love to connect with your group to identify ways to give back to the Long Trail and volunteer to support trail and shelter maintenance and construction projects. We work with schools, scouts, church groups, businesses, and youth corps. The Green Mountain Club Service Learning program will work with you to identify trail projects that are a good fit for your group and that will accomplish mutual goals of improving the Long Trail while having fun in the woods. If you have a specific project you’d like to work on, please share and we’ll work together to plan and schedule.

Interested in hiking, but don’t want to go alone? Many organized groups for kids and adults exist. GMC’s regional, volunteer-run sections organize frequent outings. Learn more about sections here. For college and high school students, see if your school has an outing club. For kids, look at camps, scouts, or other local organizations.