Celebrate Long Trail Day with us! Our annual community fundraiser, which benefits the long-term protection of the Long Trail, culminates in a hiking celebration on Saturday, September 10.
How does it work?
Long Trail Day is a chance to raise money to support the work that goes into caring for the Long Trail, and we truly can’t do it without you. Raise $272 — that’s $1 for every mile of Vermont’s iconic footpath — by telling family and friends why you love the Long Trail and gaining support. Together, we aim to raise $40,000 for the long-term care of the trails.
Then…
We’ll celebrate our collective effort with hikes and trail magic around the state on September 10. Join GMC staff and volunteers for the hiking celebration. See more details below!
Long Trail Day Happenings
Around Burlington
Hike #1: Meet Burlington Section volunteers at the Stevensville Trailhead in Underhill for 10 AM for an out-and-back hike to Butler Lodge. This is a moderate, 4.2-mile hike with a 1,600′ elevation gain. Contact David Hathaway to RSVP.
Hike #2: Meet the Burlington Section at Underhill State Park at noon to hike to Cantilever Rock. They’ll take the the Sunset Ridge Trail to the spur trail for a leisurely, 4-mile hike with a 1,200′ elevation gain. Contact Nancy McClellan to RSVP.
Can’t hike? Support the Burlington Section’s fundraising team with a donation, or visit its information tables at the Stephensville parking area and Underhill State Park.
Around Middlebury
Help the BreadLoaf Section hike the entire section it maintains in a day by participating in one of the following four hikes. Then, join the section leaders and participants for a post-hike drinks. Details below.
Hike #1: Join the BreadLoaf Section from the Sucker Brook Trail to Middlebury Gap. This ~5.5-mile hike up and over Worth Mountain will start mid-morning and continue at a moderate pace. Contact Ruth Penfield for details.
Hike #2: Join BreadLoaf Section volunteers for a strenuous, 11-mile hike from Emily Proctor to Middlebury Gap. The hike will leave early morning from the Emily Proctor Trailhead to Rte. 125 at Middlebury Gap. Contact Ellen Cronan.
Hike #3: Join BreadLoaf volunteers for a moderately challenging, 5.6-mile hike from Burnt Hill Trail to Middlebury Gap. The hike will start at the Burnt Hill Trailhead in the late morning; depending on time and participation, this can include an out-and-back to Boyce Shelter and/or Silent Cliff. Contact Beth Eliason for more info.
Hike #4: Try the BreadLoaf Section Challenge, a strenuous, faster-pace hike of the whole BreadLoaf Section (from the Emily Proctor Trailhead to Sucker Brook, ~17 miles). The hike will start at the Emily Proctor Trailhead around 6 AM. Contact David Morrissey for more info.
Après-Hike: Join volunteers, hike participants, and BreadLoaf Section supporters for a post-hike celebration at Drop-In Brewing in Middlebury, 4-6 PM. Whether you hiked or not, all are welcome.
Want to support the BreadLoaf Section’s Long Trail Day fundraiser? Donate to the BreadLoaf Loafers fundraising page.
Around the Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom Section will lead a hike up the Long Trail from Rt 105 to the Canadian border, then follow the Journey’s End Trail to the trailhead. It’s a four-mile hike with one summit ascent — and everyone’s invited! Can’t make it? Support the NEK Section’s fundraiser. Email [email protected] for more details.
Around Stowe
Join club staff and volunteers for trail magic at the Barnes Camp Visitor Center, 9 AM- 1 PM. Hikes will kick off at 10 AM around the area. Register ahead.
- Mount Mansfield Ridgeline Alpine Zone Tour with state botanist, Bob Popp
- Taylor Lodge Hike with Maggie Twitchell, founder of Backpacking for Slowpokes
- Sterling Pond Trail with Meg Thibeault, founder of Queer Hikes
- Mount Mansfield Summit via the Long Trail South with Fastest Known Time Record Holder, Liz Derstine
Around Bennington
Support the Bennington Section’s fundraiser for the Long Trail by hiking between Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 11. An anonymous donor will give $1 for each mile walked during that week!
Search hike suggestions in the Bennington area, then log your miles through this form for the gifted donation.
Around Montgomery
The Northern Frontier Section will host trail magic at Jay Pass, located on Rte. 242, 9 AM – 3 PM. Head that way to connect with the hiking community, learn more about GMC, and receive snacks, drinks, and GMC swag.
Can’t make it? Donate to the Northern Frontier’s fundraiser for the Long Trail.
Around Killington
The Killington Section will host a “Snack Station” at the Rt. 140 trailhead parking lot. Stop by for hot dogs, cold drinks, chips, sweets, and GMC swag.
You can also join the Killington Section for a hike on the Long Trail South to Jungle Junction, returning on the Sherburn Pass. Meet at the US-4 Long Trail/Appalachian Trail trailhead parking at 9:30 AM for this 6.9-mile loop; look for Herb, the hike leader. Participants must have covid-19 vaccinations.
Around Brattleboro
The Brattleboro Section will host an information table at the Brattleboro Farmers Market, 9 AM-2 PM. Stop by to say hello, learn more about the Long Trail, and join the Brattleboro Section.
Around the Appalachian Trail
Join the Upper Valley Ottauquechee (UVO) Section on Monday, September 12 for a Long Trail hike at 10 AM. The volunteer-led group will head north from Middlebury Gap and walk the 0.8 miles (500 ft EL.) to Silent Cliff. There, volunteers will toast longtime UVO leader Ed Janeway and share remembrances. Then folks can either return to the Gap, or hike the LT north to Boyce Shelter then back to the Gap (seven miles; 1,400′ elevation). Contact Tom Kahl to RSVP.
Can’t make the hike? Donate to the UVO Section’s Long Trail fundraiser, established to honor longtime UVO leader Ed Janeway who would’ve celebrated his 90th birthday this year.
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