How to Plan for the Long Trail

The Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, runs for 270 miles through the state of Vermont. The trail follows the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont border to the Canadian border through lush and often rugged terrain. The Long Trail is popular for thru-hiking as well as weekend and day hiking. Whether you're trying to do the whole trail in one go or would rather do it in sections, hiking the entire Long Trail is a challenging and rewarding experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Backpacking gear
  • Long Trail guide
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Instructions

  1. Forming Your Trip

    • 1

      Decide whether you will be thru-hiking or section hiking the trail. Thru-hiking will take you about 20 to 30 days, depending on your speed. Section hiking will take you as long as you please but will require more trips to Vermont.

    • 2

      Decide if you will hike Northbound (NoBo) or Southbound (Sobo). NoBo is the more popular way to go because the scenery in northern Vermont is grander. However, it is more difficult to hitchhike from the northern terminus of the trail. Some people also prefer to hike SoBo because they like to get the harder parts of the trail out of the way first.

    • 3

      Choose a time of year for your trip. Summer or fall will be your best options. Do not go during mud season, which runs from late March through Memorial Day. The height of summer can get very hot and buggy. Early fall is more temperate and less buggy. If you go after September, you risk cold and snow.

    • 4

      Purchase a Long Trail Guide or Long Trail End to Ender's Guide. Some people bring both guides with them, but only one is really necessary. If you will be thru-hiking the trail, the End to Ender's Guide is probably a good choice.

    • 5

      Look at the Long Trail map and plan roughly where you think you will be each day. This plan will definitely change as you hike, but you should get an idea of how the trail is laid out before you start hiking. Think about any shelters you specifically may want to sleep at along the way and plan around them.

    Preparation

    • 6

      Plan what you will eat on the trail. Hiking food should be as lightweight as possible. Dehydrated foods are good for hiking. Bring a lot of protein-rich foods as well as candy and snacks. Try to bring a wide variety of foods. Remember, you may be hiking for a month. You'll be sick of couscous by the end.

    • 7

      Send yourself re-up packages of food and equipment along the way if you're a thru-hiker. The Long Trail passes through and near several towns with post offices and grocery stores. Make up and address the packages yourself, and have a trusted friend send them at the right time. Two packages plus several town stops should get you through the whole trail.

    • 8

      Make a packing list. Include everything down to how many pairs of underwear you're bringing. Basic necessities you need to think about include: food, cooking equipment, water bottles and purification, clothes, sleeping bag and pad, and miscellaneous items.

    • 9

      Pack your bag. Fitting everything into one bag is probably the hardest part. But remember, you will be carrying all that stuff on your back. If you don't need it, don't bring it. Pack about five days of food and plan to go into town or have a re-up within your first week of hiking. Put heavier objects on the bottom of your bag. Lighter objects and anything you'll want during the day should go near the top.