Long Trail

The oldest long-distance trail in America, Vermont's Long Trail runs 272 miles up the spine of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts line to the Canadian border, inspiring the Appalachian Trail that it predates.

A thru-hike takes most walkers three to four weeks and climbs around 65,000 feet cumulatively over rugged, root-laced terrain, crossing high points such as Mount Mansfield and Camel's Hump. The southern hundred miles are shared with the Appalachian Trail before it branches east.

Practical detail: no permit is required, and a network of shelters and lodges maintained by the Green Mountain Club spaces out the route, though some charge a small caretaker fee. The famously muddy tread makes spring mud season a poor and discouraged time to hike.

July through September offers the firmest footing and warmest weather, with September adding early foliage color; the high summits can turn wintry by October. Built between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail remains a proving ground for Northeastern backpackers and a model for footpaths elsewhere.