Long Trail (Section 01): Pine Cobble Road to VT 9

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Although the official tread of Vermont’s Long Trail doesn’t start until the Massachusetts-Vermont state line, this first section of the northeast’s most storied thru-hike begins just outside Williamstown in the north corner of Massachusetts. The trail picks up a significant climb right from the gun, scaling Pine Cobble and then East Mountain before accessing the Appalachian Trail on the approach to the state line.
The official Long Trail continues north/northeast on a remote and rugged path. On this section you’ll cross numerous logging and jeep roads as the trail skirts beaver ponds, power line clearings, and wooded summits in southern Vermont. This section’s steepest pitch comes on the final rock-step descent from Harmon Hill to VT 9.
Shelters: Seth Warner and Congdon Shelter.

-Mapped by Berne Broudy, AuthenticOutdoors.com

MORE LONG TRAIL MAPS
Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5 | Section 6 | Section 7 | Section 8 | Section 9 | Section 10 | Section 11 | Section 12

Trail Facts

• Distance: 26.3

Waypoints

LNG001

Location: 42.7161007, -73.1852766

From the parking lot on Pine Cobble Road, cross the street, and turn left to walk north alongside the pond toward the Pine Cobble Trailhead.

LNG002

Location: 42.7164871, -73.1852956

At the Pine Cobble Trailhead, turn right off the road and walk around the other side of the pond. Shortly ahead, the route heads east up an increasing climbing grade.

LNG003

Location: 42.7220056, -73.1668867

Turn right for a .1-mile detour to the Pine Cobble summit; turn left to continue heading northeast and join the Appalachian Trail.

LNG004

Location: 42.7272775, -73.1610683

At the junction with the Appalachian Trail, continue heading north/northeast.

LNG005

Location: 42.743827, -73.1555051

Cross into Vermont and onto the official Long Trail.

LNG006

Location: 42.7467905, -73.1503532

Continue through stream crossing.

LNG007

Location: 42.7689481, -73.136928

Continue across dirt road; the Seth Warner Shelter is just head. Beyond the shelter, the Long Trail crosses a dirt road again.

LNG008

Location: 42.7912107, -73.1186511

Here the climbing eases at a long power line clearing with a view.

LNG009

Location: 42.8084773, -73.1172209

The trail cuts right, leaving the logging road.

LNG010

Location: 42.82781, -73.1237863

Continue straight across the logging road.

LNG011

Location: 42.8406734, -73.1125689

Continue across jeep road crossing.

LNG012

Location: 42.8480091, -73.1097666

The Long Trail passes the Congdon Shelter. Continuing west on a slight uphill grade, the trail crosses a logging road just ahead.

LNG013

Location: 42.8584928, -73.1301329

Continue north across a poorly marked logging road crossing. The trail crosses the road again in another 100 yards or so.

LNG014

Location: 42.8711672, -73.1324248

From the top of Harmon Hill, the trail descends gradually, then down very steep steps for the last half-mile of section 1.

LNG015

Location: 42.8849514, -73.1154953

Section 1 ends and Section 2 begins at this parking lot on Route 9. A toilet is available here.

Rugged Terrain

Location: 42.726785, -73.161741

Rough terrain is common on the Long Trail.

Pine Cobble Trail

Location: 42.715474, -73.184447

The Official Long Trail Start

Location: 42.744102, -73.155335

Seth Warner Shelter Junction

Location: 42.771208, -73.134524

Beaver Pond

Location: 42.801563, -73.117107

The Long Trail skirts a large beaver pond.

Long Trail Flora

Location: 42.818014, -73.122417

Harmon Hill

Location: 42.8711207, -73.1317377