Long Trail (Section 08): Cooley Glen to Birch Glen

Starting from the Cooley Glen shelter, this 15.5-mile chunk of the Long Trail (only accessible by car at the Lincoln and Appalachian Gap midpoints), challenges hikers with rugged terrain but rewards with an epic Green Mountain experience. After a short climb to Mount Grant, take a pause to enjoy southward views across the Breadloaf Wilderness. Pick up a steady descent towards Lincoln Gap; 3.6 miles in, stop for a breather at the Sunset Ledge (which offers views to the west).
After crossing Lincoln Gap, hunker down for a steep 1.7-mile, 1,700-foot climb to the above-treeline summit of Mount Abraham; the final push to the top requires steep scrambling of rock slab (that can be very slick when wet). Heading north from “Abe,” use care to stay on trail so as to preserve sensitive alpine plants. Tracking along the ridgeline north, the LT skirts classic Vermont ski areas Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. Take a breather at the Stark’s Nest warming hut atop Mad River to enjoy the view (and the restored single chairlift). After a steep descent to Appalachian (“App”) Gap, the LT makes a final push up Molly Stark Mountain before descending to Birch Glen Camp.

Shelters: Cooley Glen, Battell, Glen Ellen, Theron Dean, Birch Glen

-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: 25.0

Waypoints

LNG101

Location: 44.049785, -72.91375

Section 8 starts from the Cooley Glen shelter and begins an immediate .8 mi, 500-foot ascent of Mt. Grant.

LNG102

Location: 44.052002, -72.92583

Mt. Grant: A summit overlook offers views south of the Breadloaf Wilderness. Continue on the LT heading north on the descent down to Lincoln Gap.

LNG103

Location: 44.087924, -72.927611

About a mile before Lincoln Gap, keep an eye out for the Sunset Ledge overlook (which offers broad views to the west).

LNG104

Location: 44.094921, -72.928287

Use caution crossing Lincoln Gap: ahead the LT begins a 1.7-mile, 1,600-foot climb of Mount Abraham.

LNG106

Location: 44.120409, -72.936237

Mount Abraham: Enjoy 360-degree, top-of-the-world views from one of the LT’s best overlooks. A stonewall offers relief from wind if necessary. Continuing across the top of the ridge to Lincoln Peak, use caution to stay on trail in this above-treeline, alpine plant environment.

LNG105

Location: 44.111785, -72.936855

About 750 feet below the Mt. Abraham summit, the LT passes the Battell Shelter. Ahead, the trail begins its approach to “Mt. Abe.” Expect some steep ledge scrambles (tough in wet weather).

LNG107

Location: 44.12709, -72.928705

Arrive at the Lincoln Peak summit above the Sugarbush Ski Resort. The LT continues north along the ridgeline .

LNG108

Location: 44.160188, -72.928859

At the top of Mt. Ellen, the LT pops out onto Suguarbush ski slopes, heads left for 150 feet left and re-enters the woods at an unmarked cairn.

LNG109

Location: 44.179594, -72.930233

Passing the junction with the Jerusalem Trail, the LT continues up the ridgeline towards Stark Mountain. Just ahead the LT meets a junction downhill to the Glen Ellen Lodge.

LNG110

Location: 44.19159, -72.93097

The LT pops out onto Mad River ski slopes, turn lefts, cross under single chair. Here the trail passes Stark’s Nest, a warming hut for skiers where camping is allowed. There is an outhouse, but no easily accessible water, but the hut is often stocked with water by the ski patrol. Continue northwest down a steep descent to the Theron Dean shelter.

LNG111

Location: 44.198441, -72.935509

Here the LT passes the Theron Dean shelter. From here the route picks up a steep descent to Appalachian Gap.

LNG112

Location: 44.211249, -72.931457

The LT crosses VT-17 at Appalachian (App) Gap. The LT continues north just down the road at waypoint 113.

LNG113

Location: 44.210895, -72.930663

The LT re-enters the woods and begins a steep climb up a two-tiered climb up Baby Stark and Molly Stark Mountain. This climb is one of the steepest, stretches on the LT. Ahead, the LT passes a junction with the Overlook Trail.

LNG114

Location: 44.225213, -72.925401

Just past the summit of Molly Stark Mountain, reach Molly Stark’s Balcony, an overlook that offers great views of Camel’s Hump to the north/northeast. From here it’s a short descent to Birch Glen Camp, the end of section 8.

LNG115

Location: 44.23659, -72.930078

Section 8 ends at Birch Glen Camp.

Stark’s Nest

Location: 44.19159, -72.931108

Sugarbush Signs

Location: 44.140919, -72.927461

Ski Trail Trail

Location: 44.141674, -72.927525

The LT cuts through the upper reaches of Sugarbush

Mad River Glen’s Single Chair

Location: 44.191621, -72.930851

The Realm of the Hump

Location: 44.211215, -72.931339