Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Vermont / Southern Green Mountains

Long Trail: Route 9 to Kelley Stand Road (Glastenbury Mountain)

Long Trail/Appalachian Trail, Glastenbury Wilderness, Green Mountain National Forest (Woodford, Glastenbury, Stratton; VT 9 to Kelley Stand Road)

This is the most remote-feeling stretch of the southern Long Trail. From VT 9 east of Bennington, the trail climbs into the Glastenbury Wilderness and crosses Glastenbury Mountain before dropping to Kelley Stand Road at the foot of Stratton Mountain. New England Waterfalls calls the “awesome & remote summit of Glastenbury Mountain” the highlight of the section.

Hiking Project lists the section at 22.1 miles, with a high point of 3,770 feet and about 4,900 feet of climbing.

The hike

Backpacker’s 2013 guide starts at the VT 9 lot, which has a toilet, crosses City Stream, and climbs steeply up rock steps. SectionHiker’s group, starting in cold rain in May 2008, stopped after just 1.6 miles and about 1,000 feet of climbing at Melville Nauheim Shelter, a short side trail to the right.

Just below Maple Hill, the trail enters the Glastenbury Wilderness. Backpacker notes a swimming hole at Hell Hollow Brook on a hot day, and Hiking Project recommends a detour to Little Pond for its views. The climb continues to Goddard Shelter, just below the summit. Hiking Project mentions excellent views and a piped spring there, and the fire tower, dating to 1927, stands a short way beyond. The tower is closed; see the notice above.

Glastenbury has a history. Wikipedia says six people vanished in the Woodford-Glastenbury area between 1945 and 1950, including Bennington College student Paula Jean Welden in 1946, and Hiking Project notes that the area is called the “Bennington Triangle.”

North of the summit, the trail descends to the side trail for Kid Gore Shelter, which Hiking Project says has valley views and sunrises. Backpacker then lists a power line viewpoint with a bench, two crossings of South Alder Brook, and a long beaver pond. Story Spring Shelter is right on the trail, named for its small spring. SectionHiker describes a large beaver dam beside it.

The trail crosses USFS 71, where Backpacker says a left turn leads to a bad-weather bypass of Stratton Mountain’s exposed summit, then Black Brook, before reaching Kelley Stand Road (also called Stratton-Arlington Road). Wikipedia says hikers can park overnight at the crossing.

The section to the south is Williamstown to Route 9, and the trail continues north over Stratton Mountain to Stratton Pond.

Tips

Camping

The ATC’s summary of Green Mountain National Forest rules says to camp at existing sites or 200 feet from trails and water, cut no live vegetation, and never camp in alpine or subalpine areas (above 2,500 feet or where trees are 8 feet or shorter). On this section’s shelters, the GMC says sites are free, first come, first served, and each has a composting privy. Forest Service wilderness pages give a maximum of two consecutive nights at any shelter.

A 2019 Forest Service order makes food storage mandatory on the national forest: in a bear canister or box, or hung at least 12 feet up and 6 feet out. GMC limits overnight groups to 10.

Inside Intel: A 2008 Views from the Top trip report calls Goddard a “very well-appointed shelter!” and praises Story Spring as a “great water source”; the writers spent the night at Story Spring. Hiking Project mentions Goddard’s views and piped spring, and SectionHiker’s group spent a night at Kid Gore.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Cold rain below Melville Nauheim:

One group started this climb in cold rain and stopped at Melville Nauheim Shelter after 1.6 miles. Our comparison asks whether the Beta SL beats two less expensive shells.

Compare the shells →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.