The Long Trail is a hard hike covering 248.5 miles with an elevation gain of 65,370 feet. It is a point-to-point trail that follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border. Hikers encounter pristine ponds, alpine sedge, hardwood forests, and swift streams. The Long Trail rewards experienced hikers with panoramic views from the ridgeline of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s state highpoint. Known as the “footpath in the wilderness,” it is easy in few sections and rugged in most, with steep inclines and plenty of mud presenting hikers with challenges. Vermont’s Long Trail is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States and was the inspiration for creating the Appalachian Trail.