The Appalachian Gap is a mountain pass in the Green Mountains. The highest point of the pass is located in Chittenden County, about 0.2 miles west of the boundary between Chittenden and Washington County. The pass is in the Camel’s Hump State Park.

On the east side, the Appalachian Gap is drained by Mill Brook, which drains into the Mad River, the Winooski River, and Lake Champlain. To the west, the gap is drained by Beaver Meadow Brook, which drains into the Huntington River, another tributary of the Winooski River. Lake Champlain drains into the Richelieu River in Quebec, thence into the Saint Lawrence River, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

The Long Trail, a 272-mile hiking trail running the length of Vermont, crosses the Appalachian Gap between Stark Mountain to the south, and Baby Stark Mountain to the north. The Gap is a very popular route for tourists and affords excellent views of the Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains. It is also a popular motorcycle and road biking destination. The ride from either side up VT-17 is several miles with sustained pitches of 15% plus. The summit of the Appalachian Gap is the finish point for the annual Green Mountain Stage Race.

Vermont’s Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border. Built between 1910 and 1930, it was the vision of James P. Taylor and later became the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. The Long Trail and Appalachian Trail share 100 miles of trail in the southern part of the state.

On the Long Trail, hikers encounter the best natural features Vermont has to offer, including pristine ponds, alpine sedges, hardwood forests, and swift streams. Known as the “footpath in the wilderness,” it is easy in a few sections and rugged in most. Steep inclines and plenty of mud present hikers with plenty of challenges.

As maintainer and protector of the Long Trail, the Green Mountain Club works in partnership with the Green Mountain National Forest, the State of Vermont, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and private landowners to offer a world-class hiking trail.

The Long Trail is truly the trail for everyone. Each year, hundreds of thru-hikers set out to complete the trail in one go, a journey that has been completed in under 5 days but typically takes multiple weeks. Section hikers tackle the trail in bursts, often completing the Long Trail over the course of many years.

Hikers who hike every mile of the Long Trail, whether in day trips, multi-day sections, or all at once, are called “End-to-Enders” and are eligible to register for inclusion in the GMC’s official records.

Most trail users are day hikers, who enjoy desired destinations as day trips without camping out on the trail.