Little Hans Peak, on the Long Trail and named after a German immigrant who settled in the area in the late 1800s, offers stunning views of the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley. The trail to the summit is about 4.5 miles long and climbs about 2,000 feet in elevation. The hike is moderately difficult and requires some scrambling over rocks and roots. The trail is well-marked and maintained by the Green Mountain Club, which also operates a shelter near the peak. The shelter can accommodate up to 12 people and has a composting toilet and a water source nearby. The shelter is open year-round, but reservations are required in advance. The peak is also accessible by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter, but the trail may be more challenging and less crowded.

There is a fee for staying at the shelter but no fee for hiking on the Long Trail.

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.