Taft Lodge is a historic shelter located on the Long Trail. It was built in 1920 by the Green Mountain Club and named after former president William Howard Taft, who was an honorary member of the club. The lodge is one of the oldest and largest shelters on the trail and can accommodate up to 24 hikers. It is situated at an elevation of 3,650 feet, near the summit of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont. The lodge offers views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and is a popular destination for hikers, skiers, and snowshoers. The lodge is open year-round but requires a reservation and a fee during the peak season. The lodge is maintained by volunteers and caretakers, who provide firewood, water, and composting toilets.

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.