Haystack Mountain is a prominent peak in the Green Mountains of Vermont. It has an elevation of 3,445 feet and is part of the Haystack Mountain Ski Area, which offers downhill skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Haystack Mountain is also a popular destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. The mountain has a distinctive shape that resembles a haystack, hence its name. The summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and hills, as well as the nearby Mount Snow and Stratton Mountain.

The Long Trail passes Haystack Mountain but does not cross the summit.

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.

The trail is marked with blue blazes and follows a gated road on a steady moderate incline to Binney Brook ravine. Turning southwest (left) at about 0.5 miles on the Deerfield Ridge trail, the trail then begins to steeply climb to the southern ridge of Haystack Mountain. The trail makes a few turns leading through different forest types until reaching the Haystack summit trail junction at 1.7 miles. Turn right and follow the blue blazes steadily uphill again, making a few more turns until the trail reaches the summit. From the rock outcropping near the summit, you can see Mount Snow to the north, Harriman Reservoir to the south, and an eastern view down to Haystack Pond and into the Deerfield Valley. On a clear day, you can see Mount Monadnock in southern New Hampshire. This area is the watershed for the local drinking water supply of area towns. Please practice Leave No Trace ethics, such as traveling on durable surfaces and disposing of waste properly.