Goddard Shelter

Goddard Shelter

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Appalachian Trail Shaftsbury, Vermont 05262

Long Trail website

About this Location

Rebuilt in the 2000s, Goddard Shelter, on the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail, is a short walk from the summit of Glastenbury Mountain. When in operation, the beacon on top of Mount Greylock, Massachusetts can be seen from here.

About Glastenbury Mountain

See all hotspots at Glastenbury Mountain

Glastenbury Mountain is a mountain located in the Green Mountain National Forest. The mountain is part of the Green Mountains.

The northeast side of Glastenbury Mountain drains into Deer Lick Brook, thence into the Glastenbury River, the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and into Long Island Sound in Connecticut. The southeast side of Glastenbury Mtn. drains into Deer Cabin Brook, and thence into the Glastenbury River. The southwest end of Glastenbury Mountain drains into Bolles Brook, thence into the Roaring Branch of the Walloomsac River, the Hoosic River, the Hudson River, and into New York Bay in New York. The northwest side of Glastenbury drains into the Fayville Branch of Warm Brook, thence into Batten Kill and the Hudson River.

The Long Trail, a 272-mile hiking trail running the length of Vermont, passes over the summit of Glastenbury Mountain. The summit of the mountain has an observation tower maintained by GMC, which also maintains the shelter three-tenths of a mile south of the summit. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, coincides with this section of the Long Trail.

About Long Trail

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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.

Notable Trails

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Goddard Shelter.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Long Trail website and Wikipedia

Last updated October 5, 2023