What makes Clarendon Gorge and waterfall unique is the suspension “monkey” bridge. The 30-foot-long bridge crosses directly above the Clarendon Gorge which, is also a popular swimming hole with deep pools for lightweight “cliff diving”. There are many hiking and camping paths after you cross the bridge. The Clarendon Gorge and the Appalachian Trail or “Long Trail” cross paths here. The Long Trail travels from Southern Georgia to Canada.

The trail used to access the gorge is the combined Appalachian Trail/Long Trail. From the parking area, walk past the trail billboard and immediately descend into the woods. Follow the white-marked trails for .1 mile and you will reach a suspension bridge over the gorge. From the gorge, you can see all the small cascades and the deep gorge walls. It is possible to scramble down to the base of the gorge to the swimming hole and to hike along the creek.

From the junction of Route 103, take Route 103 west (leave from Hearthside out to Route 103 and turn right). Travel west on Route 103 for 12-13 miles and take a left into the “Appalachian/Long Trail” parking lot immediately after crossing the railroad tracks. Park and take a short walk down to the bridge crossing to access the main Clarendon Gorge. NOTE – even with the railroad tracks as a landmark, this spot is easy to miss! (The “the lower falls” at Clarendon Gorge are accessible by a different parking trailhead)

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.