The Long Trail's last key easement moves hikers into the woods
After more than 30 years of talks, the Green Mountain Club secured the last easement it needed to move about 3 miles of the Long Trail off West Settlement Road and onto Dry Ridge. More than 98% of the trail is now protected.
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The Green Mountain Club has the last easement it needed to take roughly 3 miles of the Long Trail in Lamoille County off a road and into the woods, Vermont Public reported. The talks with landowners took more than 30 years. Hikers in Johnson now walk about half a mile on West Settlement Road. The new route will follow a feature called Dry Ridge and skip that pavement.
The easement also means more than 98% of the Long Trail is legally protected. About 4 miles, on 13 properties, still lack that status. Separately, hikers on Belvidere Mountain in Eden are already using a rebuilt stretch north of Route 118, where the old line followed a steep, eroding logging road below a fire tower.
For the classroom
The Long Trail runs the length of Vermont. Near Johnson, hikers still have to walk about half a mile on West Settlement Road. The Green Mountain Club spent more than 30 years talking with landowners. It now has the last easement it needed to move about 3 miles of the trail off that road and through the woods on a ridge called Dry Ridge. An easement is a legal promise that the path can stay there. More than 98% of the Long Trail is now protected. About 4 miles, crossing 13 properties, still do not have that legal protection.
- Why is a path through the woods safer for hikers than a walk on a road?
- What is a landowner giving up when they let a trail cross their land?
- Why would a club keep asking for 30 years instead of giving up?
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