RidgeSyncCliff Trail and Long Trail Loop
Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop is a 3.5-mile loop in Stowe & Mount Mansfield, Vermont, climbing 1,690 ft to a high point of 4,378 ft. It's rated hard, and most hikers need about 2.5 hours of moving time.
Every number on this page is computed from the trail-snapped route geometry and a real elevation profile, not estimated from a map. You can open the full route in RidgeSync to see the elevation profile against your own pace, add camps, and build it into a multi-day trip.
At 483 ft of gain per mile, this is steeper than the typical hike in Stowe & Mount Mansfield, which averages 238 ft per mile.
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Plan this routeHow hard is Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop?
Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop climbs 1,690 ft across 3.5 miles, averaging 483 ft of gain per mile — steep enough to be a workout in the classic New England style. It runs as a loop, so the return leg covers new ground rather than retracing the climb.
RidgeSync estimates moving time from the trail-snapped geometry and the real elevation profile rather than a flat miles-per-hour figure, which is why the estimate below is usually slower than a generic hiking calculator on steep New England tread.
Trailhead, parking and water
The route starts from a mapped parking area. Trailhead lots here are small — often a dozen cars or fewer — and the popular ones fill by 9am on summer weekends and through foliage season. An early start is a parking strategy as much as a weather one.
No mapped water sources sit within 0.75 mi of this route, so carry what you need for the full distance — generally two liters for a half day, and more in summer heat.
What you'll see
The route tops out at Adams Apple at 4,378 ft. Summits vary more than elevation suggests — some are open ledge with a full ridge view, others are wooded with a fire tower doing the work — so check what the top actually offers before counting on a view.
The route follows the Long Trail for its main stretch.
When to go
The high point sits at 4,378 ft, which puts the upper section above treeline. Stay on rock and marked tread near the summit: the arctic-alpine plants up here survive in a few acres statewide and don't recover from being walked on.
Green Mountain Club and Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation ask hikers to stay off trails above 2,500 ft during mud season, roughly mid-April through Memorial Day. This route tops out at 4,378 ft, so it falls squarely under that request — a request rather than a closure, and widely respected. The tread is genuinely fragile when saturated, and this is the easiest way to damage a trail.
Late September through mid-October is the best window here: firm trail, no bugs, and the clearest air of the year. The dependable season runs late June through mid-October. Winter turns the steeper pitches into a traction problem — microspikes are the minimum, and north-facing sections hold ice well into spring.
Regulations and Leave No Trace
- Vermont asks hikers to stay off trails above 2,500 ft during mud season (roughly mid-April to Memorial Day) — this is a request, not a closure, and it is widely respected
- Dispersed camping on state land is generally legal below 2,500 ft, at least 200 ft from water and trails; the Green Mountain National Forest has its own rules and some areas are posted
- Campfires are prohibited at many Long Trail and Appalachian Trail sites — carry a stove and check the site before planning around a fire
- Dogs are allowed on most Vermont trails but must be under control; some summits with fragile alpine vegetation ask that dogs stay leashed
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper — Vermont soil is thin and slow to break anything down
Frequently asked questions
How long does Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop take?
Most hikers take about 2.5 hours of moving time for the full 3.5 miles, before breaks. Add an hour or more if you're stopping for lunch at the top or hiking with a group at mixed paces.
How hard is Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop?
It's rated hard: 3.5 miles with 1,690 ft of elevation gain, or about 483 ft per mile.
How long is Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop?
3.5 miles as a loop.
How high is Adams Apple?
The high point of this route is 4,378 ft. That puts it above the 2,500 ft line where hikers are asked to stay off trails during mud season, roughly mid-April through Memorial Day.
Is there water on Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop?
No mapped water sources sit within 0.75 mi of this route, so carry everything you'll need.
When is the best time to hike Cliff Trail and Long Trail Loop?
Late June through mid-October is the reliable window, with late September through mid-October usually the best of it. Avoid mud season, roughly mid-April through Memorial Day, when trails above 2,500 ft are fragile.
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Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation from USGS 3DEP / SRTM via AWS Terrain Tiles. Distances and elevation are computed from the route geometry, last rebuilt 2026-07-24.