No one has ever claimed that hiking the Long Trail was easy. However, now it may be a little easier in one section. After more than 100 years in the works, a bridge was finally built over the Winooski River. Now hikers on this section of the Long Trail will have a safe place to cross the over the river heading north and spend more time in nature. Whether you're like most of us and trek the trail in short bits or you're a hard core "end-to-ender" who makes the trip all at once, this bridge hike in VT is worth checking out for yourself.
In 2015, the Green Mountain Club opened a suspension bridge as part of the Winooski Valley Long Trail relocation.
This 224-foot long bridge in Bolton saves hikers from an added detour. It goes from Camels Hump State Forest to the Jonesville Bridge and back onto the Long Trail.
In 1912, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill approving the bridge over the Winooski River.
In fact, in 1913 $500 was allocated for the project, but it was never built.
Since then the only option for hikers was to walk roads for an extra 3 miles before getting back on the trail.
The Green Mountain Club was the original founder of the Long Trail system and still maintains it today.
The club has raised more than $2 million for the project. This was combined with more than $500,000 in state funding used for land conservation and trail work for the bridge project.
Along with the long awaited suspension bridge, the Winooski Valley long Trail relocation includes 300 acres of land acquisition as well as 6 miles of new trails.
For avid Long Trail hikers, this bridge makes the trek a lot more enjoyable.
Check out this great video by by Doug Smith of Bolton. This stunning footage was shot in January of 2017.
This bridge hike in VT is one of the many places you can go to discover the beauty of the Green Mountain State. Here are 12 more places in Vermont that will bring out the explorer in you.
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