I'm contemplating a long hike this summer and I'm hesitating between the Long Trail in Vermont and the Northville-Placid Trail in New York 'a Adirondacks. Has anyone done both and if so which did you prefer?
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I'm contemplating a long hike this summer and I'm hesitating between the Long Trail in Vermont and the Northville-Placid Trail in New York 'a Adirondacks. Has anyone done both and if so which did you prefer?
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They're very different, so it's really a matter of whether you want to walk in the mud mostly in the valleys alongside the river, or in the mud along the ridgetops. No preference, really just a choice. The LT is significantly more demanding physically.
Full disclosure - I've hiked all of the LT more than once, have hiked significant portions of NPT.
These trails are very different. NPT is way easier, a lot shorter.
Long trail is very rocky and often steep in the north, has tons of elevation change. That being said, it's a fantastic trail
Maybe specify how much time you have, if you want a great challenge or a more moderate trail, and what time of year you're going
I have only done about 40% of the NPT, but chat it up with hikers to get an idea when I'm out. Lots of nice lakes on the trail and nice wilderness. It does not go through adirondack high peaks or anything like that (There's other hike for that)
I would personally rather do the LT if I had the choice. If you don't have time for the whole LT, you can do a section, based on the degree of difficulty you want (sections vary a lot in difficulty)
If you like to swim, fish, watch wildlife, ... on an easy trail, NPT.
If you like to scramble rocks, get 360 degree views, sweat on a difficult trail, LT.
I like both, but I had two weeks available, so the last long hike I did was NPT. Not being in hiking fettle, I planned 8-12 mile days on NPT and was surprised to find that 12-15 was more comfortable. NPT is pretty easy. The hardest part is the remoteness.
I've done bits and pieces of the LT. Both are great trails.
I always know where I am. I'm right here.
i've done them both entirely. hands down the LT is everything more that more can be: way more challenging, way more beautiful, for two. The NPT trail is a great intro to the Daks, in my opinion, and mostly serves to make the hiker curious about the high peaks off in the distance. that's what it did for me -- made me want to go hike more interesting stuff... disclaimer -- now i have to go back to hike the high peaks!!!
Lazarus
While lazarus is correct that one can see the high peaks off in the distance, some other gems within the adirondacks are less well known, more obscure, and visited only by those willing to take the challenge. I am speaking of the remote lakes, hidden chasms, undisclosed waterfalls, and shrouded remnants of days gone by.
I did the LT in August 1979, but I've only hiked a few parts of the NPT. If I was healthy and in shape, with decent weather, I'd definitely tick off the LT on my bucket list. Great, great medium-distance trail.
GA←↕→ME: 1973 to 2014
LT seems a lot more interesting than the NP. I'll only have about ten days so I'll probably section hike the north part of the LT. Thanks to all for the info.
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I've done the Long Trail twice and the southern 70 miles of the NPT twice. As others have said, the trails are quite different, especially when it comes to difficulty. The LT is spectacular with the climbs and views from Glastonbury, Stratton, Killington, Abraham, Camels Hump, Mansfield, Jay Peak et. al. But the NPT in less miles, goes past more lakes and ponds, all of which make for wonderful campsites. In addition, the NPT's fall colors are at least as prolific as the LT.
For a July hike, do the LT. If you have a week in late September, do the NPT.
If you decide to hike the NPT, this video from my hike will give you an idea of what it's like in the fall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9-ngBt0PPI
Last edited by Cookerhiker; 01-12-2017 at 22:48.
What's in a name?... trail acronym? Named trails are often just segments of a larger interconnected trail system.
I've thrued the LT twice and NPT once. If you have the time to do the 273 mile LT you have the time to add a foray into the High Peaks area from Duck Hole on the NPT. That is what I did on the NPT since I found it much easier comparatively but a great water studded but somewhat muddy marshy at time stroll. It makes the NPT a more interesting hike. I did fish most of one LT thru and all of the NPT thru. Enjoyed the experience on both trails fishing. I avoided the High Peaks bear can reg by day hiking from Duck Hole to Mt Marcy, Big/little Haystacks, Gothics, Upper/Lower Wolf Jaws, etc and got a hitch into Keene Valley for resupply. Was planning to head back in to Duck Hole taking a slightly different route from Keene Valley but found someone heading to the Adirondack LOJ. Took the ride and hiked back to Duck Hole over Indian Pass.
BTW, met Cookerhiker on that NPT hike. He too was broadening his experiences with some non hiking activities - museums, float plane or canoe on Long Lake, etc with his wife. Regrettably missed the museum his wife and him took in which is something I was teetering with.
Both the LT and NPT I reserve and rec for fall hikes. As said nice lean tos/campsites on the NPT
Ok, you were with a guide, uh hem, escort service.
NPT looks nice on the video Cookerhiker sent. I have done quite a few of the High Peaks, Marcy, Haystack, Skylight, Wolfjaw , Gothic etc. I haven't done any Vermont trails though so I think I'll go with the LT, northern section. Thanks for the input.
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Thanks for the video Cooker! Looks like you had some great weather on that trip. I'm planning on hitting the Long Trail this summer but will keep the NPT in the back of my mind for a possible future hike.
Have done the NPT several times and chunks of the LT. I agree about everything that's been said in the above posts.
.....Someday, like many others who joined WB in the early years, I may dry up and dissapear....
Ha, ha - that's true for the 2013 hike, the subject of the video. However I did the same hike a year later in 2014 and captured this:
052a.JPG