Battell Shelter

Closed — Closed for the winter season. The shelter is typically staffed by a Green Mountain Club caretaker from early May through early November. Access via Lincoln Gap Road may be limited in winter due to snow.

About

Battell Shelter sits at 3,300 feet on the south side of Mount Abraham in the Green Mountain National Forest, making it one of the highest three-sided shelters on the Long Trail System. Built in 1967 by work parties from Farm and Wilderness Camp using U.S. Forest Service-supplied materials, this Mid-Century Modern iteration of the Adirondack-style shelter sleeps eight hikers. The shelter is the fourth structure on this site, with the first built in 1899 by Col. Joseph Battell, an early Vermont conservationist. Located just under a mile from the summit of Mount Abraham, one of Vermont's five 4,000-foot peaks, the shelter is popular among Long Trail thru-hikers and weekend backpackers alike. It's accessible via a moderate two-mile hike from Lincoln Gap Road, making it an excellent introduction to Long Trail overnight trips. The site is in a fragile high-elevation environment with vulnerable alpine vegetation. A Green Mountain Club backcountry caretaker is stationed at the shelter during the hiking season to help maintain the site and educate visitors about Leave No Trace practices. Water is available from nearby sources but must be filtered or treated before consumption.

Directions

From Lincoln Gap Road (closed in winter), hike approximately 2 miles south on the Long Trail. The shelter is located just below Mount Abraham's summit at 3,300 feet elevation.

Nearby Campgrounds