Happy Hill Shelter

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations or fees required.

About

Happy Hill Shelter is an open-faced rough masonry and log structure located along the Appalachian Trail in the Green Mountain National Forest near Norwich, Vermont. Built by the Dartmouth Outing Club in 1998, it replaced a dilapidated 1918 structure that had been the longest-serving shelter on the AT until its demolition. The shelter is named after nearby Happy Valley and sits approximately two miles from the Cossingham Trail junction. This primitive backcountry shelter provides basic overnight accommodation for Appalachian Trail hikers and backpackers. The site operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. Water must be treated or filtered from nearby sources, and visitors should follow Leave No Trace principles and Green Mountain National Forest dispersed camping regulations. The shelter is accessible via the Appalachian Trail, with multiple approach options including the Cossingham Trail from Bragg Hill Road. The area features scenic ravines and wooded terrain typical of Vermont's Green Mountains. A privy is available at the shelter site.

Directions

Access via the Appalachian Trail. One approach is from the Cossingham Trail off Bragg Hill Road in Norwich, approximately 2 miles along the AT to the shelter turnoff.

Nearby Campgrounds