Getting Oriented
Lincoln Gap sits on the crest of the Green Mountains, at the point where the Long Trail crosses the road between the Lake Champlain valley to the west and the Mad River Valley to the east. The height of land itself sits on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service, part of Green Mountain National Forest; the federal government acquired that parcel by purchase from Middlebury College in 1936. The road that crosses it is a town highway rather than a Forest Service route, and Lincoln and Warren each maintain their own half. The Forest Service lists Lincoln Gap Road as a scenic drive on its recreation pages, but that listing doesn't make it forest infrastructure.
Trail Overview
The Lincoln side climbs about 3.6 miles from the New Haven River valley, with roughly two miles of graded gravel before a final paved mile to the height of land. The Warren side runs about 4.1 miles from Vermont 100, mostly paved, with about a mile of gravel partway up and a final 1.4-mile pitch that averages 15 percent, including the steepest paved stretch on the route. Both approaches hit 24 to 26 percent grade for short sections near the top. The road has no shoulder and no guardrails. Road cyclists use the climb regularly, especially on weekend mornings, so blind corners deserve a slow approach from either direction. A careful drive over the whole gap takes 25 to 35 minutes.
Points of Interest
- The height-of-land pull-off, where the Long Trail crosses the road. Mount Abraham's 4,006-foot summit is 2.6 miles north; Battell Shelter, a three-sided Long Trail shelter, is about 2 miles in via the Battell Trail out of Lincoln.
- Bristol Falls and the swimming holes along the New Haven River, a short drive west of Lincoln on Vermont 116.
- Warren Falls, a swimming hole on the Mad River south of Warren village.
- Sugarbush Resort, a few miles north of Warren on Vermont 100.
Where to Camp
Green Mountain National Forest allows dispersed camping on forest roads near both ends of the gap. On the Lincoln side, sites sit along Forest Road 291; the approach is rough enough that high clearance helps. On the Warren side, dispersed sites cluster along Forest Roads 207 and 25 and near Warren Falls on the Mad River. All of it is free, first-come, and undeveloped. Battell Shelter, on the Long Trail north of the gap, is a hike-in option only.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Check current status before heading up. The road typically closes in mid-October and reopens in mid-May, but exact dates shift with the weather, and Lincoln and Warren post updates separately.
- Expect loose gravel and washboard on the unpaved stretches, worse after heavy rain. Vermont's dirt roads erode fast in storms, and this one isn't exempt.
- Cell service is thin to nonexistent over the height of land. Tell someone your route if you're driving up alone.
- Fill the tank before you start. There's no fuel on the mountain in either direction.
Fuel and Water
Nothing on the mountain itself. On the Warren side, the CITGO station on Vermont 100 in Warren village has fuel, and the Warren Store nearby has food. On the Lincoln side, the Lincoln General Store has food but no gas; the nearest fuel is about 5 miles further at gas stations in Bristol on Vermont 116.
Nearby
Sugarbush Resort sits a few miles north of Warren on Vermont 100, with mountain biking in summer and skiing in winter. The Mad River Valley towns of Warren and Waitsfield carry most of the area's dining and lodging. On the Lincoln side, Bristol Falls and the swimming holes along the New Haven River are a short drive west on Vermont 116. Mount Abraham, one of Vermont's five 4,000-foot peaks, is reachable from the height of land by the Long Trail or from Lincoln by the Battell Trail.
