Big Branch Shelter was built in 1963 by the U.S. Forest Service during a period of major trail and infrastructure improvements across the Green Mountain National Forest. Under the direction of Sidney B. Davis, the USFS constructed the shelter approximately 600 feet downstream from the newly built suspension bridge over Big Branch. Both the bridge and the shelter were part of a planned Long Trail/Appalachian Trail relocation scheduled for completion in spring 1964, intended to move the footpath away from flood‑prone areas and onto more sustainable terrain.
The shelter was built as a frame lean‑to, typical of USFS construction of the era: dimensional lumber, a simple pitched roof, and a durable floor designed to withstand heavy use. It was positioned near the remnants of an old mill site, where the Trail follows a historic woods road along the cascading Big Branch. The stream has always served as the shelter’s water source, and the privy—installed by the Forest Service—sits uphill behind the structure.
By the time of the 24th Edition of the Long Trail Guide (1996), Big Branch Shelter was well established as a standard overnight stop on the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail corridor. Its location, just north of the Big Branch suspension bridge and close to the scenic river, made it a popular resting point for section hikers and thru‑hikers alike.
Despite periodic flooding in the Big Branch valley and the destruction of several nearby bridges during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, Big Branch Shelter itself survived and continued to serve hikers. The USFS repaired access points and trail approaches in the years following the storm, keeping the shelter in active use.
Today, more than 60 years after its construction, Big Branch Shelter remains one of the longest‑serving USFS‑built shelters on the Long Trail. Its simple design, riverside setting, and connection to the 1960s modernization of the trail system make it a small but enduring piece of Long Trail and Appalachian Trail history.
Sources
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy. “History of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont. .” Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Appalachian Trail Conservancy. https://appalachiantrail.org.
- Green Mountain Club. Tropical Storm Irene Recovery Updates, 2011–2013. .
- Green Mountain Club, "Long Trail News." 1963.
- Green Mountain Club. Long Trail Guide Book. 24th Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1996.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. Historical Notes on Trail Construction and Recreation Management, 1960–1970. Milwaulkee WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
