Presidential Range (Green Mountains) facts for kids

The Presidential Range is a group of mountains in the Green Mountains of Vermont, a state in the United States. All the highest points of these mountains are in Addison County. However, some eastern parts of the northern mountains reach into Washington County. The main peaks in this range are named after several U.S. presidents. These presidents served from the time of the American Civil War up to World War I.

All the peaks in the Presidential Range are taller than 3,000 feet. Almost all of them are even taller than 3,500 feet. The tallest mountain in this range is Mount Abraham, which stands at 4,006 feet. The second tallest is Mount Wilson, at 3,745 feet. Both of these peaks are among the one hundred tallest mountains in all of New England.

Meet the Presidential Peaks

The mountains in the Presidential Range are named after U.S. presidents. They are listed from north to south, which also matches the order in which the presidents served.

• Mount Abraham, 4,006 feet tall, is named after Abraham Lincoln. He was president from 1861 to 1865.
• Mount Grant, 3,623 feet tall, is named after Ulysses S. Grant. He was president from 1869 to 1877.
• Mount Cleveland, 3,482 feet tall, is named after Grover Cleveland. He served two times, from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897.
• Mount Roosevelt, 3,528 feet tall, is named after Theodore Roosevelt. He was president from 1901 to 1909.
• Mount Wilson, 3,745 feet tall, is named after Woodrow Wilson. He was president from 1913 to 1921.

The three northernmost peaks are located in the town of Lincoln. The other two peaks are in Ripton. All these towns are in Addison County. Most of the main peaks, except for Mount Abraham, are part of the Breadloaf Wilderness. This wilderness area is inside the Green Mountain National Forest. Mount Abraham is separated from the other peaks by Lincoln Gap. This is the highest mountain pass in Vermont where vehicles can drive.

Where the Water Flows

Most of the water from the Presidential Range ends up in Lake Champlain. This lake's water then flows into the Richelieu River in Quebec, Canada. From there, it goes into the Saint Lawrence River and finally into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

However, some parts of Mount Roosevelt and Mount Wilson send their water to the Connecticut River. This river eventually flows into Long Island Sound in Connecticut. So, water from these mountains travels to different large bodies of water.

Hiking the Long Trail

The Long Trail is a famous hiking path that runs for 273 miles through the entire state of Vermont. This trail goes right over the main peaks of the Presidential Range. The trail enters the southern part of the Breadloaf Wilderness near Middlebury Gap. It then winds northward for about 28.9 miles along the ridge of the Green Mountains to Appalachian Gap.

The Long Trail section through the Presidential Range includes several important points:

• Mount Abraham: At 4,006 feet, it's a key peak on the trail.
• Lincoln Gap: A mountain pass at 2,424 feet, often used as a starting point for hikes.
• Mount Grant: Reaches 3,623 feet.
• Mount Cleveland: Stands at 3,482 feet.
• Mount Roosevelt: Is 3,528 feet tall.
• Mount Wilson: The second highest peak at 3,745 feet.

Besides the Presidential Range peaks, there are five other mountains over 3,500 feet on this part of the Long Trail. North of Mount Abraham, you'll find Lincoln Peak, Nancy Hanks Peak, Mount Ellen, and Stark Mountain. South of Mount Wilson, the only other tall peak is Bread Loaf Mountain.

Hikers who go all the way through this section will travel about 12.1 miles between Mount Wilson and Mount Abraham. Along this path, there are four side trails that connect to the Long Trail. These are the Emily Proctor Trail, Clark Brook Trail, Cooley Glen Trail, and Battell Trail. Each of these trails has a small parking area.

There are also three shelters for hikers on this part of the Long Trail: Emily Proctor Shelter, Cooley Glen Shelter, and Battell Shelter. Each shelter is located where the Long Trail meets one of the side trails.

A popular day hike starts and ends where the Long Trail crosses Lincoln Gap Road in the town of Lincoln. From Lincoln Gap, the top of Mount Abraham is 2.6 miles north on the Long Trail. Another option is the Battell Trail, which also starts in Lincoln. It leads to the Battell Shelter after 2.0 miles. From the shelter, the summit of Mount Abraham is another 0.8 miles north on the Long Trail.

The Emily Proctor Trail and the Cooley Glen Trail begin at the same spot. A popular loop hike starts and ends here. This 12.4-mile loop hike takes you to three peaks of the Presidential Range: Mount Wilson, Mount Roosevelt, and Mount Cleveland. Mount Grant, named after a fourth president, is just a bit off this main loop, about 0.8 miles north of the Cooley Glen Shelter on the Long Trail.