Some of us are beginner hikers. Strenuous but totally doable. While stumbling across the top of Mount Mansfield, I ran into a northbound section hiker. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Wind chill values as low as -10. It is the tallest peak in the entire state. We cheat and take the Toll Road, which is how most people do it. The hike starts along CCC Road. There are 10 moderate trails in Mount Mansfield State Forest ranging from 2.8 to 9.6 miles and from 633 to 4,386 feet above sea level. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Sunset Ridge tough on the knees on the way down. This loop was slick and muddy. You will pass by the Taft Lodge, an overnight spot for hikers. This was also my first solo hike since mid-October, which felt strange. If you are hiking from the east side of the mountain the more popular route is the Long Trail. West wind 10 to 26 mph. In fact, everything I had heard suggested that Camel’s Hump – VT’s highest undeveloped peak – would be the better hike. The summit ridge is only one of three mountains in the State where alpine tundra survived the ice age. The summit is located within the town of Underhillin Chittenden County; the ridgeline, including some secondary peaks, extends into the town of Stowein Lamoille County, and the mountain's flanks also reach into the town of Cambridge. Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in the state of Vermont and is located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. Viewed from the east, locations along Mt . The Long Trail: The oldest long-distance footpath in America climbs Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, located just minutes from the base area at Stowe Mountain Resort. My favorite hike in Vermont!! To get back to the parking lot, simply retrace your steps the way you came. There are several options to reach the summit of Mount Mansfield. Mount Mansfield is also one of two places in Vermont where Alpine Tundra can be found. Definitely wasn’t prepared for how chilly it would be at the summit, but well worth the trip. Beautiful views once you get above the tree line. Mansfield in Vermont! Maple Ridge was steep, rocky, and slick. Mansfield was a surprisingly fun hike. Saturday Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! The entrance to the Mount Mansfield Toll Road can be found off of Mountain Road 108, north of … My wife and a friend want to hike it, Mount Mansfield via Hellbrook Trail and the Long Trail, The Chin (Mount Mansfield) via Sunset Ridge Trail, Laura Cowles Trail to Sunset Ridge Trail Loop, Long Trail, Profanity, Long Trail, Haselton Trail Loop, Smugglers Notch and Sterling Mountain via Long Trail, Mount Mansfield Chin via Hell Brook Trail and Hasselton Trail, Mount Mansfield and The Forhead via Long Trail and Hasselton Trail. 5.5 miles all in. Parking lot is closed for the season. There were some rough scrambles and a scary jump, but we were able to finish. It should be noted, that. Mount Mansfield is located right outside of Burlington, Vermont, in Underhill, VT. Monday Night Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. lots of ice. 2,793 ft elevation gain This challenging loop is a Vermont classic, taking you to … Two parts of the Maple Ridge Trail stand out as scariest. I'm sure the rainfall we received three days prior played a role, but I had a feeling that this hike is always somewhat wet. Hiking info, trail maps, and 29 trip reports from Mount Mansfield, The Nose (4,020 ft) in the Green Mountains of Vermont "Stayed in Stowe for the weekend with Tom. One is a rock wall that has only limited grips and toe holds, and a fall off that wall would cause serious harm. Mount Mansfield- Underhill, VT Mt. the whole loop took us 6 hours with our little detour. Mount Mansfieldis the highest mountainin Vermontwith a summitthat peaks at 4,395 feet (1,340 m) above sea level. Mount Mansfield is a 4,393 foot mountain located in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Ended up clocking in 8.3 miles and just over 5 hours of total time, 4.5 of hiking time. Busy on a nice day but the summit is big enough to not get too crowded. Very muddy so you want to make sure you have good hiking boots, and it was pretty slippery on the way down from the stream on the rocks. Sunday Mount Mansfield is in the Underhill State Park, located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. pretty empty most of the way until you get near Mt. Very rocky and slippery even dry. Fun hike and highly recommended. Hike report and photos of Mount Mansfield in Vermont One of the reasons Renee didn't join me on this hike was because of what I had read about the Cliff Trail. He made me laugh and offered to let me hike down the mountain When I saw that the Town of Stowe and trailhead to Mount Mansfield was only about 1.5 hours away from where I was staying, I decided to seize the opportunity. You can park at 3,850 feet, relax and take it all in. well worth it. North wind 24 to 28 mph. You will then reach the Long Trail and continue along the Long Trail north, passing the forehead, the nose and northward along the ridgeline to the Chin. Trails are well marked and easy to navigate. It is the tallest peak in the entire state. Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont. We went to Mt Mansfield … The trail goes through trees and grassy areas on small board walks and eventually gets to a rocky and boulder area. I ended up taking a quick detour up the opposite part of the road, past the WCAX building and up towards where the towers were. Rising up to 4,393 feet (1,339 meters), it is the tallest mountain in Vermont. Parked at Underhill State Park, took Eagles Cut Trail to the CCC Road. You will stay on the Long Trail by keeping left here. Mount Mansfield Loop Trail is a 7.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Underhill, Vermont that features beautiful wild flowers and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. There are many trails up the mountain, I will describe a few of the more popular routes. There was a fair amount of cloud cover during my hike, but the ridge line was still quite nice. Hit a few small patches of snow before the summit, and a few more along the ridge line. Warm stretch of weather meant no need for spikes and only very small isolated areas of snow or ice but no gear needed for them. North wind 21 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. First up was Mount Mansfield, the highest point in the state of Vermont, at just a shade under 4400 feet. North wind 24 to 28 mph. Once the trail reaches the ridgeline, it continues to … Monday We cheat … Join us on our hike to the summit (chin) of Mt. Saturday Night From the parking lot, follow the Long trail for roughly 2 miles. As with climbing the rock wall, there is no margin for error with this leap. The trail is beautiful, and the views are incredible. Wind chill values as low as -8. I left the mountain biking crew to spend Saturdays on a solo hike with Olive- to the top of Vermont's highest peak and a … Wind chill values as low as -11. The Mount Mansfield is not only Vermont's highest mountain, but also one of its most interesting and rewarding for it’s amazing views. Such a great trail and view at the top! Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. West wind around 13 mph. The second part is a chasm about six feet deep that you have to leap over. The parking lot for the Long Trail is located on Route 108 in Underhill, Vermont. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Drive for about 9.5 miles, then turn left onto VT-108 N/Mountain Road. hiking forest views nature-trips wildlife dogs-leash trail-running walking wild-flowers birding snowshoeing Enter the woods again and continue to climb. the hard parts aren't bad , a little sketchy on the ice. Located less than an hour from Burlington, Mount Mansfield is easy to plan into an afternoon or morning without taking up the whole day. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. The two most popular routes from here are: Sunset Ridge Trail & Laura Cowles Trail. Make sure to take a minute to read the board. The trail brings you past the Mt. I then continued down the road for a bit and then almost missed the right-hand turn for the Long Trail North. One of my more memorable hikes in recent memory. Because the park has tent camping, there are bathrooms and potable water available at the trailhead. The easiest way up the mountain though is from the Toll Road. Mt. One of the most popular hikes in the Burlington area is moderately strenuous hike up the Sunset Ridge trail to the summit of Vermont's high point: Mount Mansfield. Mount Mansfield is a 4,393 foot mountain located in the Green Mountains of Vermont. If hiking from the west side of the mountain the most popular place to start is from Underhill State Park. Drive for another 9 miles and the trailhead parking lot will be on the right side of the road. He saw that I was rattled and just sat down and talked with me for a time. Well, more fun for me the second time I hiked it than the first. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Mansfield State Forest is named for Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont at 4,393-feet. The trail, which is a 7.3- mile loop, is recommended only for experienced hikers, as there are a few tricky parts along the way, specifically at the Maple Ridge Trail. For 0.3 miles, hike until you reach the summit of Mount Mansfield, AKA The Chin. The Toll Road’s highest parking point is at 3,850 and from there people can hike to The Chin. Hiking Mount Mansfield, Vermont Climbing Mount Mansfield is definitely one of the better hikes we’ve done in Vermont so far. You can hike Mount Mansfield on several trail options, or you can drive up the Mount Mansfield Toll Road, which is located near the Stowe Mountain Resort. Reach a gently-sloped rock outcropping with views of Mount Mansfield’s ridgeline and western slope (0.4 miles). Mansfield's long ridgeline are described as the Adam's Apple, Chin (the highest point) , Nose, and Forehead . Pass the side trail to Cantilever Rock on the left (0.5 miles). Sunday Night coming down sunset ridge makes your knees hate you, very slippery so have to go slow and steady. Took the Laura cowels trail down which was very wet and slow going. It also meant I wasn't particularly motivated to get up Unlike Mount Pisgah, nobody had recommended it. Tonight Mount Mansfield has many secondary peaks including The Nose, Forehead and the Adam’s Apple. We assended maple and desended sunset. *NOTE* The actual trail begins on the left side of the road. The next peak before it is Adam’s Apple, 4,060 feet in elevation. one of vermont's best hikes on spine of MM, along the Long Trail Just a day hiker who grew up in Vermont (Go MMUHS, home of the Cougars!). Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Hike up Vermont’s tallest peak, scramble along an alpine ridge, and bask in 360-degree views, all on an ascent of Mount Mansfield via a section of the Long Trail, the U.S.’s oldest long-distance hiking trail. Took Laura Cowles trail up since we got a late start. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Mansfield, the state's highest peak. Drive for roughly 0.3 miles and make a turn right onto VT-100 North. Useful info for spending more time in beautiful places. Fun trail, even on a rainy day. The Toll Road (which, appropriately, has a toll to use it), the Laura Cowles trail, the Sunset Ridge trail, Haselton Trail, the Hellbrook Trail… The most popular trail from the east side of the mountain, however, is the section of the Long Trail that I hiked. You have to commit and then execute properly. Hikers will cross trickling streams, climb through maple and birch groves, walk along open ridges, traverse steep rock walls, and jump over a minor crevice to reach the summit. Can someone tell me will this be open early November (5th-8th). From I-89 North, take exit 10 for VT-100 South towards Waterbury US-2. The gate for the parking lot was closed but there is ample parking at the gate on the road. It was a 10-15 minute walk to the trailhead from there. 2019 Mount Mansfield Type of Hike Day hike Trailhead Eagle cut trail Encountered Wildflowers blooming, Ripe berries Road Conditions Road suitable for all vehicles Bug Status Bugs were not too bad Snow Conditions Snow free The trail is well marked with white dashes that will lead you to the chin or summit of Mount Mansfield. Mount Mansfield is located in Smuggler’s Notch State Park near the town of Stowe, famous for its winter sports facilities. Mount Mansfield Summit from the Top of the Automobile Toll Road Distance: 2.8 miles Difficulty: Easy Estimated hiking time: 2 hours Want to summit Vermont’s highest peak without putting in a day’s work? Follow signs for CCC Road (up the hill) and hike the gravel/dirt road for about .7 of a mile until you come to a bench and a bulletin board/sign for Mount Mansfield State Forest. The road up Mount Mansfield is 4.5 miles of awe-inspiring natural beauty. West wind around 12 mph. Love, love, love to take family back to the Nose-to-Chin portion of the Long Trail atop Mount Mansfield. I ended up putting both of boots in the same foothold, and stretching my arms and legs awkwardly in order to hoist myself up. Love, love, love to take family back to the Nose-to-Chin portion of the Long Trail atop Mount Mansfield. Ascended Sunset Ridge trail with dry trail conditions and unseasonably warm temps. Mount Mansfield has many secondary peaks including The Nose, Forehead and the Adam’s Apple. Because of these two challenging sections, it is not recommend to attempt this hike in bad weather conditions where the rocks would be wet or icy. Overall I think the description of the trail is a little dramatic, the rock wall isn’t too bad and that little jump is pretty small. The Maple Ridge and the Butler Lodge Trails make a great loop to the Forehead on Mount Mansfield's summit ridge that avoids the usual crowds on Sunset Ridge and the Chin. North wind 14 to 24 mph. Foggy at the top but still super pretty along the way! Mansfield Visitor Center, along the ridge line, past the junction for the Sunset Ridge Trail, and up to the Chin (summit). I had no views at the Forehead due to cloud cover. The is a great hike to Vermont's highest point that boasts spectacular views once you get to the rocky outcrops on the Maple Ridge Trail and will continue to impress on the Long Trail and for most of the descent on the Sunset Ridge Trail. Fun hike, but the wetness definitely made it challenging. There was a fair amount of slick scrambling afterwards where I would grab onto tree trunks for support, but nothing quite as tough as the ~16 foot rock.The short leap across the chasm was quite easy overall and in comparison. She enjoys snowboarding, sunrise hikes, winter, night hiking, traveling, and photography. The average adult may find it frightening but will be able to do it safely. Andrea is a writer, hiker, and adventurer from New England. There is lodging at the Green Mountain Club’s Taft Lodge. Decided to take the loop to the forehead first and finish at the chin. Up on top, this hike … The hike begins at Underhill State Park off of Mountain Road where there is plenty of parking available in the parking area for a fee of $4/person. Took Maple Ridge up and Sunset Ridge down, I definitely recommend counter clockwise! You pick up the Long Trail shortly before or after reaching the Forehead. awesome trail, definitely a long one but enjoyable and with lots of views. I would recommend hiking boots if you’ve got them. After a little while you emerge onto a road and pass by the Nose. Took about 5 hours total with a few rests. Mansfield. You can park at 3,850 feet, relax and take it all in. The rock scrambles are easily manageable, really for us it was the distance that got tiresome towards the end. at the top we took the Amherst trail, saw some fresh bear and moose tracks. Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. The pathways are smooth and accessible, but pass into quiet mountain forests under a canopy of spruce, hardwoods, and hemlocks; far from the buzz of city and town. If you want to make a weekend out of this, you could stay in Burlington, ( here are some great places to stay), and do some other nearby hikes ( here you can find some other great trails). Mount Mansfield via the Long Trail > Haselton Loop – DIFFICULT » 6.1 mi round trip, approx. You will continue on CCC Road until you reach Maple Ridge Trail. I reached the top of the Forehead about 3.4 miles into the hike. Elevation: 4,393 feet Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont with a summit that peaks at 4,395 feet (1,340 m) above sea level. Why not bring along a picnic or do some hiking while you're up there? Maple Ridge Trail is the most technical part of the hike. A reader has added: The “lodge rate” is $6 per person. The Mansfield peak, also known as The Chin, is 4,393 feet in elevation. From there, you can extend the trip up to Adams Apple or turn around and begin the descent along the Sunset Ridge Trail. Mansfield State Forest. The descent along Maple Ridge trail was a little tricky with some rock scrambles and wetter trail conditions, but nothing too hard. You feel like you are on top of the world… well maybe on top of Vermont – reaching the highest summit of Mount Mansfield when The ridge line hike, while challenging in some areas, can’t be beat and gives you 360 degree views. On the headwaters of the Brown's River, at about 2,000 feet elevation, the park lies on the west slope of 4,300 feet Mt. we went end of October and we definitely recommend ice shoes for the top area. H… But this was quite anticlimactic, perhaps due to cloud cover or maybe due to the lack of views. While I have a fair amount of experiencing hiking in the Greens, Whites, and Adirondacks, I found the big rock mentioned in the description of the hike to be quite challenging. Descending Sunset Ridge is always a pleasure, albeit a slick one today. In all honesty it was totally doable. After reading reviews, I was a bit nervous for what the hike had in store for my group as we weren't pro hikers. Mount Mansfield Loop Trail is a 7.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Underhill, Vermont that features beautiful wild flowers and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Made the left turn at this junction, continued past the the turn for Sunset Ridge (and Laura Cowles), and hiked 1.2 somewhat bland miles to turn for Maple Ridge. Underhill is within Vermont's 39,837-acre Mt. Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Took us 7 hrs (including snacks and lunch break) to leisurely hike the loop counter clockwise. Just The main parking lot for this trail has been reported closed for the season (11/07/2020). 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