Region
Highlights
- Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont.
- When viewed from the east or west, this mountain has the appearance of a (quite elongated) human profile, with distinct forehead, nose, lips, chin, and Adam's apple. These features are most distinct when viewed from the east; unlike most human faces, "The Chin" is the highest point.
- Mount Mansfield is one of three spots in Vermont where true alpine tundra survives from the Ice Ages. A few acres exist on Camel's Hump and Mount Abraham to the south, but Mount Mansfield's summit still holds about 200 acres.
- There are many hiking trails, including the famous Long Trail, which traverses the main ridgeline.
- In addition, the east flank of the mountain is used by the Stowe Mountain Resort for winter skiing.
- A toll road (about four miles, steep, mostly unpaved, with several hairpin turns) climbs from the Stowe Base Lodge to "The Nose".
Routes
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44 summits • 6.5 mi • 2,738 ft gain • 4 hr 9 min • Class 2
31 summits • 4.8 mi • 2,284 ft gain • 4 hr 31 min
9 summits • 4.9 mi • 2,496 ft gain • 4 hr 56 min
3 summits • 10.7 mi • 2,815 ft gain • 8 hr 2 min
1 summit • 14.6 mi • 4,353 ft gain • 8 hr 30 min
1 summit • 42.6 mi • 1,623 ft gain
1 summit • 4.6 mi • 2,738 ft gain • 4 hr 34 min
1 summit • 7.7 mi • 2,777 ft gain • 6 hr 28 min
1 summit • 8.2 mi • 3,034 ft gain • 6 hr 12 min
Latest summits
"As part of a 16 or 17 state highpoint blitz of the Northeast this August while working remotely 8 hrs a day from various Starbucks.
Second state high piont peak for Saturday (after Mt Greylock this morning), I arrived at 1pm and paid the (outrageous) $24USD fee for a single person in a car to go up the toll road. The guy at the visitors center said the peak had just cleared although rain was threatening. I thru the goretex on and was off again passing folks and enjoying the nice firm rock and alpine trees. I was on the summit 30 min later and rain arrived with wind on the way back. Nice views on that ridge of Lake Champlain to the West and the ski hill to the SE. Now a few down hours to get some sleep before tackling Mt Marcy tomorrow 6am and then driving north to Canada and Sault Ste Marie before crossing to US again to get Michigan done." — alexjoseph • Aug 10, 2019
"Last year in my 29th year on this earth I had my first full blown panic attack and it happened on this mountain. I climbed it and was so out of my head that I went down the wrong way (fully aware I was doing so) and had to have my girlfriend call me 100$ cab ride back to the other side of smugs. This year, I got married in Stowe and the morning after I woke up early while my whole wedding party slept and climbed Mansfield again. I got past the scramble that terrified me and sat on the top dreading going back down that way. A caretaker was at the top and was the same caretaker who pointed me in the right direction last year ( I didn't listen because I was so out of it). I asked him if there was a trick to the scramble and he said there was an easier trail that is used in bad weather (profanity trail) I said, "thank you, but I am going back the way I came". My legs were bruised from squeezing the rocks so tight, but I got down and home before most of my friends and family were awake. Conquer your fears. " — JoshuaRyan • Jul 28, 2019
"Kim and our friends Katie and Ed spent the weekend at Underhill State Park. On Saturday we decided to hike up to the mansfield ridge and do a nice loop. Tons of people on the mountain as the weather was beautiful, there was a Canadian holiday, and people can drive up or take the gondola. It was still a nice to go to out and hike as I haven't hiked in a couple months. Didn't take my watch with me, so unfortunately no GPX track of the hike. " — LGH-Tom • Jun 22, 2019
"Hiked with Tom, Katie, and Ed. Beautiful day to be out hiking. Took a nice slow pace and did a nice loop ending with the sunset ridge trail. Overall a great day and another state high point for me!" — Kim-Stilson • Jun 22, 2019
"Très belle rando au dessus des nuages avec le groupe de Liane. C'est une belle et bonne personne que je découvre là! Deuxième ascension de Mansfield pour moi. Cette fois-ci par le côté plus "rock-&-Roll". J'ai vraiment adoré ce sentier. " — fsoucy76 • Oct 6, 2018
"Overcast, a bit rainy, and unfortunately warm and VERY humid, but so worth it. The trail was fairly steep; no switchbacks. And very rocky. The last 3/10 of a mile you pretty much need hands and feet to climb the rocks. We had minimal views due to low clouds but I'm sure they would have been awesome." — marc • Aug 7, 2018
"We went up Long Trail South, and there was a lot of clouds and fog. But just about when we got to the base of the Chin, the sun came out so we were able to summit with sun and some views. The upper approach had some rime ice, but nothing too serious." — Alohabuffy • Nov 4, 2017
"A peine revenue de l'ouest Américain, je me lance dans cette rando avec Michel et RS. La forme n'était pas vraiment au rendez-vous à vrai dire. J'ai comme eu la chienne en montant, mais j'ai pu la faire en fin de compte. Je suis bien content que les autres n'aient pas eu le goût de faire la grosse boucle!!! Je ne suis vraiment pas certain que j'aurais été en mesure de la faire. Je suis malgré tout très heureux de ma journée. Il est maintenant temps de prendre soin de moi en restant chez moi pour le reste de la semaine qui me reste! Merci la vie! " — fsoucy76 • Oct 21, 2017
"After 273 miles and 26 days in the woods I completed the VT Long Trail as I summited Mount Mansfield. I hiked from Canada to Mount Mansfield and then Massachausetts to Mount Mansfield which required me to hike up this peak twice but it was definitely worth making the highest point in VT my last leg." — lucymerriam • Oct 3, 2017
"Coming up from the Forehead, we headed over to the summit. Lots of people on the trail. Marielle got her 90th NEHH peak. We then went down the exposed Sunset Ridge and checked out Cantilever Rock. A great day to be hiking. " — newenglandwarrior • Sep 2, 2017
"After hiking camel's hump in the morning and enjoying the afternoon in burlington I headed to Mansfield for an evening hike. Never saw a human and this mountain was really sketchy coming down the long trail especially when it began to get dark!" — shay-shay • Aug 8, 2017
"Took the auto toll road then hiked to the summit. Several quick moving waves of sprinkles came through along with a 15 minute blast of graupel. Other than that, it was a nice day up on the ridge. The toll road fee is $23 for a driver. The road itself has seen quite a bit of rain this season and is a bit washed out and rutted in spots but totally driveable." — StoneMan • Jul 9, 2017
"My 150th unique mountain! Solo.
I had a difficult time on this hike. I woke up later than intended as I was coming off of midnight shifts, and then had to spend 3.5 hours in the car. When I got on the road the trailhead is on, I went back and forth a few times, & couldn't find any signage indicating where the Long Trail could be picked up. (I figure Vermont is pretty smart. If people can't even find the trailhead to hike the hike, less rescues? Hahaha) Trip reports I read said the parking was on the right, with the trailhead on the left, so I chose the area that had that type of setup (later learning that you can actually park on the left and enter the Long Trail on the same side of the road.)
It turns out where I was was the Hell Brook Trail. A quick glance at the map showed me I could get to the summit from there, so I said whatever and started to climb.. and climb.. and climb... Well. Unprepared was an understatement, lol. The trail climbs about 2,854' in a single mile. The "trail" (relentlessly steep rock faces with about 30' of actual dirt trail in that mile) were absolutely soaking from a full week of rain here in the northeast. I was exceptionally cautious of my footi..." — kellieirene • Jun 7, 2017
"Short and steep! Going up Long trail was fun, especially final scramble. But peak was littered with car folk. Oh well, its a spectacular spot for everybody. Just a little too hazy to see Champlain. First VT 4k, great hike!" — Alohabuffy • Sep 19, 2015
"this trail was a relentless uphill climb. however, the tread was fairly good and the slides were easy to walk on. the last .3 miles of the long trail to the summit were extremely steep and exposed. the summit was crowded. looped back down on the profanity which is steep but w/ steps instead of a vertical slide. " — Hillary • Sep 11, 2015
"Decided to do some State-Highpointing on the East Coast for Labor Day weekend. We flew out of Las Vegas Thursday night into Boston, then bagged the highpoints of Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont & New Hampshire (with short stops in Pennsylvania and Maine for good measure) before flying back out of Boston on Monday. What a weekend!" — Kevin • Sep 5, 2015
"After hiking camel's hump we drove up to Stowe to snag the last of the five 4000 footers in Vermont. Once again the summit was socked in and it started pouring when we were still about a half hour from the car. Definitely have to come back for this hike on a nice day." — LGH-Tom • Jul 18, 2015
"with Sandra Peterson.
snow on the summit. we hike the Vermont Long Trail from the east. their is a suprising exposure on the route along the north side approach. deep snow post holing on the way down twists my left knee. " — rhudedog • May 25, 2015
"Great time up the mountain with my new girlfriend ( no joke... we beace official at the border the day before when the customs officer asked who I was travelling with lol) and with my dad and his girlfriend... cloudy day but it was great :)" — oli.rousseau • Jul 29, 2014
"This is my 2nd favorite hike of all time with #1 being Camel's Hump located just down the road.
Mount Mansfield is a great hike and a fairly easy high point depending on the trail you take. If you are an avid hiker and love the outdoors, I suggest taking the Long Trail up and the Sunset Ridge Trial down.
The Long Trial can be difficult in parts with some light bouldering along the way up, but it is nothing too difficult if you are in any shape. However, this trail is not good to take a dog with you since they will not be able to navigate some of the rock scrambles. This trail also takes you along the top ridge of the mountain, going from "The Nose" to "The Chin" (The Chin is the peak of the mountain). There is a small visitor center near the top which is a great place to stop and take a break; however, they do not have any food for sale, so be sure to bring along enough food and water.
It can get quite chilly at the summit depending on when you hike. I hiked in early October and even though it was nice at the base of the mountain, I was happy that I had a sweatshirt with me at the summit! It is not as 'extreme' as Mount Washington, but you may end up being stuck in the clouds..." — BrianLada • Oct 2, 2013
Photos
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
Log successful summits on peakery to earn awards:
Peak Badges: Earn a special badge for each unique peak you summit. See all of your badges on your Badges page.
First Ascent Award: Only 1 available per peak. Goes to the first peakery member to log a successful summit of a peak. Snag this award and the peak will forever bear your name.
King of the Mountain Award: Only 1 available per peak. Summit a peak more times than any other member. Beware: this award can be lost!
Summit Steward: Summit a peak at least 5 times to become one of its Summit Stewards. As Steward of a peak, you’re encouraged to keep that peak’s info up-to-date on peakery and spread goodwill on your future climbs up the peak.