There is no shortage of stunning hikes and gorgeous mountain views in Vermont, a state renowned for its natural beauty. But if you're looking for a hike that will truly make your stomach drop, we recommend the Mount Mansfield Loop Trail, which will take you along the highest peak in the state of Vermont at 4,393 feet tall.
Mount Mansfield is in the Underhill State Park, located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. 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. In one section, there is a rock wall to climb with only a few grips and toeholds. Then there is a chasm about six feet deep and three feet wide you must jump over to continue on the trail — so make sure you're up for the challenge and aren't hiking in bad weather.
Mount Mansfield will take you to the highest peak in the state of Vermont and leave you breathless — both from the views and the climb!
Accessing the hike is fairly easy: you'll start at Underhill State Park off Mountain Road. Plenty of parking is available (but there is a $4 fee).
But then you're rewarded with the sights of lush greenery (that turns into an explosion of color in the fall and a snow-covered wonderland in the winter) as well as waterways and endless skies.
Of course, then you must make it past the tricker, scarier parts of the hike (hello, vertical rock wall and chasm to leap over).
Mount Mansfield is one of only two places in Vermont where alpine tundra can be found from the Ice Age.
Another unique attribute of Mount Mansfield? From a distance, the mountain looks like the outline of a face, complete with nose, lips, forehead, and chin.
Basically, Mount Mansfield is a hiking enthusiast's dream.
{"label":"Description","key":"description","value":"Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in the state of Vermont and is located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. 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. Because the park has tent camping, there are bathrooms and potable water available at the trailhead. \n\nThe hike starts along CCC Road. You will continue on CCC Road until you reach Maple Ridge Trail. Maple Ridge Trail is the most technical part of the hike. Two parts of the Maple Ridge Trail stand out as scariest. One is a rock wall that has only limited grips and toe holds, and a fall off that wall would cause serious harm. The second part is a chasm about six feet deep that you have to leap over. As with climbing the rock wall, there is no margin for error with this leap. You have to commit and then execute properly. The average adult may find it frightening but will be able to do it safely. 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. 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. From there, you can extend the trip up to Adams Apple or turn around and begin the descent along the Sunset Ridge Trail. \n\nThe 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. Mount Mansfield is also one of two places in Vermont where Alpine Tundra can be found.","sourceText":"Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in the state of Vermont and is located in Chittenden County within the Green Mountains. 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. Because the park has tent camping, there are bathrooms and potable water available at the trailhead. \n\nThe hike starts along CCC Road. You will continue on CCC Road until you reach Maple Ridge Trail. Maple Ridge Trail is the most technical part of the hike. Two parts of the Maple Ridge Trail stand out as scariest. One is a rock wall that has only limited grips and toe holds, and a fall off that wall would cause serious harm. The second part is a chasm about six feet deep that you have to leap over. As with climbing the rock wall, there is no margin for error with this leap. You have to commit and then execute properly. The average adult may find it frightening but will be able to do it safely. 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. 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. From there, you can extend the trip up to Adams Apple or turn around and begin the descent along the Sunset Ridge Trail. \n\nThe 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. Mount Mansfield is also one of two places in Vermont where Alpine Tundra can be found.","maxLength":5000},{"label":"Waypoints (0)","key":"waypoints","value":{"id":null,"waypoints":
}}
,"trailSlug":"us/vermont/mount-mansfield-loop-trail","exploreFlag":null,"lat":"44.52932","lng":"-72.84269"}" data-hydrate="t" data-react-cache-id="TrailOverview-0">
Have you ever completed this challenging hike? If so, we'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!