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Mountain overview
Reaching 4,395 feet, Mount Mansfield is the highest point in Vermont. Inside Mount Mansfield State Forest near Stowe and Underhill, it is famous for an alpine ridge profile that resembles the face of a person lying on their back: the Forehead at 3,940 feet, the Nose at 4,062, the Chin at 4,395 — the true summit — and the Adam’s Apple at 4,060. Between them runs roughly 1.1 miles of alpine tundra ridge.
The mountain holds one of only two significant arctic-alpine tundra ecosystems left in Vermont, covering about 200 acres, where rare plants such as alpine bilberry and diapensia survive. Always stay strictly on the marked rock trail — stepping on alpine vegetation destroys decades of growth.
From Burlington it is about 35 miles to the Underhill side on the west, roughly 45 minutes, or 42 miles to Stowe on the east, about 55 minutes. There are three ways up: the auto toll road, the gondola SkyRide, or the hiking trails.
Method 1: the Stowe auto toll road
The auto toll road opened in 1854 as a horse-drawn carriage path and today provides a scenic unpaved route up the eastern slope. It is 4.5 miles of gravel mountain road reaching 3,850 feet near the Nose, operating late May through mid-October weather permitting. No RVs, trailers or motorcycles are permitted. Pricing runs roughly 37 dollars per car plus about 14 per passenger.
Driving gets you to 3,850 feet, but the true summit requires a 1.3-mile hike each way along the Long Trail ridge — 2.6 miles round trip over open granite ledges in alpine wind, with 1.5 to 2 hours needed for the walk.
Method 2: the gondola SkyRide
For a fast aerial ascent, take the Gondola SkyRide from Stowe Mountain Resort’s Mansfield base area. Eight-passenger enclosed cabins climb to the Cliff House Restaurant at 3,625 feet, where you can have a high-altitude lunch or drink on the deck over the Stowe valley. Hours run 10:00am to 4:30pm daily in summer and peak foliage, at roughly 38 to 42 dollars per adult.
From the Cliff House, experienced hikers can climb the steep, rocky Cliff Trail — 0.7 miles — to connect with the summit ridge. Be warned: it involves steep rock scrambling and iron hand-rung ascents.
Method 3: hiking to the summit
For fit hikers, climbing Mansfield from the base is one of the premier mountain experiences in New England. Three routes stand out.
Sunset Ridge Trail, Underhill State Park (west) — 4.6 miles round trip, 2,600 feet of gain, strenuous. The definitive Mansfield hike: it climbs through hardwoods and emerges onto open granite ledges at 3,000 feet, with over 1.5 miles of exposed bedrock ridge and views to Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks before the Chin.
Laura Cowles Trail, Underhill State Park (west) — 4.2 miles round trip, 2,600 feet, very strenuous. A steeper, sheltered climb up a rocky ravine directly below the Chin, best used as an ascent before descending Sunset Ridge for the views.
Long Trail south from Route 108, Smugglers' Notch (east) — 4.6 miles round trip, 2,800 feet, extremely strenuous. From the top of the Notch pass it climbs relentlessly through forest, over ladders and across rock faces past the Elephant’s Head to the northern end of the ridge.
Summit weather and gear
Mount Mansfield generates its own localized weather. Summit temperatures typically run 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit colder than downtown Burlington or Stowe, with frequent high winds and sudden cloud cover.
Shell jacket — windproof and waterproof; essential on the exposed ridge.
Boots — sturdy with good rubber grip; the granite is slick when wet.
Water — a minimum of two litres per person. There is no potable water on the summit.
Food — high-calorie trail snacks: nuts, dried fruit, bars.
Maps — offline digital or paper; cell service drops in the ravines.
Choosing your access
Match the method to the party.
Auto toll road — from Route 108 in Stowe; moderate effort with a 1.3-mile summit walk, about 37 per car plus 14 per person. Best for families, casual sightseers and non-hikers.
Gondola SkyRide — from the Stowe base; easy to strenuous depending on whether you take the Cliff Trail, 38 to 42 per adult. Best for scenic riders and Cliff House dining.
Sunset Ridge hike — from Underhill State Park; high effort with 2,600 feet of climbing and a 5-dollar park fee. Best for peak-baggers and classic hikers.
Long Trail from the Notch — free roadside parking, very high effort with steep scrambles. Best for experienced mountain hikers.
Good to know
How high is Mount Mansfield?+
4,395 feet, making it the highest point in Vermont. Its ridge reads as a human profile — the Forehead at 3,940, the Nose at 4,062, the Chin at 4,395 and the Adam’s Apple at 4,060 — with about 1.1 miles of alpine tundra ridge between them.
Can you drive to the top of Mount Mansfield?+
Not quite. The 4.5-mile unpaved auto toll road from Route 108 in Stowe reaches 3,850 feet near the Nose, and the true summit needs a 1.3-mile ridge walk each way. It runs late May to mid-October, roughly 37 per car plus 14 per passenger, and bans RVs, trailers and motorcycles.
What is the best hike up Mount Mansfield?+
The Sunset Ridge Trail from Underhill State Park — 4.6 miles round trip with 2,600 feet of gain, emerging onto open granite at 3,000 feet for over 1.5 miles of exposed ridge with Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks in view.
Why must hikers stay on the rocks?+
The summit holds one of only two significant arctic-alpine tundra ecosystems left in Vermont, about 200 acres, with relict plants like alpine bilberry and diapensia. A single footstep destroys decades of growth, so walk only on marked rock.
How cold is the summit?+
Typically 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit colder than Burlington or Stowe, with frequent high winds and sudden cloud. Carry a windproof, waterproof shell, two litres of water, food, a map and sturdy boots — the granite is slick when wet.