The best walks and hikes in Mount Mansfield State Forest

Hiking Vermont Trails above 2500 feet is strongly discouraged until Memorial Day weekend because of erosionall damage Contact the Green Mountain Club at 802-244-7037 or email gmc@greenmountainclub.org or their website greenmountainclub.org

Great place fill up with water

The Sunset Ridge Trail is one of the most scenic trails in Vermont and travels up southwestern side of Mt. Mansfield. This fantastic trail is relatively short and mostly above treeline. It offers phenomenal views of the Champlain Valley and the Mansfield ridge line and, as the name indicates, is exceptionally beautiful at sunset. There are several water crossings and scenic outcroppings scattered along this enjoyable trail as you hike up toward Mt. Mansfield.

Mansfield's Adam's Apple, or just the "Adam's Apple" is the northernmost named sub peak of Mt. Mansfield, whose long ridge line is comprised of bumps and peaks that are said to resemble an elongated face when looking at the mountain from the east or west. The Adam's Apple is a small but prominent knoll surrounded by stubby pine trees that offers fantastic views of the Chin, which towers over the Adam's Apple. This is a good landmark as you traverse the Mansfield ridge line and a great place to pause, sip some water, and take in the views of this amazing area. From the "Adam's Apple" to the "Forehead," is just little over two miles to the north, the trail is almost entirely above treeline, so please check conditions before deciding to hike the exposed ridge line.

The Forehead is the southernmost named sub peak on the ridge line of Mt. Mansfield. Mansfield's Forehead, or simply, "The Forehead," gets it name from the idea that the the long, exposed ridge line of Mt. Mansfield looks like the profile of a man's face lying down. Standing at 3,940 feet, the Forehead is a great place to take in the views up the Mansfield ridge line to the north. Mt. Mansfield is one of two places where Arctic Tundra exists in Vermont so please try to stick on designated trails when traveling in this unique, beautiful area. From the "Forehead" here to the "Adam's Apple," which is a little over 2 miles to the south, the trail almost entirely above treeline, so please check conditions before traveling in this incredible area.

Supposedly, the long, exposed ridge line of Mt. Mansfield, the tallest mountain in Vermont, looks like the profile of a man's face. This particular feature is known as Mansfield's Lower Lip. From the Lower Lip you get great views down the long, exposed ridge line that comprises Mt. Mansfield.

The small sub peaks and bumps off of Mt. Mansfield are all named for different facial features; supposedly, the long ridge line of Mansfield looks like the profile of a man's face lying down. This particular feature is known as Mansfield's Upper Lip, or simply, the Upper Lip. This rocky band of cliffs is quite prominent on the exposed ridge line and is a great feature to snap some photos of as you continue your hike in the alpine tundra.

Mt. Mansfield looms over the small ski town of Stowe, Vermont, at 4,393 feet. As the tallest mountain in Vermont, Mansfield is a very popular and rewarding summit for any New Englander. Because of its popularity (there are almost 40,000 visitors every year), the delicate ecosystem has been severely affected. Mt. Mansfield is one of two places in Vermont where Arctic Tundra exists, so please try to stick on designated trails when visiting this summit. When relaxing on the summit, you get fantastic panoramic views across Vermont, and on clear days you can even see to the Presidentials in New Hampshire!