Mount Mansfield
Highest of Vermont"s peaks
Mount Mansfield is the highest of Vermont"s peaks, measuring in at an elevation of 4,393 feet.
The following is an article that I have in mind for a hike in the Green Mountains. The article is from Go Take a Hike which is a web site that no longer exists.
Mount Mansfield is the highest of Vermont"s peaks, measuring in at an elevation of 4,393 feet. When viewed from the east, the mountain has a profile of a human face, with a forehead, nose, lips, chin and adam"s apple. Mansfield summit (The Chin is the highest point) offers views of the Green Mountain range, east to New Hampshire"s White Mountains, and west across Lake Champlain to New York"s Adirondacks. The route described here is a 9-mile loop with a 2,600 foot elevation gain.
Halfway House-Sunset Ridge Loop: The Halfway House Trail climbs 3.5 miles from Underhill State Park to the Long Trail. It winds through the woods, at times steeply, aided by switchbacks, before reaching a series of ledges just below the Long Trail. The trail reaches the summit ridge 0.2 miles from the summit station and visitor"s center, near Frenchman"s Pile. Frenchman"s Pile is a cairn (rock pile) commemorating a hiker who was struck by lightning while crossing the ridge.
Continue north on the Long Trail, follow the ridge 1.2 miles to "The Chin", the official summit of Mount Mansfield. For the most part, the traverse of the ridge is fairly level. It crosses an alpine meadow of open rock and fragile alpine/arctic tundra vegetation. Above treeline, you must exercise caution and walk only on the rocks to avoid trampling the delicate plants. The grade becomes steeper in spots as you climb over and around the upper and lower lips, and then finally to the chin.
From "The Chin," you have views north past Belvidere Mountain and Jay Peak into Canada. To the east, the view stretches across the Worcester Range and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire to include the Franconia and Kinsman ranges, Mount Moosilauke, and Mount Washington. To the south, Camel"s Hump, the Breadloaf Wilderness, and Killington can be seen. The west looks across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks. Whiteface Mountain stands alone to the north of the rest of the 46 High Peaks, the highest of which are Mount Marcy and Algonquin.
The 4.3 mile descent from "The Chin" to Underhill State Park, via the Sunset Ridge Trail, is spectacular. A large portion of the ridge is above treeline and follows a route over open rock, marked by cairns and paint blazes, with incredible views of the valley below. There is no shade, so make sure you have a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of water. The glare off the rock intensifies the rays of the sun. On a hot day, you will be thankful to finally reach the woods! The descent is steep with some scrambling. On the way down, take a detour to Cantilever Rock, a 60 ft horizontal chunk of rock wedged into a cliff face.
The trailhead for this hike is from the CCC road leaving Underhill State Campground. Park in the campground, and hike one mile down the gravel road to reach the trail.