Mount Mansfield (4,395 ft)
07/12/26
10.7 miles
Underhill State Park, Vermont
Maple Ridge Trail > Lakeview Trail > Canyon Trail > Long Trail > Sunset Ridge Trail
I finally hiked Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak! This was by far the tallest mountain I've ever hiked, with a summit of 4,395 ft. I love to hike but haven't had the opportunity to do much major mountain climbing, so this was really exciting. I was super fortunate that the weather was near perfect and I got to hike it with two of my friends! After the approach trails we began our ascent on Maple Ridge Trail which is known for its scramble sections and exposed rock. It is considered to be one of the more difficult trails but I wanted a challenge and love a good scramble so I was game. I also wanted to gauge my hiking abilities for future mountains and see how well I would do on a more strenuous hike. I've been hiking a lot this summer, mostly on more chill local trails, but I found the ascension of the mountain to be so much fun and and easier than expected! It was beautiful and the views were seriously like nothing I've ever experienced before. The first moment of coming above treeline was unforgettable, everything looked so huge and vast. I found the more technical elements, while at times a little challenging, to be super enjoyable. There were some great scrambles and even a jump over a big gap in the rocks. As we continued to gain elevation I realized I'd never been up this high before. I love the terrain of Vermont and just the North East in general as it's where I grew up. The jagged rocks and rolling green hills made me feel at home but also totally in awe, as I quite literally saw the much familiar terrain from a whole new point of view, being over 4000 ft above sealevel! I definitely get why they call Vermont the 'green mountain state' and I can’t emphasize enough how green everything was. When we reached the end of Maple Ridge Trail we found a spot to stop, eat, and take in the views. I actually don't think there's any better feeling than eating food with your friends on top of a mountain you just hiked together. After this we began to walk across the peaks which are known for looking like a face, starting at the forehead and making our way towards the summit at the chin. We took some side trails to get there, beginning with Lakeview Trail which had some cool rare alpine flora and fauna, as well as tons of pink sphagnum moss (my fav). Then we began on Canyon Trail and it was a wild experience! I had heard the side trails got pretty scrambly but this had us using all fours to climb over huge boulders and through tight tunnels (pic 3). It had to be at least a class 3 scramble and this part was where we started to be like “what did we get ourselves into” but it also probably gave us the best story and for me a hunger to hike more rugged trails like it in the future. We then got onto the Long Trail to take us to the summit. The Long Trail spans the entire length of Vermont and is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States as well as the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. It was a rocky, exposed climb to the summit which offered the best views all day and a great feeling of accomplishment. We took a break to sunbathe, stretch, and relax then finally began to descend. By this point we were feeling the nearly 7 hours we had been on our journey so the hike down Sunset Ridge took a little bit of mental toughness. I can't even count the amount of times I almost wiped out due to getting sloppy with my footing but we made it back in one piece and my tiredness was eased by the consistently gorgeous landscape and company of my friend who continued to crack jokes all the way to the parking lot. When we finally made it to the bottom we were exhausted but I was so proud of us. I hiked the highest mountain in Vermont, on a beautiful day, with people I love. I was also happy that I got to experience the mountain in full, as we spent all day hiking through the numerous sections and saw it from pretty much every side. I think what I'll remember most from Mount Mansfield is it's unique scrambles, the surreal feeling of being up so high, and the views of neverending green hills.
07/12/26
10.7 miles
Underhill State Park, Vermont
Maple Ridge Trail > Lakeview Trail > Canyon Trail > Long Trail > Sunset Ridge Trail
I finally hiked Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak! This was by far the tallest mountain I've ever hiked, with a summit of 4,395 ft. I love to hike but haven't had the opportunity to do much major mountain climbing, so this was really exciting. I was super fortunate that the weather was near perfect and I got to hike it with two of my friends! After the approach trails we began our ascent on Maple Ridge Trail which is known for its scramble sections and exposed rock. It is considered to be one of the more difficult trails but I wanted a challenge and love a good scramble so I was game. I also wanted to gauge my hiking abilities for future mountains and see how well I would do on a more strenuous hike. I've been hiking a lot this summer, mostly on more chill local trails, but I found the ascension of the mountain to be so much fun and and easier than expected! It was beautiful and the views were seriously like nothing I've ever experienced before. The first moment of coming above treeline was unforgettable, everything looked so huge and vast. I found the more technical elements, while at times a little challenging, to be super enjoyable. There were some great scrambles and even a jump over a big gap in the rocks. As we continued to gain elevation I realized I'd never been up this high before. I love the terrain of Vermont and just the North East in general as it's where I grew up. The jagged rocks and rolling green hills made me feel at home but also totally in awe, as I quite literally saw the much familiar terrain from a whole new point of view, being over 4000 ft above sealevel! I definitely get why they call Vermont the 'green mountain state' and I can’t emphasize enough how green everything was. When we reached the end of Maple Ridge Trail we found a spot to stop, eat, and take in the views. I actually don't think there's any better feeling than eating food with your friends on top of a mountain you just hiked together. After this we began to walk across the peaks which are known for looking like a face, starting at the forehead and making our way towards the summit at the chin. We took some side trails to get there, beginning with Lakeview Trail which had some cool rare alpine flora and fauna, as well as tons of pink sphagnum moss (my fav). Then we began on Canyon Trail and it was a wild experience! I had heard the side trails got pretty scrambly but this had us using all fours to climb over huge boulders and through tight tunnels (pic 3). It had to be at least a class 3 scramble and this part was where we started to be like “what did we get ourselves into” but it also probably gave us the best story and for me a hunger to hike more rugged trails like it in the future. We then got onto the Long Trail to take us to the summit. The Long Trail spans the entire length of Vermont and is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States as well as the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. It was a rocky, exposed climb to the summit which offered the best views all day and a great feeling of accomplishment. We took a break to sunbathe, stretch, and relax then finally began to descend. By this point we were feeling the nearly 7 hours we had been on our journey so the hike down Sunset Ridge took a little bit of mental toughness. I can't even count the amount of times I almost wiped out due to getting sloppy with my footing but we made it back in one piece and my tiredness was eased by the consistently gorgeous landscape and company of my friend who continued to crack jokes all the way to the parking lot. When we finally made it to the bottom we were exhausted but I was so proud of us. I hiked the highest mountain in Vermont, on a beautiful day, with people I love. I was also happy that I got to experience the mountain in full, as we spent all day hiking through the numerous sections and saw it from pretty much every side. I think what I'll remember most from Mount Mansfield is it's unique scrambles, the surreal feeling of being up so high, and the views of neverending green hills.