Vermont Guides
Vermont's highest peak — 4,393 feet, with alpine tundra, a Long Trail ridge walk, and views from Lake Champlain to the White Mountains.
Mount Mansfield is Vermont's highest point — 4,393 feet at the Chin, the northernmost and tallest of the summit ridge's named landmarks. The ridge runs roughly north-south and, seen from the Champlain Valley on a clear day, takes the profile of a human face: the Forehead (the toll road terminus), the Nose, the Upper Lip, the Chin. It's a distinctive silhouette that becomes recognizable after a few days in the area.
From Heart of the Village Inn in Shelburne, Mount Mansfield is approximately 45–50 minutes northeast via I-89 North to Exit 10 (Stowe), then Route 100 North and Route 108 up the mountain. The western approach via Underhill State Park is about 40 minutes. Either way, it's a comfortable day trip — with the option of combining Stowe village for lunch and the drive back down through the Lamoille Valley in the afternoon.
The Mount Mansfield Toll Road leaves Route 108 in Stowe and climbs 4.5 miles to the Nose — near the top of the ridge, just below the true summit. Private vehicles pay a fee per car; the road is seasonal, typically mid-May through mid-October, weather permitting. From the Nose parking area, the Chin (true summit) is a 0.7-mile walk north along the Long Trail ridge — exposed rock, cairns, and genuine above-treeline terrain for most of the way. Confirm current toll road hours, fees, and conditions at the Stowe Mountain Resort website before visiting.
Stowe Mountain Resort operates a gondola that rises to the summit area during summer and fall. It's a faster alternative to the toll road or hiking for guests who want the summit experience without the walk. The gondola operates seasonally; confirm current schedules and pricing with Stowe Mountain Resort.
The western approach via Underhill State Park offers some of the best hiking on the mountain. The Sunset Ridge Trail leaves the park and climbs to open ridgeline well before the summit — giving hikers extended above-treeline views during the approach rather than only at the top. It's a strenuous 4.5-mile round trip from the park's upper trailhead, gaining approximately 2,600 feet. This is the route serious hikers prefer. Underhill State Park is approximately 40 minutes from the inn via US-7 North and Route 15 East; confirm current park status and parking before visiting.
For hikers who want the full summit experience, walking the ridge from the Forehead to the Chin (and back) via the Long Trail takes 2–3 hours above treeline — exposed, marked with cairns, with 360-degree views when the clouds cooperate. Lake Champlain to the west, the Adirondacks beyond, the White Mountains to the northeast, and the Green Mountains running south in both directions. On a clear day it's one of the finest vantage points in the Northeast.
Mount Mansfield's summit ridge holds one of the largest patches of true alpine tundra in the eastern United States — a rare plant community that exists here because the summit elevation exceeds the treeline for this latitude. The tundra plants — diapensia, Bigelow's sedge, alpine bilberry, mountain sandwort — grow slowly and are extremely fragile. Trails are clearly marked; staying on them is not optional. Signs explain which plants are underfoot and why stepping off the rock is damaging even when it doesn't look like it.
The Green Mountain Club maintains the Long Trail across the summit and publishes detailed guidance on summit tundra care. Rangers are often present on the ridge during summer weekends. The experience of walking across genuine tundra — low, wind-scoured, treeless — in Vermont is genuinely unexpected for visitors who associate alpine conditions with the Rockies or the White Mountains.
Stowe village is 5 minutes from the base of the mountain on Route 108 — a full-service resort town with genuine Vermont character beneath the resort infrastructure. The Stowe Recreation Path runs 5.3 miles along the West Branch River through open farmland, accessible from the village center. The von Trapp Family Lodge (on Luce Hill Rd, above the village) has a bierhalle open seasonally and views of the valley that are worth the short drive.
For lunch, the Whip Bar & Grill at the Green Mountain Inn (18 Main St, Stowe) is a reliable mid-range option — Vermont menu, craft beer, a room that's been serving Stowe visitors for decades. Confirm current hours before visiting. The drive back south via I-89 to Shelburne takes about 45 minutes; alternatively, Route 100 South through Waterbury (Ben & Jerry's, The Alchemist) adds a worthwhile stop if you're not yet ready to head back.
4,393 feet at the Chin — Vermont's highest point. The summit ridge includes several named landmarks: the Forehead (toll road access), the Nose, and the Chin (true summit).
The toll road climbs to the Nose, near the summit — seasonal, typically mid-May through mid-October. A fee is charged per vehicle. From the Nose, the Chin is a 0.7-mile walk along the Long Trail. Confirm current conditions at the Stowe Mountain Resort website.
The Sunset Ridge Trail from Underhill State Park (west side) gives the longest above-treeline ridge experience. It's strenuous — 4.5 miles round trip, 2,600 feet of gain. The Long Trail approaches from either side are also popular. Plan 4–6 hours for a round trip from any trailhead.
Approximately 45–50 minutes northeast via I-89 North to Exit 10 (Waterbury), then Route 100 North to Stowe. Underhill State Park (western approach) is about 40 minutes via US-7 North and Route 15 East.
Heart of the Village Inn is Vermont's only adults-only (21+) B&B in Shelburne Village — 45–50 minutes from Mount Mansfield. Made-from-scratch breakfast, free on-site parking, and a quiet Vermont inn to return to after a summit day.
Book Now ↗The dramatic cleft on Mount Mansfield's north side — towering cliffs, boulder fields, and one of Vermont's most scenic drives.
Vermont's third-highest peak and the highest without a ski resort — a classic ridge hike 35 minutes from the inn.
Ben & Jerry's Factory, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and The Alchemist — 40 minutes from the inn, on the way to Stowe.