Order of Visit: High Point #3
Date Visited: August 21, 2018
Route Taken: Long Trail via Smuggler’s Notch/Barnes Camp – 5 miles roundtrip
Type of Terrain: Steep trails with some rock scrambling near the summit
Elevation: 4,393 feet
Ancestral Lands: Wabanaki, Abenaki
What’s in a name?
Originally known as Mozodepowadso (or “Moosehead Mountain”) by the Abenaki tribe, there are multiple theories on origin of Mt. Mansfield’s current name.
Some locals have credited its name to settlers who relocated from Connecticut. This version claims the new arrivals named both the mountain and the town of Mansfield in honor of their prior hometown back in the Nutmeg State.
This local lore doesn’t past muster though, as the town of Mansfield, Connecticut wasn’t founded until 1774, more than a decade after historical records reference the existing town of Mansfield, Vermont.
The more likely version is that the mountain was actually named after Lord Mansfield, a chief justice of England, who ruled in favor of the British Governor of New Hampshire during a local land dispute with New York in 1752.
This explanation makes far more sense given the constant bickering between the two colonies over various land grants during this period. What better reminder to your neighbor of his loss, than to name a mountain after the judge who ruled in your favor?
Regardless of its entomology, one thing is clear. The town of Mansfield didn’t survive the test of time. Its remnants were absorbed into the modern towns of Underhill (to the west) and Stowe (to the east), while only the mountain clung to its name.
Trip Summary
The first thing I learned about Mt. Mansfield was that it supposedly appears to be a man’s profile from far away. Locals refer to the various points along the ridge line as the Adam’s Apple, the Chin, the Lower Lip, the Upper Lip, the Nose. Of all of these facial points, the Chin is the actual summit of Mt. Mansfield.
After hiking earlier in the week near Smuggler’s Notch, we were definitely feeling up for the challenge to summit Mt. Mansfield. Our legs were in fine shape, so our goal was to hike from Stowe up to the Chin without taking the nearby Auto Toll Road that most visitors use.
We parked at an extremely large lot across the Hwy 108 from the Barnes Visitor Center. From there, signs clearly point you to the Long Trail (southbound).
The first bit our our journey was along a short, but scenic connector trail between the visitor center and the Long Trail. Although this trail was less than a mile long, we enjoyed the boardwalk all and signs identifying local flora and fauna as we warmed up for the ascent.
Once we merged onto the Long Trail, the trail led us back cross the Hwy 108 again (over to the same side we parked on) and we started our hike up Mt. Mansfield in earnest.
The trail was very well maintained, but very rocky. There were times when I felt like I was just walking up an endless staircase of boulders, and the route felt much longer than the actual distance.
About 2/3 of the way up we encountered the Taft Lodge, which was originally built in 1920 to provide shelter for hikers on the Long Trail. From there, the trail gets steeper and eventually turned into a boulder scramble to reach the Chin.
Once at the summit, we were surprised to see crowds of people – the majority of which came up via the Auto Toll Road from the South. There was a good deal of alpine vegetation near here, so we tried to tread carefully.
There were no prominent signs indicating Mt. Mansfield’s summit (perhaps there’s a nice sign at the visitor center below). Thus, our photo just had the panoramic views behind and below us instead.
After taking our obligatory summit photo, we searched for a good spot between some boulders to protect us from the wind and enjoy our lunch. I toted a can of 4,000 Footer IPA from Woodstock Brewery all the way to the top to enjoy, and considered it a very fitting thirst quencher.
The hike down was uneventful, except for the one group we ran into about halfway down. Finn had taken off ahead of us and apparently ran into the group first. Someone asked him about how much further up they had to go. He told them [honestly] they were only about halfway there. Several of the hikers we passed were dismayed at the news and telling each other, “That kid doesn’t know what he’s talking about. We’re definitely almost there.”
I didn’t want to burst their bubble so I just smiled and nodded. They’ll enjoy the views from the top either way, right?
Details
When to Visit: Mid-May to Early October. The trails are usually closed due to snow during other times of the year.
Getting There: Mt. Mansfield is located 37 miles north of Stowe, VT.
- Hiker’s Route: If you want a more challenging hike, use the Long Trail and approach from the east.
- Direct Route: The most direct ascent requires taking Stowe Mountain Auto Toll Road to the Mt. Mansfield Peak Visitor Center. From there it’s less than a mile hike to the summit (the Chin)
- Gondola/Cliff Route: For a unique experience, hikers can take gondola from Stowe Mountain Resort to the Cliff House, then follow the Cliff Trail for .8 miles to the summit.
Entrance Fees/Permits: There’s no cost to hike up to the summit of Mt. Mansfield on the Long Trail; however, visitors taking the Auto Toll Road or Gondola will have to pay for those costs.
- The Auto Road costs $24 for the driver/car, and $9 for each additional passenger (ages 5 and up)
- The Stowe Gondola Skyride costs $29 per adult and $20 per child. There’s also a family package available for $87 (2 adults; 2 children)
Parking: Parking at Barnes Camp (for the hiker’s route) and the Mt. Mansfield Visitor Center is free.
Accessibility: A steeper hike for adventurous hikers. If taking the Long Trail, plan for the route to take 4-5 hours roundtrip. Bring lots of water. There is a natural spring near Taft Lodge, but hikers should treat or filter the water before drinking it.
Resources:
- Overview of Mt. Mansfield (Summit Post)
- Vermont’s Long Trail (Green Mountain Club)
- Stowe Auto Toll Road and Gondola details (City of Stowe, VT)