Hike Mount Mansfield (The Chin) on Sunset Ridge Trail this Fall
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Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont with a summit elevation of 4,393ft. This mountain is one of only five peaks that are on Vermont’s 4,000 footer list. You can hike Mount Mansfield over and over again because there are tons of trails to the summit and surrounding area.
The views at the summit of Mount Mansfield are outstanding since the peak is so prominent. And if you hike Mount Mansfield in the fall you will be overwhelmed with the gorgeous fall foliage! I am so happy I brought my Canon Powershot on my hike so I can share some photos in this post. My camera is nothing fancy (linked is the SX70 and I have an older SX60), but for a beginner it helps me capture great images to remember my adventures.
This was my first hike in peak fall foliage in a long time and I was so happy to have my fiancé Ben and pup Willie with me. It was our pup’s first 4,000 footer and while we had a great time I have ideas for improving Willie’s experience next time.
Keep reading this post to learn how to hike Mount Mansfield, specifically on the Sunset Ridge Trail, and what other trails you can check out in the area. I’ll be covering thoughts on anything I think you might need to know to hike Mount Mansfield in the fall or with your dog as well! And afterwards I recommend a great barbeque and brewery to pop into if you are heading south.
- The Surrounding Area
- Underhill State Park
- Being Prepared for Fall Hiking (You and Your Dog!)
- Parking and Trailhead
- Sunset Ridge Trail
- Open Summit Views
- Other Trail Options
- Views and Brews
The Surrounding Area when you Hike Mount Mansfield
As stated, when you hike Mount Mansfield you are hiking the highest peak in Vermont. The mountain sits within Mount Mansfield Natural Area which is in Mount Mansfield State Forest.
Mount Mansfield State Forest spans almost 45,000 acres (44,444 according to the Vermont state site for the forest) and has four Vermont state parks in it. These parks are Little River, Waterbury Center, Smuggler’s Notch, and Underhill.
The state forest is fantastic for many types of activities all year long. Almost any outdoor activity you can think of is available for people to enjoy. There are many new places to explore as you hike, climb, camp, fish, kayak, ski, and more!
Mount Mansfield Natural Area
Mount Mansfield sits in the Mount Mansfield Natural area which is around 3,850 acres. There are a lot of trails that can be accessed on roads both west and east of the state forest which is why people return to the area to hike so often! There are endless out-and-backs, loops, and traverses you can work on to get a different experience or challenge yourself.
It has been said the ridgeline Mount Mansfield is a part of within the Mount Mansfield Natural Area looks like the profile of a human face (hence its name!). I do not have my own image of this but feel free to look up ‘Mount Mansfield face profile’ on Google. The bumps are labeled as the forehead, nose, upper lip, lower lip, chin, and Adam’s apple.
The summit of Mount Mansfield is considered The Chin in this line up. For this reason, many trails you may be researching could refer to your destination as being “The Chin” rather than Mount Mansfield itself.
I will be discussing a few trail options later on in this post to give you some more hiking ideas. For now, my detailed trail review will focus on the out-and-back I did on Sunset Ridge Trail.
Hike Mount Mansfield from Underhill State Park
To access the Sunset Ridge Trail, my fiancé Ben and I parked in Vermont’s Underhill State Park. We arrived around 7:30am which was a little after sunrise so the sky was bright but it was still chilly. Our pup Willie had been snoozin’ the whole drive there so he was ready to get going as soon as we parked!
Underhill State Park is a great spot for camping in Vermont or to enjoy as a day use area. The parking lot is a starting point for many trails throughout Mount Mansfield State Forest, giving you different options to hike Mount Mansfield. The entrance to Underhill State Park in Vermont can be reached by going to the following address:
352 Mountain Road, Underhill, VT 05490
Note that Underhill State Park does require a fee to visit of $5 per adult for day use. When we arrived we did not have exact cash to pay (and the attendant had not arrived yet) but there was a sign saying we could pay with a credit card or get change on our way out at the end of the day.
We chose to do this and it worked out really well! The hike ended around noon and I was able to see the attendant and use my credit card for the two of us without a problem. The park office was informational and the attendant was very friendly.
Other Amenities in Underhill State Park
Besides trails to hike Mount Mansfield, Underhill State Park also has a picnic area and 26 walk-in campsites. These sites are a mix between tent and lean-to as well as normal and group sites. I didn’t get a good look at these on my hike but I could see a lot of excited people unpacking for them!
Also, while it’s not reallllly important, behind the park office there is a set of real bathrooms for campers and those using the park for the day. I won’t turn down an outhouse or anything, but I do appreciate when a park has upgraded facilities I can use before or after a long day hike.
For more details on operating hours and contact information for Underhill State Park visit the Vermont State Parks Underhill page! There are also detailed trail maps of the area and a great brochure explaining all about camping at Underhill State Park.
Being Prepared to Hike Mount Mansfield in the Fall (You and Your Dog!)
As summer fades away, we can definitely forget how cold the mountains become. That is until a freezing gust hits you in the face once you get above the treeline. If you are going to hike Mount Mansfield in the fall, make sure you are bringing the correct gear!
Some Tips for Your Fall Day Hikes
This won’t be a whole post running through everything you need for fall hiking, but I do want to touch on a couple important items.
1) With cooler temperatures you will need more layers and warmer layers! Summit temperatures can be extremely different from those at lower elevations. I recommend in addition to your normal fleece bringing a long sleeve shirt, a puffy coat, and a thicker windbreaker. If you wear leggings then fleece leggings can be a good option too!
2) Take care of your hands, head, feet, and neck! Things like gloves, winter hats, warm socks, and neckwarmers are all very small items that are easy to throw in your hiking bag. Even if your body is sweating, you can still be losing a lot of heat from your fingers and the top of your head.
Of course I will always recommend Darn Tough socks for women and men. They are literally one of my all time favorite items and I have them on every single hike and most days at home too!
Warm winter items can be a gamechanger at summits. They protect your face from the wind, retain your body heat, and I’ve always found gloves or mittens to be a great barrier while scrambling up cold, damp rocks.
3) When you get cold you often forget to hydrate or do not realize how many fluids you are actually losing. Same with your sugar levels. Remind yourself and those in your group to keep eating and drinking water to keep your energy levels up.
4) In regards to the fall season itself, be cautious of all the fallen leaves. They can be extremely slippery and commonly cover up rocks and roots that you can trip on. Watch your step but don’t forget to look up now and then! You’ll want to enjoy the foliage and sometimes you get better views earlier on the trail as the leaves have fallen off the trees.
5) Keep the shorter days in mind. With less daylight, depending on your comfort level with hiking in the dark, you may need to opt for shorter hikes. Or optimize your start time to get as much daylight during your hike as possible.
Make Sure Your Dog is Comfy Too!
1) I have been using a Wilderdog harness and leash for Willie on hikes so far and he seems to be really enjoying himself! I am just a beginner at hiking with my dog but I am so excited to improve as we learn about the process. I’ve loved the quality of the Wilderdog products so far, especially the waterproof leash.
The harness gives me peace of mind because I don’t have to hook my leash up directly to my dog’s collar. I’m always nervous about what would happen in case of a fall or something. The harness has a great handle too so I can pick up my pup if need be.
I recommend having some sort of harness set up for your dog. I have also heard it recommended to practice with long leashes when hiking and that is my next step!
2) Of course we carry tons of extra treats for Willie and bring him his own water! My sister got me an awesome little Portable Pet Water Bottle and so far I absolutely love it! It’s light, clips to my bag, and is easy to use.
3) Willie can get a little anxious when we are stopped, especially at summits, because he always wants to meet everyone around him. He thinks everyone is his best friend. One trick we’ve found that works for us is to bring a little rawhide (like these) to give him at the summit to keep him occupied. Willie is a tough chewer so by no means do these last forever, but they give us some time to rest, have a snack, and drink some water while keeping him happy.
4) As a new-to-hiking-with-my-dog hiker, I am still working on finding the perfect balance for everyone on the trail. Learning if and when my dog gets cold if he will need booties or a fleece is something I am keeping an eye on.
I am also working to understand his ability when it comes to climbing the trail. He doesn’t love water crossings but has not had an issue with rocks so far! He is strong and quick so ultimately he just wants to tow you up the trail haha.
With time I am hoping I will find the right balance with keeping him controlled on the trail and making sure he enjoys himself. It is extremely exciting for dogs to be in the woods, especially in a new place!
Parking and Trailhead to Hike Mount Mansfield
The parking lot within Underhill State Park we used to hike Mount Mansfield is near the end of Mountain Road by the park office. It holds maybe 20 cars or so and there were more cars parked along Mountain Road entering the park. With how early we arrived we were one of only a handful of cars with other hikers preparing for the day.
The parking lot itself is very open. There’s gravel laid down and lots of space to make parking easy. Look back earlier in the post to read about the $5/adult fee in the lot.
To begin to hike Mount Mansfield on the Sunset Ridge Trail, we actually continued up Mountain Road until we saw another parking lot on our right. There was a sign on Mountain Road pointing right towards the parking lot with “Eagles Cut Trail” inscribed on it.
Two Ways to Reach Sunset Ridge Trail
At this point there are two ways you can go to reach the true beginning of the trail. First, you can continue on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) gravel road which winds its way through Underhill State Park, gradually ascending. After about three quarters of a mile it reaches a group camping area.
If you want a more direct route, you can follow the previously mentioned sign, head to the back of the parking lot that was on your right, and head up the Eagles Cut Trail. This trail is essentially a straight shot towards that group camping site so you don’t have the added mileage on the road that weaves left and right. It is a very easy trail through the forest with a minor bit of incline to get you started for the day.
Either way, the Eagles Cut Trail meets back up with the CCC Road about 0.1 miles from the camping area and your path continues from there. Do not turn right to actually go towards the group camping. Keep walking on the CCC Road.
A quarter mile later you will reach an information board on Mount Mansfield State Forest. While the CCC Road continues on, the trailhead for Sunset Ridge Trail is here at the bend. To hike Mount Mansfield, follow the trail sign and turn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail.
Sunset Ridge Trail Info to Hike Mount Mansfield
The Sunset Ridge Trail can be hiked as an out-and-back or combined with other trails in the forest to make a loop or traverse. Ben, Willie, and I chose to do an out-and-back this day so we wouldn’t be gone too long. Willie has very little hiking practice so I didn’t want to push him too much and I wanted to get back to my family to spend time at the lake.
From the information board, the Sunset Ridge Trail lets you hike Mount Mansfield and reach the summit in about 2.0 miles (according to my tracked hike). Since you’ve already walked 0.6 miles or so from the parking lot (via Eagles Cut Trail), car to summit is around 2.6 miles. This makes your total mileage to hike Mount Mansfield 5.2 miles if you descend the same way.
Note the sign at this junction says The Chin is 2.2 miles away. And if you are using the trail book Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont (which I highly recommend!) it states the summit is 2.3 miles away at this point.
Beginning Sunset Ridge Trail
The Sunset Ridge Trail almost immediately passes the Laura Cowles Trail on the right at only 0.1 miles after entering the woods. The Laura Cowles Trail has similar elevation gain as the Sunset Ridge Trail but it is almost a mile shorter. This is a steeper option that will let you end up in the same spot that the Sunset Ridge Trail brings you right before the summit.
To hike Mount Mansfield on the Sunset Ridge Trail makes for a very fun day hike. While there is moderate incline, none of it is technically challenging. The terrain changes often enough to keep you interested as well.
There are some nice man made bridges guiding you over brooks and other wetter parts of the trail in the beginning. The forest is lovely to walk through and easy to navigate. With an easy to moderate ascent, you can take your time or pass quickly through this section.
Eventually, the trail gets a little steeper as it climbs a rocky portion of the mountain. The rocks were not difficult to climb as they acted more like a staircase than anything else.
Climbing to the Open Summit
When the incline starts increasing you will also reach a small set of switchbacks on the trail. This point is about half a mile from the beginning of the Sunset Ridge Trail. The switchbacks help take some of the pressure off of your calves but not all of it!
Before the last couple switchbacks you will see a sign pointing to your left directing you to Cantilever Rock. Less than a quarter mile away you can see a unique horizontal rock face jutting out from the mountain. A very cool sight that also helps break up the climb for a few minutes.
Your first truly amazing view happens at the completion of the switchbacks maybe a quarter mile later. At just over 1.5 miles from your car and a mile or so from the summit, you start to leave the treeline behind as you come upon a huge flat rock.
For me, it was a jaw dropping view and the perfect motivator to push towards the summit. I didn’t know what to expect when I set out to hike Mount Mansfield because I had not looked up images beforehand, but I was stunned! Near the end of peak foliage as well there were still gorgeous colors in front of me for miles and miles.
Final Push Following the Cairns
For the last mile the trail is very open. Only for a brief few minutes as you circle the edge of the mountain are you back under the cover of the trees. This is important to keep in mind with the changing weather this time of year though.
The wind was brutal and whipping at our faces. It wasn’t freezing yet but it was still very cold near the summit. We took a break in the trees before and after reaching the true summit to warm up and enjoy a snack.
To reach the true summit of Mount Mansfield (The Chin) we followed the cairns up and around the mountain. There were also ropes on either side of the trail guiding hikers to stay on one path. There is a restoration effort in the Mount Mansfield Natural Area so even though the wind was blowing the guiding trail ropes away from their original positions, we did our best to stay between them and follow where we expected them to be.
Less than a quarter mile from The Chin, you will pass the end of the Laura Cowles Trail. There is a sign directing you to the summit. Say hi to the summit steward if they are there the day you hike and enjoy the view!
Hike Mount Mansfield for the Views!
As I’ve said, when you hike Mount Mansfield, definitely be prepared for any weather conditions. The summit is extremely open and if you want to spend any time up there you’ll want your layers. It can be beautiful and warm lower on the trail but literally freezing with the winds at the summit!
That said, the views on The Chin are spectacular! Walking around you can get views in every direction (even to Canada and New Hampshire). I hope you can tackle this mountain on a clear day so that when you hike Mount Mansfield you will see for yourself!
I haven’t hiked many big mountains in Vermont at this point so I was awestruck by the views. Mount Mansfield is so prominent compared to everything else around it that you can literally see miles and miles of the state spread out below you. It was amazing!
With final foliage colors at lower elevations too, there were lots of oranges and yellows below me. It was such a pretty sight!
You can also look along the ridge in the other direction and get a view of the rest of the Mount Mansfield Natural Area. This includes the other parts of “the face”! See if you can find them as you look down the ridge.
Trail stats:
Mileage: 5.2mi
Elevation Gain: ~2,533ft
Date Hiked: October 2, 2022
Moving Time: 3h 21min
Parking:
Underhill State Park
or
44.52934, -72.84255
A Quick Break and Quicker Descent
Ben, Willie, and I did not spend too much time at the summit because it was quite chilly. We put Ben’s fleece on Willie, gave him some water, took a couple photos, and headed back down to the brief respite in the trees.
From there, we descended fairly quickly. None of us wanted to spend too much time in the open with the cold winds and once below treeline again, we moved at a pretty good pace. Occasionally we paused because a lot of people were coming up and we stopped with Willie to practice training as each group passed.
Other Trail Options to Hike Mount Mansfield
There are a lot of trails that take you to the summit of Mount Mansfield. While I have only completed an out-and-back on the Sunset Ridge Trail, it would be very fun to explore more of the area. I already touched on the Laura Cowles Trail earlier but I will mention a few more trail options to hike Mount Mansfield below.
Long Trail
The entire Long Trail is 272 miles from the Vermont-Massachusetts border to the Vermont-Canada border. Part of the Long Trail runs nearly the entire length of the Mount Mansfield Natural Area crossing the Forehead to just past the Chin. Most other trails hikers use to hike Mount Mansfield at some point hook up with the Long Trail and follow it up to the Chin.
One can exclusively hike the Long Trail to summit Mount Mansfield by starting where the Long Trail crosses Route 108 near the Smuggler’s Notch picnic area. From there it is about 2.3 miles one way to hike Mount Mansfield.
Trails off the CCC Road
Continuing on the CCC Road past the entrance for the Sunset Ridge Trail and Laura Cowles Trail, you can choose to climb the Halfway House Trail. This trail is 2.5 miles long one way and goes almost directly to the Summit House Visitor Center for Mount Mansfield. The visitor center is then 1.2 miles from the Chin.
At the very end of the CCC Road (over 2 miles from the original parking lot), you can begin the Maple Ridge Trail. Climbing a bit over 1,000 feet and 1.5 miles will bring you to the Forehead within the Mount Mansfield Natural Area. From the Forehead you need to hike 2 miles north to reach the Chin, Vermont’s highest mountain.
Other Options
The Butler Lodge Trail is 1.8 miles one way and over 1,600ft elevation gain. It starts at a parking area further south than Underhill State Park and eventually connects to the Long Trail 0.9 miles south of the Forehead. From the Forehead to the Chin, you will hike 2 more miles.
Originally when I was planning to hike Mount Mansfield, I was going to hike the Hellbrook Trail. This trail is only 1.5 miles one way but has over 2,000ft elevation gain, so very very steep.
I chose not to do this trail because I thought a friend or two was going to join me and I wasn’t sure they’d enjoy such a steep climb. Also, there were recommendations to not bring your dog on this trail and also not even descend via this trail. With it being Willie’s first big hike, I didn’t want anything complicated nor to chance anything on a difficult, less-traveled path.
*Please note the trails described above are not trails I have completed! The details are not complete and these notes should not solely be used to hike Mount Mansfield. Please do your own research to ensure you have a safe and fun hike!
Vermont Views and Brews after you Hike Mount Mansfield
If you have read some of my other posts, you know I love taking part in the Views and Brews lists when I can! These lists exist for various states. They entail visiting a brewery and doing a local hike within 48 hours.
If you do enough of them you get a patch. I casually track the ones I’ve done in hopes one day I will have accumulated enough to get one.
Prohibition Pig
When I knew I was going to hike Mount Mansfield, I went online to look at the Vermont Views and Brews list. Prohibition Pig was right off our route in Waterbury as we headed back to the lake and its listed hike was “TBD”. A perfect contender!
Prohibition Pig has a modern brewery/bar and outdoor seating area open during the day prior to the dinner-time opening of their actual restaurant. Ben and I were able to sit with Willie outside and enjoy some great beers! As usual I tried a stout and Ben tried an IPA, but they had some of their own seltzers too!
They also have a limited menu serving some of their fantastic barbeque! We sampled the chorizo in the house-made queso and were blown away. I would definitely love to return if we are in the area to try more of their dishes.
After distracting Willie as long as we could with treats, we finished our drinks and snack and went on our way. We were all tired but had a wonderful morning exploring Vermont. We don’t come to the state often enough!
Mount Mansfield is a beautiful mountain in Vermont and well worth a trip for a day hike. The Sunset Ridge Trail is moderate, fun, and interesting. It is perfect for those looking for amazing views with relatively little effort.
If you enjoyed reading about how to hike Mount Mansfield on the Sunset Ridge Trail and learn about the surrounding area, please let me know! Also, if you have any comments or questions I am always willing to help if I can! Feel free to comment below or visit my Contact page.
