Mount Mansfield

Mount Mansfield rises to 4,393 feet (1,339 meters) as the tallest summit in Vermont and shows a ridgeline that looks like a reclining human profile. The alpine tundra near the top shelters plant species that have grown here since the Ice Age and appear nowhere else outside arctic regions.

The summit received its name in the 18th century after the Mansfield family, who were early settlers in the region. The Civilian Conservation Corps built a dam on the Little River below the mountain during the 1930s that generates power and controls flooding.

The ridgeline carries names like The Forehead, The Nose, and The Chin because it resembles a human face when seen from the side. Hikers use these landmarks today to locate their position on the mountain and plan their route.

A toll road runs from Stowe Base Lodge up to a point called The Nose, where hiking trails continue the rest of the climb. The road typically opens from May through October, depending on snow and weather conditions at higher elevations.

Over 36 miles (58 kilometers) of snowmobile trails wind through the forested slopes around the mountain and connect three separate state parks. Two Nordic ski centers use the terrain in winter for cross-country skiing and touring.