Mt. Mansfield – Peak #5

Mt. Mansfield – Peak 5 of the Challenge
Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, was my fifth peak in the hiking challenge. The required route for this summit is the Mt. Mansfield Loop Trail, which starts at Underhill State Park—a clean, well-maintained park with excellent facilities for both campers and hikers. There’s a large parking lot that accommodates several vehicles, and a $5 park entrance fee, payable by cash or card.

I arrived at the park around 8:30 AM on a sunny but chilly mid-October morning. I added a jacket to my hiking layers before starting my hike at 9:00 AM. From the parking lot, I walked about half a mile along a paved road to reach the start of the trails and chose to hike the loop counterclockwise—this route makes for a longer ascent but offers a shorter, easier descent.

After another mile of walking along a road covered with autumn leaves, I reached the trailhead for Maple Ridge Trail. Less than half a mile in, the trail opened up to a clearing with a stunning view of the mountains. Although it was just past peak foliage, the colors were still vibrant.   From there, the hike became more rugged, transitioning to rocky paths. Some parts were steep and exposed—challenging and even a bit scary at times. I finally reached the summit after four and a half hours of steady climbing.  The summit was crowded, with many people up there to enjoy the foliage—some had driven up the toll road or taken the ski lift from the other side of the mountain.

The descent was much smoother and less physically demanding. I took my time going down, enjoying the beautiful fall scenery along the way. This was my most strenuous hike of the challenge so far, but it was also incredibly rewarding thanks to the stunning views of the mountain during the foliage.