Distance and hiking times are an estimate for a round trip Trail and weather conditions may vary, wear layers and be alert NO HIKING ON STATE LAND ABOVE 2500 FEET PRIOR TO MAY 30TH
Easy Hikes
EASY HIKES
# 1 MOSS GLEN FALLS HIKE AND WATERFALL
Distance 1 Mile Time .75 Hour Climb 200 Feet
Take Rt. 100 North from Stowe Village 3 miles to Randolph Road on the right. First road on the right is Moss Glen Falls Road. Proceed 0.5 miles to a small parking area on the left. Follow the trail signs. Easy hike with a short climb following along waterfalls and swimming holes. Be Aware: You may encounter Mt. Bikers
This is a short scenic hike to a spectacular waterfall. The trail is not well marked but the route is obvious by following the brook upsteam to the falls.
Be careful at the falls loose debris at the edge of the trail can be slippery and dangerous. Inexperienced hikers should stay to the left above the falls.
This trail connects to the VAST snowmobile trail so be careful not to follow the wrong trail back
#2 STERLING FALLS GORGE
Distance .5 Miles Time .75 Hour Climb 150 Feet
From Stowe Village take Rt 108 North 8 miles and turn right on to Weeks Hill Road. After 1.5 miles bear right onto Percy Road at stop sign stay left and continue to follow Percy Road for aprx 2 miles. Turn left onto Sterling Valley Road and follow for aprx 2 miles more. Sterling Gorge is on the left.
#3 WIESSNER WOODS
Distance 2.8 Miles Time 2 Hours Climb 900 Feet
From Stowe Village take Rt 108 North 6 miles, turn right on to Edson Hill Road, passing the entrance to Stowehoff Inn, take the next right and park on your left. The Wiessner family entrusted Wiessner Woods to the Stowe Land Trust to preserve its natural state. Beautiful walks through miles of gentle trails.
#4 SUNSET ROCK
Distance 1 Mile Time Less than 1 Hour
Across from the Stowe Community Church take Sunset Street. (Please note: No Parking on Sunset Street) to the end. The trail starts to the left. Take a break at the bedrock outcropping and enjoy the view of Main Street.
Moderate Hikes
MODERATE HIKES
#5 STERLING POND TRAIL
Distance 2 Miles
Time 2 Hours
From Stowe Village take Rt 108 North 8.9 miles to the top of Smuggler's Notch and park on the left by the Visitor Center. The trail starts across the road. Look for 3"x5" blue blazes to mark the trail. This is a great hike on a very well maintained trail. Please be respectful of restricted Peregrine Falcon nesting areas. Hiking the loop around the pond (adding 1.4 miles to the distance), now called Snuffy's Trail/Long Trail, accesses the trail to the elephant's head rock formation (.5 mile one way). When returning from Sterling Pond make sure to follow the Sterling Pond Trail down the mountain.
# 6 STOWE PINNACLE - Elevation 2,551 ft
Distance 2.8 Miles Time 3 Hours Climb 1,520 Feet
From Stowe Village take School Street for .3 mile, bear right at fork on to Stowe Hollow Road continuing straight onto Upper Hollow Road, about 2 miles from the center of Stowe. As you drive look up to see a rocky face - that is where this trail ends! About .8 mile from the beginning of Upper Hollow Road on the left is the parking area and trailhead (Do not turn onto Pinnacle Road). Trail is wooded with a steady climb on to a rock summit.
This hike is relatively short but steep with breaktaking views of Camel's Hump, Mt Mansfield, the Worcester Range and the Sterling Range.
# 7 COTTON BROOK / NORTH END OF THE WATERBURY RESERVOIR
Distance 9 Miles Time 4.5 Hours Climb 1000 Feet
From Stowe Village take Rt 100 South aprx 2.5 miles turn right on to Moscow Road for 2 miles bearing left on to Cotton Brook Road. Follow Cotton Brook Road until you see a red gate, parking is on the left before the gate. Be aware you may encounter mt bikers.
# 8 NEBRASKA NOTCH / LAKE MANSFIELD TRAIL
Distance 3.2 Miles Time 2.5 Hours Climb 550 Feet
From Stowe Village take Rt 100 South aprx 2.5 miles turn right onto Moscow Road for 2 miles bearing right onto Nebraska Valley Road to the Lake Mansfield Trout Club. The Lake Mansfield Trail is a 1.6 mile hike to Taylor Lodge. This trail is rugged but interesting with large boulders. From Taylor Lodge continue on for 6 miles for a 5-hour hike for the forehead at Mt Mansfield, great views along the way.
At the trailhead there is a great view of a large glacial cirque (a rounded scooped out valley). The trail follows an old logging road for a while before crossing a brook and joining the Long Trail. This is a greatfamily hike with good views along the trail, beaver dams and a waterfall. Taylor Lodge has an open faced porch for picnicking.
# 9 TAFT LODGE / MT. MANSFIELD via the LONG TRAIL
Distance 3.4 Miles to Taft Lodge 4.5 Miles to the Chin Time 4 Hours to Taft Lodge 5 Hours to the Chin Climb 2,790 Feet to the Chin
From Stowe Village take Rt 108 North 7.4 miles. On the left side of the road look for the brown "Long Trail" signs and the 2"x8" white blazes to mark the trail. This is a popular section of the Long Trail system with a steady climb to Taft Lodge, just below the Chin, and a popular place for overnight backpackers (a nominal fee is requested to spend the night.)
Expert Trails
EXPERT TRAILS
# 10 GONDOLA AND CLIFF TRAIL to the SUMMIT of MT. MANSFIELD - VERMONT'S HIGHEST PEAK - 4,595 FEET
Distance 1.6 Miles from the top of the Gondola Lift Time 2 Hours Climb 750 Feet
Hike up the ski trails or take the Gondola to the Cliff Trail. The trail starts behind the Gondola Cliff House, it is a short steep climb to the ridge then .4 mile to the chin along the summit. Great views all the way. Ride the Gondola or hike back down to your car. A great way to reach the summit of Mt. Mansfield, but make sure you are wearing appropriate shoes.
# 11 HELLBROOK TRAIL
Distance 3.5 Miles Time 4 Hours Climb 2,590 Feet
From Stowe Village take Rt 100 North 8.4 miles. On the left side of the road look for the brown "Long Trail" signs and 2"x6" blue blazes marking the trail. This VERY STEEP, expert hiking trail is often extremely wet and should be used for accent NOT decent.
# 12 CAMEL'S HUMP: MONROE / ALPINE LOOP
Distance 6.6 Miles Time 4.75 Hours
From Stowe Village take Rt 100 South to the junction of Rt 2 in Waterbury. Turn left towards Waterbury and go 0.1 mile, then turn right on to Winooski Street. Cross a bridge and turn right on to River Road. Go 4.6 miles and turn left on to Camel's Hump Road. Stay on this road until you reach the parking lot at the end of the road. A partial loop hike of Camel's Hump begins by following the Monroe Trail to the junction of the Alpine Trail. From here follow the Alpine Trail left (southwest) to the summit. Descend via the Long Trail north to the hut clearing and take a right (east) on to the Monroe Trail back to the parking area.
# 13 HARRINGTON'S VIEW TRAIL - LONG TRAIL NORTH
Distance 6.6 Miles Time 4.75 Hours
This isn't a technically difficult hike but the length of this trail makes it an advanced hike. From Stowe Village take Rt 100 South to the junction of Rt 2 in Waterbury. Turn right on to Rt 2 and go 6 miles and turn right on to the Bolton Access Road. The Long Trail crossing is 3 miles from Rt 2. Parking is limited.
# 14 HUNGER MOUNTAIN: WATERBURY TRAIL
Distance 4 Miles Time 4.75 hours
Follow Vt. 100 .3 miles south of the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Turn left toward the Waterbury Center Post Office. At .3 miles, turn left on Maple Street. Just past the Fire Station, turn right on Loomis Hill Road. At the top of the hill the road bears left and you reach a small parking area at 3.8 miles on the right.
Hunger Mountain and Camel's Hump are nice to hike because of the lack of development. Hunger has views of the Green Mountains to the west and Groton State Forest and the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the east. A possible side trail leads south to White Rock Mountain, while the Skyline Trail heads north to Worcester Mountain.
# 15 MOUNT MANSFIELD TRAVERSE
Distance 5.8 Miles Time 4 Hours
From Stowe Village take Rt 108 7.5 miles to the Taft Lodge Parking lot just prior to the Smuggler's Notch picnic area. Take the Long Trail to the Chin (2.3 miles) following the white blazes). From the Chin continue to follow the Long Trail across the ridge to the Toll Road, 1.2 miles. Follow the Toll Road down to the Nosedive trail (near the Octagon) and Nosedive to the Hazelton Trail to the ski area parking lot (2.1 miles) from there is it .3 miles back up 108 to your car.
# 16 WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN
Distance 6.8 Miles Time 6 Hours
From Stowe Village take Rt 100 North 1.7 miles and turn left on to Stagecoach Road. At the 4-way stop sign in Morristown Corners, turn left on to Walton Road. Stay on Walton Road by bearing left at Cole Hill Road (you will pass another section of Cole Hill Road on your left) turn left on to Mud City Loop. Stay on this road until reaching the Rooney Farm, turn right and proceed to the parking area at the end of the road. Follow the Beaver Meadow Trail from the parking lot. At the junction of the Beaver Meadow Bypass, stay to the right (east) on the Whiteface Trail. At the junction of the Long Trail, at the shelter, go right (north) to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Return following the instructions in reverse.