Mount Mansfield is one of the most striking land features in the state of Vermont. Its long horizontal summit ridge, said to resemble the profile of a person’s face, rises above the surrounding foothills, providing a vista of three states and Quebec, Canada. The University owns almost the entire summit ridge of Mt. Mansfield, a piece of land about 400 acres in extent, most of which is above 4,000 feet.

The largest single expanse of alpine vegetation in the state is found here on the nearly treeless ridge, making it an ideal location to study flora and fauna of an arctic-alpine environment. Some of the rare plants found here include lapland diapensia, bearberry willow, Boott’s rattlesnake root, black crowberry, and mountain cranberry. These fragile natural communities are very popular with researchers, educators, and the thousands of visitors that frequent the mountain summit every summer.
 

Driving Directions

The summit of Mount Mansfield can be reached by a variety of means. One may drive an automobile up the toll road or ride a gondola; both operated by the Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe, Vermont. Numerous hiking trails maintained by the Green Mountain Club also climb to the ridge from both the Stowe and Underhill sides of the mountain. Contact the club in Waterbury Center, Vermont for more information.