Hellbrook Trail to Mt Mansfield | Most Brutal hike in Vermont?

Trail Overview Is Hell Brook Trail to Mt Mansfield really the hardest hike in Vermont? This route through Smugglers’ Notch near Stowe, Vermont throws you into one of the steepest climbs in the Green Mountains before reaching Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. If you love advanced New England hikes, technical scrambling, exposed ridgelines, and rugged Vermont hiking trails, this hiking film is for you. The Hell Brook Trail, often searched as "Hellbrook Trail" earns its reputation quickly. It climbs over 2,300 feet in just 1.3 miles to the Long Trail, and the climbing still isn’t over. From there, we make the final push to The Chin on Mt Mansfield before crossing one of my favorite ridgelines I’ve seen anywhere in New England. If you’re planning a Vermont hiking trip or looking for challenging things to do in Vermont, this video shows exactly what this route is like. Essential Hike Details Trail: Hell Brook Trail → Long Trail → Subway Trail → Long Trail → Haselton Trail Location: Mount Mansfield / Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Vermont Region: Green Mountains, Northern Vermont / New England Mileage: Approximately 7+ miles, depending on exact road-walk and ridgeline routing Elevation gain: Approximately 3,000 feet total Highest point: The Chin, Mount Mansfield — 4,393 ft Difficulty: Very difficult/advanced AllTrails Link https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ve... Parking Information We parked along VT 108 in Smugglers’ Notch, roughly halfway between the Hell Brook Trail access and the base of Mount Mansfield. That let us split the road walk between the beginning and end of the hike instead of doing it all at once. There are other parking options around Barnes Camp, Stowe Mountain Resort, and at Hell Brook access point, so check current parking rules, VT 108 access, weather, and trail conditions before heading out. Here's exactly where I parked https://maps.app.goo.gl/bVXbVFFKB4977... Highlights of the Trail The biggest highlight is the variety. Hell Brook is steep, rugged, and relentless, with plenty of hands-on scrambling. When you finally reach The Chin, it feels earned, and the reward is Mount Mansfield’s exposed ridgeline with expansive views across Vermont’s Green Mountains. We also took a detour onto the Subway Trail, where the route squeezes through caves and around massive rock formations before reconnecting with the Long Trail. From there, the hike continues across the mountain before descending the Haselton Trail toward Stowe. Who This Hike is For This is not a beginner Vermont hiking trail. I’d recommend it only for experienced hikers comfortable with sustained steep climbing, scrambling, exposure, route finding, and rugged New England terrain. Wet rock can make sections much more difficult, so conditions matter. If you’re looking for an easy hike or a casual summer day in Vermont, this probably isn’t the one. If you’re searching for one of the hardest hikes in Vermont, though, Hell Brook belongs on the list. My Honest Trail Review Hell Brook is every bit as relentless as people say. The distance sounds manageable on paper, but once you’re climbing it, getting to The Chin feels a whole lot longer. What makes this hike special is what comes after the climb. Walking the Mt Mansfield ridgeline was one of my favorite hiking experiences in New England so far, and easily one of my favorites in the Green Mountain State. Between the challenge, the views, the caves, and being on the highest mountain in Vermont, this is the kind of hike I’ll remember for a long time. So, is this the hardest hike in Vermont? Watch the full hiking vlog and decide for yourself. Then let me know in the comments what Vermont hike would you put above Hell Brook? Looking For a Similar Hike? If this is your kind of adventure, check out my Advanced New England Hikes playlist. I’m building it around some of the hardest and most rewarding New England hikes—technical trails, steep climbs, exposed ridgelines, and long days in the mountains, that make you work for the view. Advanced New England Hikes Chapters 0:00:00 - hike details 0:00:45 - cave and waterfall on Hell Brook Trail 0:02:21 - hardest section on Hell Brook 0:08:13 - decision point 0:09:41 - scrambles to The Chin 0:12:16 - Mt Mansfield summit (The Chin) 0:13:19 - Mt Mansfield ridgeline 0:14:40 - caves on Mt Mansfield (Subway Trail) 0:19:41 - back on the ridge 0:22:09 - Haselton Trail #MountMansfield #VermontHiking #HellBrookTrail #NewEnglandHiking #StoweVermont