Hiking the Stowe Pinnacle Trail: A Journey Above Vermont's Verdant Valleys

The Stowe Pinnacle Trail isn’t just a hike—it’s a conversation with the earth. Each step draws you deeper into Vermont’s emerald embrace, where the hills seem to lean in close, whispering secrets of ancient glaciers and the untamed forest. As you ascend, the trail morphs from a gentle woodland path to a rock-strewn climb, demanding your attention and respect.

The forest here breathes, alive with the scent of damp moss and pine resin. Streams gurgle in quiet symphony as they wind their way through the undergrowth, their cool fingers brushing the edges of the trail. It’s a climb that plays coy—each ridge promising a view, only to hold it back until you earn it.

At last, the Pinnacle emerges, a bare expanse of rock thrusting defiantly toward the sky. The wind arrives like an unseen herald, delivering the valley’s secrets and tugging at your sleeves. Then the panorama unfurls: rolling peaks stretch like an endless green quilt, their undulating lines broken only by the gleaming ribbon of the Little River. On clear days, New Hampshire’s Presidential Range stands tall and steadfast on the horizon.

Yet, there’s something humbling about this place. It reminds you of your smallness—not as a limitation, but as a liberation. Here, you are a fleeting note in the symphony of the wild.

Adventure Guide Summary

About the Stowe Pinnacle Trail

Distance & Difficulty: The trail is a 3.7-mile round trip, rated moderate-to-difficult due to its rocky sections and elevation gain of 1,520 feet.
Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall offers the best conditions. Autumn is particularly stunning, as the fiery foliage transforms the landscape into a painter’s palette.

Trailhead & Directions

The trailhead is located on Upper Hollow Road in Stowe, Vermont. From Stowe Village, it’s a short 10-minute drive. Parking is available but fills quickly on weekends, so plan to arrive early.

What to Bring

Sturdy hiking boots, water, and layers, as temperatures at the summit can be cooler.
A camera to capture the breathtaking views.

Trail Highlights

Wildlife: Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer and red-tailed hawks.
Flora: This trail features classic Vermont hardwoods, including maple, birch, and beech trees.

Adventure Map

Stowe Info

No GPX info

Reviews

Pamela Stanyon9 months ago

Started at 8 am frozen packed snow all the way and ice on the stairs, bare rock at top. Crampons over sturdy hiking boots and poles very helpful. It was a blast!

Kevina month ago

So here's the thing. I am a seasoned hiker, work out 5 days a week, and I can definitively say that the juice is not worth the squeeze on this one. I spoke to many people up and down the trail who joked at the reviews here calling this a "moderate" hike. It. Is. Not. You have 2 options - park at Pinnacle Heights, or park at Upper Hollow Rd. Having done both, there just is no reason to start all the way down at Upper Hollow. The view from the top is simply not great - it's a hump of a rock that's quite small and rather underwhelming. The final 0.2mi stretch to the summit requires hands-and-knees rock "scrambling", and coming down in some places will require a bit of a calculated slide. If there is frost in the morning and it melts in the afternoon, things will get muddy and slippery very fast. From Upper Hollow there are no less than 6 serious rock scrambling sections, and there is little respite from parking lot to the top - it's climbing most of the way. So yeah, be proud of yourself for having done it but the reviews here need some fact-checking and I wonder if there isn't some inside joke going on to mislead people and turn this into a tourist trap. Final thought - if you don't get fulfillment out of feats of physical strength and endurance, I cannot possibly recommend coming here. It's brutal (especially if you start at Upper Hollow), and people need to know that it will test you. +1 star for the fact that I didn't fall once going up or down.

Sheila Devia year ago

Amazing hike, but be prepared… I hiked yesterday (April 16, 2023) and it was all-terrain. The snow is melting at the top so the hike included a lot of mud, water from melting snow, snow, and ice. For a good portion, I was essentially stepping up rocks (that would normally be stepping stones) but it was like climbing up a gentle stream. If I didn’t have my hiking boots and trekking poles, I wouldn’t have had fun… and could easily have been injured. (I’d call myself an intermediate hiker. There were other people who made it up/down without boots/poles, but I wouldn’t have wanted to. I saw someone else wipe out going down because they slipped in the mud.) From the first parking lot, you go up a hill (less attractive and you might start to wonder if the whole hike is going to be like that), turn onto flat ground (with a lovely view), and then the real hike begins. Given the conditions, though the sign where I parked calls it a “short” hike, it took me 3.5 hours round trip. Overall, it was a challenging hike, but I’m glad I did it and the summit view is gorgeous.

Shaline Bennetta month ago

Moderate hike. Take a few stops on the way up and down to get your breath or rest your knees. Some scrambling near the top but worth the view! Had lunch at the top. Everyone we passed on the way up said it was worth it and it was!

Justin LaBenne2 months ago

Worth it for the view at the top. A moderate hike with a few rock scramble inclines. A few people carrying small children made it without a problem.

Hiking

Hiking the Stowe Pinnacle Trail: A Journey Above Vermont's Verdant Valleys