Tim's Treks
Frost, Rock, Butler Loop
General Details
Location: Back side of Mt. Mansfield
Month of Hike: July
Drive Time: 1 hour
Hike Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Length: 4.3 miles
Difficulty: Advanced
Loop: Yes
Loop Segments:
Entrance (.2mi), Frost Trail (1.2mi) Maple Ridge TR (.4mi), Rock Garden TR (.6mi) Butler Lodge TR (1.7mi), Entrance/Exit (.2mi)
Parking: Butler Lodge Trail head on Stevensville Rd* (~15 car lot)
Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
Dog Friendly: Yes*
Children Friendly: No*
Lunch: On mountain
Views: Lake Champlain, Mountain Valley
Directions:
Turn left onto Stagecoach Rd
Turn left onto Cady Falls Rd
Continue onto Depot St
Turn left onto Main St
Turn Right onto Johnson St Ext Rd
Follow VT-15 W to Upper Pleasant Valley Rd in Cambridge
Continue on Upper Pleasant Valley Rd. Take Pleasant Valley Rd to Stevensville Rd in Underhill
Month of Hike: July
Drive Time: 1 hour
Hike Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Length: 4.3 miles
Difficulty: Advanced
Loop: Yes
Loop Segments:
Entrance (.2mi), Frost Trail (1.2mi) Maple Ridge TR (.4mi), Rock Garden TR (.6mi) Butler Lodge TR (1.7mi), Entrance/Exit (.2mi)
Parking: Butler Lodge Trail head on Stevensville Rd* (~15 car lot)
Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
Dog Friendly: Yes*
Children Friendly: No*
Lunch: On mountain
Views: Lake Champlain, Mountain Valley
Directions:
Turn left onto Stagecoach Rd
Turn left onto Cady Falls Rd
Continue onto Depot St
Turn left onto Main St
Turn Right onto Johnson St Ext Rd
Follow VT-15 W to Upper Pleasant Valley Rd in Cambridge
Continue on Upper Pleasant Valley Rd. Take Pleasant Valley Rd to Stevensville Rd in Underhill
The Story….
To begin… I decided to invite Chuck (my Dad) to join me on this trek. It’s been a hike both of us have been wanting to take and we couldn’t have picked a better day to do so.
I would suggest that you pack a lunch for this hike. Even with an early 8:00am departure from Muddy Moose, you will still be on the mountain by lunch time. A long drive and a long hike will eat up most of your day so I would recommend not planning anything else major for the day you go on this hike.
Normally there is not much to say about the drive, but I think this one deserves a short segment. It is a beautiful trip taking you to the backside of Mt. Mansfield. Some of you might already be familiar with the small towns of Johnson and Jefersonville and the directions take you right through them. Once you get on Upper Pleasant Valley Rd in Jeffersonville the remainder of the drive is farm lands and woods. Don't be discouraged by the drive time, the scenery is so nice, it does not feel long at all.
*Parking is at the end of Stevensville Rd. It is narrow and you will think to yourself that you might have passed the parking lot. You will see parking signs for the state park and for a campsite but those are not what you want. Not long after these parking locations a row of “No Parking” signs will further add to the lost feeling; I will admit I certainly felt it. All I can say is Keep driving on the narrow, dirt road that feels more like a driveway and you will see the parking sign at the end.
Mt. Mansfield is a popular hiking destination, heavily promoted by Stowe (Village and Resort), Smugglers Notch Resort and even the State. So I was expecting to see some foot traffic on the hike. To my surprise there was none. We encountered one Solo hiker as we ascended, one family staying at Butler lodge, and one Solo hiker as we descended, that's it. Now it might have been the call for rain that day that kept most people off the mountain, but I think this section of the mountain is not a popular hiking location compared to the Long Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail, and the Toll Road. So if you want to get away from the crowds this is a good hike.
The Hike (I will divide it into three sections):
Frost Trail: The hike proper starts .2 miles from the parking lot, past a gate with a sign pointing you to the trails.
Almost immediately you will understand why this is an advanced hike and if I may quote Chuck as we neared the end of the Frost Trail... ”the first two-thirds suck!...:” What made it suck? It's just constant uphill, and you gain elevation very rapidly. Fortunately, there was no technical terrain that added to the difficulty. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s backtrack to the beginning of Frost... Early on, the trail crosses a section of water forcing you to walk on rocks. So one suggestion is to plan your hike when it has been dry for a day or two with no major recent downpours and this section will be doable. As for the reward for such a grueling start to this hike… The top of Frost Trail and the short segment of Maple Ridge opens up to wonderful views of Lake Champlain and surrounding land. The elevation levels out a bit (but you are still going uphill), and the trail transitions to walking along large exposed rocks with stunted vegetation. This portion on the loop is where you will get the best views and is an ideal location for lunch. (Just remember to pack up all your trash and keep the mountain clean for everyone’s enjoyment of the natural beauty).
Rock Garden Trail: For the most part, this section of the trail is relatively level in elevation. There are uphill sections and downhill sections, but nothing major compared to the rest of the loop sections. That being said, it is the most technical portion of the hike as you need to climb up and down steep rock features. For those that are looking for adventure, this is the most fun part of the hike, but also the hardest. My Dad found hiking poles helpful in this section. It's not going to exhaust you like Frost, but will test your athleticism.
* Dogs: A minor side note is that Rock Garden is going to the hardest part for not only most people, but dogs as well. We brought Athena (Brittany Spaniel) along and she did a fantastic job overall with the hike, but we did have to carry/lift her at times in order to progress along the trail. She is a mid-sized dog and honestly I would say that most smaller dogs could not handle this hike. Large dogs will have an advantage in many locations but still will need to be picked up or manually assisted at times. Keep that in mind if you have a large/heavy dog. So yes, the hike can be dog friendly, but it’s not for most dogs. Even Athena was hesitant/nervous in many places along Rock Garden, and she’s fairly adventurous.
Butler Lodge Trail: The end of Garden Trails deposits you back in the tree line where you link up with Butler Lodge concluding the section of views and technical terrain for the hike. A constant descent mirrors the frost trail’s first 2/3rds and because of that there is not much to say about the trail. There is the Butler Lodge campsite that could have a group staying there and the trail does cut through the site so get ready to call your dog close to you so as not to disturb their stay.
Children: To say that the hike is or is not family friendly would be too general of a statement. Afterall, I went with my dad, so in that regard, it was a family hike. However, I would not recommend bringing young children. I would say for most children under age 10 this hike would be too difficult. There’s no doubt that kids would love to play on the rocks in Rock Garden, but the hike getting to that spot is the challenge. A good alternative for the kids interested in playing in the rocks would be the caves at the top of Smugglers Notch Rd.
Can it be reversed? Not recommended. The Frost and Butler trails are interchangeable since ascending and descending would be the same in difficulty regardless of which you take first. Rock Garden is the deciding factor in my opinion so I would recommend to ascend Frost as the start of the hike. I would not recommend descending some of the rock scrabble sections you cross in Rock Garden.
Just an up and back? If the loop is not of interest to you, I would say take Frost up and back as it will open up to some great views. From the parking lot to Rock garden trailhead it was about an 1hour 20 minutes.
Water: I have talked about water in the past but would like to take a moment to extend it to dogs, they need water as well. Fortunately they do have the advantage of drinking from puddles, streams and basically any water they find along the trail, but having a bowl and a spare bottle of water for your dog will not hurt to have in your pack. Some dogs are even fine with drinking from your hydration pack like a garden hose.
In conclusion: This is a hike that is going to test your physical limitations. I am always one in favor of trying things outside your comfort zone, but since this hike is an hour’s drive, you might want to consider other hikes closer to Muddy Moose if you are unsure and feel you might not complete it. Personally, I loved this hike. It has been some time since I was on a technical hike like this one. To sum up this month’s trek, carefully consider if this is a hike for you and your family. If you are up for the challenge, have fun!
Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed!
I would suggest that you pack a lunch for this hike. Even with an early 8:00am departure from Muddy Moose, you will still be on the mountain by lunch time. A long drive and a long hike will eat up most of your day so I would recommend not planning anything else major for the day you go on this hike.
Normally there is not much to say about the drive, but I think this one deserves a short segment. It is a beautiful trip taking you to the backside of Mt. Mansfield. Some of you might already be familiar with the small towns of Johnson and Jefersonville and the directions take you right through them. Once you get on Upper Pleasant Valley Rd in Jeffersonville the remainder of the drive is farm lands and woods. Don't be discouraged by the drive time, the scenery is so nice, it does not feel long at all.
*Parking is at the end of Stevensville Rd. It is narrow and you will think to yourself that you might have passed the parking lot. You will see parking signs for the state park and for a campsite but those are not what you want. Not long after these parking locations a row of “No Parking” signs will further add to the lost feeling; I will admit I certainly felt it. All I can say is Keep driving on the narrow, dirt road that feels more like a driveway and you will see the parking sign at the end.
Mt. Mansfield is a popular hiking destination, heavily promoted by Stowe (Village and Resort), Smugglers Notch Resort and even the State. So I was expecting to see some foot traffic on the hike. To my surprise there was none. We encountered one Solo hiker as we ascended, one family staying at Butler lodge, and one Solo hiker as we descended, that's it. Now it might have been the call for rain that day that kept most people off the mountain, but I think this section of the mountain is not a popular hiking location compared to the Long Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail, and the Toll Road. So if you want to get away from the crowds this is a good hike.
The Hike (I will divide it into three sections):
Frost Trail: The hike proper starts .2 miles from the parking lot, past a gate with a sign pointing you to the trails.
Almost immediately you will understand why this is an advanced hike and if I may quote Chuck as we neared the end of the Frost Trail... ”the first two-thirds suck!...:” What made it suck? It's just constant uphill, and you gain elevation very rapidly. Fortunately, there was no technical terrain that added to the difficulty. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s backtrack to the beginning of Frost... Early on, the trail crosses a section of water forcing you to walk on rocks. So one suggestion is to plan your hike when it has been dry for a day or two with no major recent downpours and this section will be doable. As for the reward for such a grueling start to this hike… The top of Frost Trail and the short segment of Maple Ridge opens up to wonderful views of Lake Champlain and surrounding land. The elevation levels out a bit (but you are still going uphill), and the trail transitions to walking along large exposed rocks with stunted vegetation. This portion on the loop is where you will get the best views and is an ideal location for lunch. (Just remember to pack up all your trash and keep the mountain clean for everyone’s enjoyment of the natural beauty).
Rock Garden Trail: For the most part, this section of the trail is relatively level in elevation. There are uphill sections and downhill sections, but nothing major compared to the rest of the loop sections. That being said, it is the most technical portion of the hike as you need to climb up and down steep rock features. For those that are looking for adventure, this is the most fun part of the hike, but also the hardest. My Dad found hiking poles helpful in this section. It's not going to exhaust you like Frost, but will test your athleticism.
* Dogs: A minor side note is that Rock Garden is going to the hardest part for not only most people, but dogs as well. We brought Athena (Brittany Spaniel) along and she did a fantastic job overall with the hike, but we did have to carry/lift her at times in order to progress along the trail. She is a mid-sized dog and honestly I would say that most smaller dogs could not handle this hike. Large dogs will have an advantage in many locations but still will need to be picked up or manually assisted at times. Keep that in mind if you have a large/heavy dog. So yes, the hike can be dog friendly, but it’s not for most dogs. Even Athena was hesitant/nervous in many places along Rock Garden, and she’s fairly adventurous.
Butler Lodge Trail: The end of Garden Trails deposits you back in the tree line where you link up with Butler Lodge concluding the section of views and technical terrain for the hike. A constant descent mirrors the frost trail’s first 2/3rds and because of that there is not much to say about the trail. There is the Butler Lodge campsite that could have a group staying there and the trail does cut through the site so get ready to call your dog close to you so as not to disturb their stay.
Children: To say that the hike is or is not family friendly would be too general of a statement. Afterall, I went with my dad, so in that regard, it was a family hike. However, I would not recommend bringing young children. I would say for most children under age 10 this hike would be too difficult. There’s no doubt that kids would love to play on the rocks in Rock Garden, but the hike getting to that spot is the challenge. A good alternative for the kids interested in playing in the rocks would be the caves at the top of Smugglers Notch Rd.
Can it be reversed? Not recommended. The Frost and Butler trails are interchangeable since ascending and descending would be the same in difficulty regardless of which you take first. Rock Garden is the deciding factor in my opinion so I would recommend to ascend Frost as the start of the hike. I would not recommend descending some of the rock scrabble sections you cross in Rock Garden.
Just an up and back? If the loop is not of interest to you, I would say take Frost up and back as it will open up to some great views. From the parking lot to Rock garden trailhead it was about an 1hour 20 minutes.
Water: I have talked about water in the past but would like to take a moment to extend it to dogs, they need water as well. Fortunately they do have the advantage of drinking from puddles, streams and basically any water they find along the trail, but having a bowl and a spare bottle of water for your dog will not hurt to have in your pack. Some dogs are even fine with drinking from your hydration pack like a garden hose.
In conclusion: This is a hike that is going to test your physical limitations. I am always one in favor of trying things outside your comfort zone, but since this hike is an hour’s drive, you might want to consider other hikes closer to Muddy Moose if you are unsure and feel you might not complete it. Personally, I loved this hike. It has been some time since I was on a technical hike like this one. To sum up this month’s trek, carefully consider if this is a hike for you and your family. If you are up for the challenge, have fun!
Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed!