Hogback Mountain

The hike to Stowe Pinnacle is one of the most popular in Vermont, but this hike can also be extended one mile farther to Hogback Mountain for winter hiking enthusiasts looking to avoid crowds and explore more of the Worcester Range.

Hikers can park at two different lots to hike toward the Pinnacle, both located near downtown Stowe and have around 10 spaces. The Pinnacle Meadows parking lot is slightly harder to access in winter since it is up a steep dirt road, but when plowed it is worth the drive for a more scenic and gradual hike. This route begins on a wide carriage road for the first half mile that could be easily cross country skied in the winter. There is a beautiful viewpoint at the meadow looking out onto Mount Mansfield. The trail becomes steeper and more narrow past this point as it enters the woods and joins with the other trail off of Upper Hollow Road. There is a distance marker to the summit of Stowe Pinnacle and a steep scramble, then the trail flattens out and has a more gradual climb. At the junction for 0.2 miles to the Stowe Pinnacle summit hikers can choose to visit this viewpoint first, or continue straight for another mile to the summit of Hogback Mountain. The trail to this peak is steeper than the climb to the Pinnacle, but is beautiful in winter months and very quiet. The summit is not clearly marked, but it's before the trail starts descending and before a sign for Hunger Mountain. Ambitious hikers can continue past this summit to the junction of the Skyline Trail to Hunger Mountain, or can turn back toward the Pinnacle and Meadows for an out-and-back hike. While Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump are extremely popular hikes in Vermont the Worcester Range offers similar beauty, challenge, and low crowds and should not be missed.