Climbing up Stowe Pinnacle
This is an easy half-day hike for most people, as long as you don't feel sick or roll your ankle. This is also a very popular hike, so I recommend that you begin this hike early in the morning or you will find out that their are no parking spots left and everyone will be in your way going up. The kids and myself went for this hike on August 4. We started around 9:30, we made it to the top by 11:00 and were back to the car by 12:30. All in all this was a very good hike and no one got hurt.
Now getting to the parking lot isn't difficult, finding a spot can be. To get to the parking lot you need to go up School St. in Stowe. Turn right at the Y, this is Stowe Hollow Rd. Stay on Stowe Hollow Rd. it will eventually turn left, but there will be a road straight ahead. This is Upper Hollow Rd. Take Upper Hollow Rd. past the bend and past Pinnacle Rd. The parking lot will be on your left. If this lot is full, or you want to be lazy, you can take Pinnacle Rd., there are signs telling you where to go, and park at the lot up there. I started this hike from the Upper Hollow Rd. lot.
The trail head is at the back of the parking lot. The first quarter mile is easy. You walk on top of wooden planks or flat rocks. The trail leads to a giant rock cairn. You can add to the cairn, but you will need to pick up a rock before you reach the cairn, as all of the rocks in the area are on the cairn. After the giant rock cairn you will come across other, smaller rock cairns and a large branch tee-pee. This marks a bend in the trail and the start of a slow ascent. The trail is wide here and if you come across people it is easy to pass them or let them pass you. As you walk this part of the trail, look from side to side. One side is someone's lawn and the other is a sugar bush and you can see the sap lines running down from the maple trees.
After a while you will come across a rock staircase. This begins a steeper ascent. Most of the elevation gain for this hike is in the middle. and it begins here. This isn't the toughest hike, but you do need to be in shape for this to be an easy hike. You can do this hike even if you aren't in the best of shape, it will just take longer. When you do finally reach the top of the moderate steep hiking portion of this hike you will come across another trail. This is the trail that leads to the other parking lot. That trail is half the distance of this one and is a lot flatter. That might be the trail that you want to take if you are out of shape, but be prepared to climb.
After the trails meet up, you will face the steepest part of the trail. This part goes basically straight up. When you reach the top you can choose to take a break and look out at a vista. There is a sign and an unmarked trail that will lead you to the spot. You will be able to see the rocks from the trail, so don't be afraid of getting lost. Now, from here on out things get easier. Just keep an eye out for roots and rocks that can trip you. Many people roll their ankles here, so be careful.
The trail goes down, then up again as you go around the pinnacle. You will make your final ascent from behind the rock outcropping that is Stowe Pinnacle. Eventually you will meet up with another trail that takes you to the Skyline Trail. If you want you can take that trail to the top of Mt. Worcester, about 5 miles away. I don't recommend that. Taking a right will take you to Stowe Pinnacle. After a short hike up a few rock slabs, you will reach the top of Stowe Pinnacle.
From here you can see the spine of the Green Mountains to the west, and if you are lucky you will also see the Adirondacks behind them. The view to the east is less than perfect as all you can see is trees. Take your time when you are up there and explore, that is if you can move around. You should be able to see your car from here. The hike back is easy, and should only take an hour. This is definitely a fun hike and should be enjoyed by all who make it.
Have fun and remember,
The Mountain Grows Taller Around Every Bend In The Trail.
Now getting to the parking lot isn't difficult, finding a spot can be. To get to the parking lot you need to go up School St. in Stowe. Turn right at the Y, this is Stowe Hollow Rd. Stay on Stowe Hollow Rd. it will eventually turn left, but there will be a road straight ahead. This is Upper Hollow Rd. Take Upper Hollow Rd. past the bend and past Pinnacle Rd. The parking lot will be on your left. If this lot is full, or you want to be lazy, you can take Pinnacle Rd., there are signs telling you where to go, and park at the lot up there. I started this hike from the Upper Hollow Rd. lot.
The trail head is at the back of the parking lot. The first quarter mile is easy. You walk on top of wooden planks or flat rocks. The trail leads to a giant rock cairn. You can add to the cairn, but you will need to pick up a rock before you reach the cairn, as all of the rocks in the area are on the cairn. After the giant rock cairn you will come across other, smaller rock cairns and a large branch tee-pee. This marks a bend in the trail and the start of a slow ascent. The trail is wide here and if you come across people it is easy to pass them or let them pass you. As you walk this part of the trail, look from side to side. One side is someone's lawn and the other is a sugar bush and you can see the sap lines running down from the maple trees.
After a while you will come across a rock staircase. This begins a steeper ascent. Most of the elevation gain for this hike is in the middle. and it begins here. This isn't the toughest hike, but you do need to be in shape for this to be an easy hike. You can do this hike even if you aren't in the best of shape, it will just take longer. When you do finally reach the top of the moderate steep hiking portion of this hike you will come across another trail. This is the trail that leads to the other parking lot. That trail is half the distance of this one and is a lot flatter. That might be the trail that you want to take if you are out of shape, but be prepared to climb.
After the trails meet up, you will face the steepest part of the trail. This part goes basically straight up. When you reach the top you can choose to take a break and look out at a vista. There is a sign and an unmarked trail that will lead you to the spot. You will be able to see the rocks from the trail, so don't be afraid of getting lost. Now, from here on out things get easier. Just keep an eye out for roots and rocks that can trip you. Many people roll their ankles here, so be careful.
The trail goes down, then up again as you go around the pinnacle. You will make your final ascent from behind the rock outcropping that is Stowe Pinnacle. Eventually you will meet up with another trail that takes you to the Skyline Trail. If you want you can take that trail to the top of Mt. Worcester, about 5 miles away. I don't recommend that. Taking a right will take you to Stowe Pinnacle. After a short hike up a few rock slabs, you will reach the top of Stowe Pinnacle.
From here you can see the spine of the Green Mountains to the west, and if you are lucky you will also see the Adirondacks behind them. The view to the east is less than perfect as all you can see is trees. Take your time when you are up there and explore, that is if you can move around. You should be able to see your car from here. The hike back is easy, and should only take an hour. This is definitely a fun hike and should be enjoyed by all who make it.
Have fun and remember,
The Mountain Grows Taller Around Every Bend In The Trail.
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