Hiking

Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield is a tough slog; but the panoramic view of three states is well worth it. The trailhead starts north of Stowe on Route 108, and climbs four miles up steep terrain to the peak. Save some energy for the last third of a mile, “the Chin.” (The parts of the mountain are named for the parts of a reclining person’s profile, which it resembles.) The near-vertical slope is the toughest part of the climb—and is even more treacherous on the descent.

A longer but slightly easier climb to the summit approaches from the west along the six-mile Sunset Ridge Trail. To get a bird’s-eye view of Mount Mansfield itself, take the trail up to the The Pinnacle, the 2,740-foot peak on the east side of town. The trail rises gradually from Stowe Hollow for about a mile and a half, with a short rocky scramble at the top.

For more information on these and other climbs, contact the Green Mountain Club (802/244-7037, www.greenmountainclub.org) or pick up a copy of the Long Trail Guide.

Biking

The impossibly quaint scenery of the Lamoille Valley makes it a favorite for cyclists. You can rent your steed at AJ’s Ski and Sports (350 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 800/226-6257, www.ajsportinggoods.com) and pedal up to Morristown yourself. Or leave the arrangements to the reassuringly named Peace of Mind Guaranteed Bike Tours (888/635-2453, www.pomgbike.com), which offers two-day bike tours starting from the Smugglers Notch Inn in Jeffersonville.