A less exposed and less steep alternative to the Long Trail over the summit of Mount Mansfield.

The Profanity Trail is one of Mount Mansfield's "bad weather bypass" routes. If conditions turn foul on the mountain's exposed ridgeline, you can use this trail to retreat into the relative safety of the forest at lower elevation.

Thru-hikers of the [Long Trail](https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/150/travel-the-rugged-wild-northeast-on-the-long-trail) may use Profanity Trail to bypass the summit in bad weather. Day hikers may use it as part of a loop with the Long Trail to reach the summit. Therefore, it is mapped here as a one-way between its junctions with the Long Trail, so you can factor the distance into your route.

If you hike the [Long Trail southbound](https://fatmap.com/routeid/1337036/long-trail-south-to-mansfield-summit) to reach the summit, you'll confront very steep and exposed rock scrambling on the upper reaches of the trail. If you want to skip that, either on the way up or the way down, use Profanity Trail instead. It is still quite steep, and not free of all rock scrambling, but it is substantially easier than the Long Trail.

Sources:
https://www.summitpost.org/long-trail/166130 Written by Jesse Weber

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Profanity Trail (Bad Weather Bypass)

Hiking Trail

Route and Elevation