The town does not maintain it but there are a few houses out there and it gets plowed/packed. It's a popular area with backcountry skiers and hikers. It's a rough, narrow and icy road that I wouldn't attempt without good tires and AWD/4WD but there's almost always a Prius in the parking lot.
That platform is still there. it's the only one with an "outrigger". I've hiked all the marked trails on Mansfield and a few unmarked ones. Last week it was the polka dot trail, which leaves Sunset Ridge not far after the Laura Cowles junction and makes its way to a saddle below Sunset Knob...
Thank you for your post, it's of great interest to me. I've been exploring the western slopes of Mansfield this winter, and yesterday I skied the W.B. Trail from the state park to the Overland Trail and back. The Underhill side was developed for skiing before the Stowe side, including the...