What to Expect
Smugglers Notch is a geological gap in the northern Green Mountains, carved by glacial action and shaped into a pass on Route 108 that connects Stowe to the south with Jeffersonville to the north. The cliffs on both sides of the road rise more than 1,000 feet, and boulders the size of two-story houses have tumbled from the walls over the centuries and now sit in the forest below the road. Several of them have names: the Hunter and his Dog, the Singing Bird, the Elephant's Head. The road through the pass is tight enough that Vermont prohibits any vehicle longer than 20 feet from using it, even in good weather.
The name comes from the War of 1812, when Vermont farmers used mountain passes like this one to move cattle and contraband north into Canada, sidestepping federal trade embargoes. The same geography that made it useful for smugglers makes it one of the more dramatic short drives in New England today. Most visitors come for one of two things: the pass itself, which deserves a slow drive with a stop at the boulder pull-off near the top, or Smugglers' Notch Resort on the Jeffersonville side, which is a different experience from the other ski areas in the Stowe and Northern Green Mountains region. You can do both in the same trip.
What to Do There
Smugglers' Notch Resort operates across three connected mountains, Madonna, Sterling, and Morse, with 78 trails and a consistent focus on families. Ski Magazine has named it one of the top family ski resorts in the East multiple times, and the resort's FunZone2 childcare and ski school accepts children from age 6 weeks through teens, with programs divided tightly by age and ability. That level of structure is genuinely rare among Vermont ski mountains. Adult terrain covers the full range, with steep double-black runs on Madonna Mountain that hold natural snow well through February and into March. Lift ticket prices run approximately $90–130 per day at the gate (less with advance-purchase packages), and the resort's lodging-plus-lift packages can bring the per-person daily cost down meaningfully compared to buying each piece separately. For a fuller look at how Smugglers stacks up against the rest of the state's mountains, see the Best Ski Resorts in Vermont guide. For planning your ski days and understanding Vermont's snow season, the Skiing and Snowboarding activity page covers the basics.
In summer, the pass itself becomes the main event. The pull-off area near the top of Route 108 gives access to short informal paths through the boulder field and to the named rock formations, most of which are a short walk from where you park. The Sterling Pond Trail, starting from a trailhead on Route 108 just above the resort, climbs about 1.3 miles to Sterling Pond, which sits at roughly 3,000 feet elevation and is one of the highest ponds in Vermont. The round trip takes about 90 minutes and crosses some exposed rocky terrain on the upper pitch, with views north toward the Canadian border on clear days. The Long Trail also crosses Route 108 through the notch, connecting to longer ridge walks in both directions. Trail conditions in the notch can be muddy from snowmelt through late May and into June, so waterproof footwear is practical on early-season visits.
When the notch road closes to cars each fall, typically in November, the Route 108 corridor becomes a cycling and running route. Riders from Stowe and Burlington treat the closed road as a car-free climb through November and December before snow accumulates. Once snow arrives in earnest, the trail network around the resort opens for snowshoeing. The Sterling Village base area offers complimentary hot cocoa and popcorn on some afternoons, and the Black Bear Bar at the base lodge is the main gathering spot after the lifts close.
Getting There and Access
Burlington International Airport (BTV) is the closest major gateway, about 40 miles from the resort and 50–60 minutes by car via I-89 to exit 10 (Stowe/Morrisville), then north on Route 100 to Stowe village, then Route 108 through the notch. From Stowe village, the drive through the notch to the resort in Jeffersonville is about 10 miles; plan 25–30 minutes because the road through the pass requires a slow, careful approach on the tight curves. Large vehicles, RVs, and vehicles towing trailers cannot use Route 108 through the notch at any time of year. The road is simply too narrow.
The notch road closes every fall when ice and snow make it impassable, usually in late October or early November, and does not reopen to cars until late May or early June. Vermont's Agency of Transportation posts the current open/closed status. During the closure, the resort is accessed from the north by taking I-89 to exit 10, then Route 100 north to Morrisville, then Route 15 west to Jeffersonville, and Route 108 south from there. That route covers about 25 miles from Stowe village and takes 35–40 minutes. Plan on this approach if you're coming for ski season.
Best Time to Go
For skiing, late December through early March is the strongest window. Madonna Mountain sits at higher elevation than the Stowe Mountain peaks and tends to catch more natural snow from westerly storms, which means the terrain holds up later in a typical season. The resort's holiday weeks, Christmas through New Year's and Presidents' Day weekend in February, are the busiest times. Lift tickets and lodging book out quickly for those periods, and the kids' programs fill even faster. If you have flexibility, late January through mid-February typically offers better rates and shorter lines.
For the notch and summer hiking, late June through September is the reliable window. Fall foliage in the notch typically peaks in late September, a few days earlier than in Stowe village below because of the elevation. The cliffs and boulders frame the turning sugar maples and birches in a way that the more open hillsides don't. If you're planning a foliage visit, a Monday through Thursday trip in the last week of September or first days of October will be less crowded than weekends, when Route 108 can back up at the pull-offs.
Good to Know
Most people base themselves in Stowe for a notch visit rather than at the resort. In Stowe, the Green Mountain Inn on Main Street is a historic property operating since 1789, centrally located in the village with a pool, two restaurants including The Whip Bar and Grill, and 4.6 stars across 1,200 Google reviews. The Lodge at Spruce Peak, a Destination by Hyatt property on Mountain Road, offers ski-in/ski-out access to Stowe Mountain Resort and is the highest-end lodging option in the area. For budget-minded travelers, the Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe in Waterbury sits about 20 minutes south on Route 100 and offers competitive rates along with easy access to the Ben and Jerry's Factory and the Waterbury brewery corridor. Nightly rates across the Stowe area run roughly $150–250 for mid-range hotels and $300–600 for slopeside or resort properties in peak ski season.
If you're staying at Smugglers' Notch Resort itself, the on-mountain condos and chalets at Sterling Village place you steps from the lifts. The all-inclusive packages that bundle lodging, lift tickets, and ski school cost more upfront but often represent real savings for families staying three or more nights. One practical note on the notch road in summer: it draws heavy cyclist traffic on clear mornings, particularly on weekends in July and August when riders from Burlington and Stowe come out to climb the pass. Drive slowly, watch for cyclists on blind curves, and give them a wide berth.
Frequently asked questions
Is the road through Smugglers Notch open year-round?
No. Route 108 through the notch closes to vehicles every fall when ice and snow arrive, typically in late October or early November, and does not reopen until late May or early June depending on conditions. Even when the road is open, vehicles longer than 20 feet are prohibited at all times because of the narrow width and sharp curves. Check the Vermont Agency of Transportation website for the current open/closed status before your trip.
How does Smugglers' Notch Resort compare to Stowe Mountain Resort for families?
For families with young children and beginner or intermediate skiers, Smugglers' Notch Resort is generally the stronger choice. The FunZone2 program accepts kids from 6 weeks old, the Morse Mountain terrain is genuinely gentle for beginners, and the self-contained Sterling Village base keeps the group from having to drive around. Stowe Mountain Resort, detailed on the Stowe page, has more total terrain, better expert and advanced runs, and a wider off-mountain restaurant and bar scene. The two resorts are about 10 miles apart on Route 108 in summer (and about 25 miles around when the notch road is closed), so some visitors base in Stowe and ski both mountains on different days.
What hikes are accessible at Smugglers Notch without a car shuttle?
The most accessible hike is the Sterling Pond Trail, which starts from a trailhead on Route 108 just above the resort and climbs about 1.3 miles to Sterling Pond at roughly 3,000 feet. The round trip takes about 90 minutes and is well-marked. At the top of the pass, the boulder field pull-off has short informal paths among the named rock formations. The Long Trail also crosses Route 108 at the notch and connects to longer backcountry routes north and south, though those require more planning and time. Expect muddy conditions on all these trails from April through early June.
When does foliage peak at Smugglers Notch?
The notch itself, because of its elevation above Stowe village, typically sees foliage peak a few days earlier than the surrounding valleys, usually in the last week of September. The combination of the cliff walls and the changing maples and birches in the boulder field makes for one of the more distinctive foliage scenes in the northern Green Mountains. Weekday visits in late September will be far less crowded than weekend trips, when Route 108 can back up at the pull-offs.