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Vermont’s mountain playground
Lamoille County wears Vermont’s crown — literally. Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak at 4,393 feet, rises over the valley, and around it the county packs in the classic ski town of Stowe, the dramatic pass of Smugglers' Notch, art towns on the Lamoille River and quiet paddling reservoirs.
It is the county that best balances big-mountain adventure with white-steepled village calm.
The towns
Each has a distinct role.
Stowe — the ski capital beneath Mansfield.
Morrisville — the everyday commercial hub on the river.
Hyde Park — the quiet county seat with an opera house.
Johnson — an art town on the Lamoille and rail trail.
Cambridge / Jeffersonville — the north gateway to Smugglers' Notch.
Mansfield, Stowe & the notch
Mount Mansfield anchors it all — climbed by trail, toll road or gondola, and skied at Stowe Mountain Resort’s storied Front Four. Just north, Route 108 threads Smugglers' Notch, a boulder-choked pass so tight it closes to cars each winter. The paved Stowe Recreation Path stitches the valley floor for easy walking and biking.
Beyond the slopes
The county rewards slow exploring too — the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail through Johnson and Cambridge, the quiet coves of Green River Reservoir, and the art studios and mill history of the river towns. Waterfalls like Bingham and Moss Glen are short walks off the Mountain Road.
Getting here & staying
Stowe is under an hour from Burlington on Route 100. Lodging spans slopeside resorts, the Austrian-style von Trapp Family Lodge, cozy inns and valley cabins — use the search to compare live prices with free cancellation.
Good to know
What is Lamoille County known for?+
Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak), the ski town of Stowe, Smugglers' Notch and the Stowe Recreation Path.
How far is Stowe from Burlington?+
About 50 minutes northeast via I-89 and Route 100.
Is Smugglers' Notch drivable?+
Yes in the warmer months — a narrow, twisting pass (no RVs) — but Route 108 through the notch closes to cars in winter.