A road through the boulders
Route 108 climbs from Stowe into Smugglers' Notch, squeezing through a gap between Mount Mansfield and Sterling Peak so narrow it threads past house-size fallen boulders beneath 1,000-foot cliffs. The name recalls 19th-century smuggling to and from Canada through this hidden pass.
Drive it (in season)
The notch road is a spectacular summer and fall drive — tight hairpins, cool springs and shady ferns — but it is not for RVs or trailers, and it closes to vehicles every winter, when it becomes a backcountry ski and snowshoe route.
Smugglers' Notch Resort
On the Cambridge side, Smugglers' Notch Resort — 'Smuggs' — spreads across three linked mountains and is consistently rated among the best family ski resorts in the East, with classic double chairs, ski school and the region’s only triple-black-diamond run.
Hiking the notch
Trailheads in the pass climb to Sterling Pond — a high tarn with swimming and the Long Trail — and to Mansfield’s ridge. It is one of the most scenic, accessible mountain environments in Vermont.
Good to know
Common questions
Is the Smugglers' Notch road open year-round?
No — Route 108 through the notch closes to cars each winter and reopens in spring; it is also off-limits to RVs and trailers.
What is Smuggs known for?
Being one of the East’s top family ski resorts, on the Cambridge (north) side of the notch.
Can you hike there?
Yes — trails from the pass reach Sterling Pond and connect to the Long Trail along Mansfield’s ridge.
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