★ 4.0Family-focused ski resort on the north side of Mount Mansfield — linked to Stowe over the notch road in summer, cut off from it once VT-108 gates shut for the winter.
Family-focused ski resort on the north side of Mount Mansfield — connected to Stowe in winter, isolated by a closed road in summer.
Where to stay in Smugglers' Notch
The resort village on VT-108 is built around self-catering condominiums, and staying inside it is the whole point: you park once, the kids walk to lifts, lessons, the pool and evening activities, and nobody has to be driven anywhere. If you would rather not pay resort rates, look six miles down the road at Jeffersonville and along VT-15 through Cambridge, where small inns and rooms are cheaper and you get a proper village with restaurants of its own, in exchange for a ten-minute drive each morning. Remember the geography before you book a Stowe-side room to save money in winter: with the notch gated shut, that becomes a 45 to 50 minute drive round by Morrisville. School holiday weeks and Presidents' week fill months out.
Hand-checked stays
Stays in Smugglers' Notch
★ 4.0
★ 4.0
★ 4.0
★ 4.0On the ground
Things to do in Smugglers' Notch
- Ski the three peaksMadonna, Sterling and Morse are linked by lifts, with Morse handling beginners and Madonna holding the steep, narrow, often ungroomed terrain the mountain is known for. The resort’s family ski programmes are the main reason people book here year after year.
- Drive VT-108 through the notchIn the warm months the road twists between house-sized boulders and cliffs at the height of land, past Smugglers' Cave, Elephant’s Head and the old contraband route to Canada that gave the pass its name. Trailers, buses and RVs cannot make the hairpins and get stuck every summer.
- Hike up to Sterling PondFrom the parking area at the top of the notch, a steep mile on the Long Trail reaches the highest trout pond in Vermont, sitting in a bowl between the ski areas. Allow two hours or so return and expect rock scrambling on the way up.
- Ride the Lamoille Valley Rail TrailThe 93-mile crushed-stone rail trail runs right through Cambridge and Jeffersonville on its way from Swanton to St. Johnsbury, following the Lamoille River. Flat, wide, and open to bikes in summer and snowmobiles or fat bikes in winter.
- Swim the Brewster River GorgeJust outside Jeffersonville, the Brewster cuts a narrow rock gorge with deep pools below a small waterfall. It is the local swimming spot on a hot afternoon and a short walk from the road.
- Use the resort’s summer programmingOutside the ski season the village runs a water park, an activity centre for children, tennis, and a full daily schedule of guided family activities. It is one of the few Vermont mountains built around summer families rather than treating them as an afterthought.
Getting around & the essentials
Transport
The resort sits on VT-108 about six miles south of Jeffersonville, reached from Burlington International (BTV) in roughly 50 minutes via I-89 and VT-15 through Essex and Cambridge. There is no passenger rail nearby; the nearest Vermonter stop is Waterbury, on the far side of the mountain. Drive in, then leave the car parked, but remember that from late autumn to late spring the notch road above the resort is closed and Stowe is reached the long way around.
Good to know
Common questions
Can I drive to Stowe from here?
In summer, yes, about half an hour over VT-108 through the notch. From roughly late October to late May the notch road is gated shut for the winter, and the drive becomes 45 to 50 minutes the long way round via VT-15 to Morrisville and VT-100 south.
How does the winter connection to Stowe work?
The two ski areas share the ridge above the notch, and experienced skiers with the right ticketing can cross between them when the connecting terrain and lifts are open. Conditions and rules change from season to season, so confirm with the mountain on the day rather than assuming.
Is it a good choice if not everyone skis?
It is one of the better ones in Vermont. The village is compact and self-contained, with childcare, lessons, an indoor pool and evening activities, so non-skiers are not stranded waiting for the lifts to close.
Do I need a car once I arrive?
Not really. The resort village works on foot and shuttles, and lodging is mostly ski-in condominiums. You will want one to reach Jeffersonville, Burlington or Stowe, especially in winter when the notch route is closed.
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