Smugglers' Notch is a narrow mountain pass on VT-108 between Stowe and Jeffersonville, squeezed between Mount Mansfield and Sterling Mountain, with a road that closes in winter and threads between huge roadside boulders in summer. Above the notch, a short but steep trail climbs to Sterling Pond, a small alpine pond near the top of Sterling Mountain. The day suits people who want a genuine, if brief, mountain hike combined with a scenic drive, rather than a full backcountry outing.
| Distance | 40 miles from Burlington |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 50 minutes (via VT-100 through Stowe) |
| Getting there | Car: I-89 N to VT-104 E to VT-15 E to VT-108 S (Smugglers' Notch); or via Stowe on VT-108 N. Note: road is closed to RVs and trailers. |
| Address | Smugglers Notch State Park, VT-108, Stowe, VT 05672 |
How to get there
- Car via VT-100 through Stowe then VT-108 N — take the scenic route
Location
Smugglers Notch State Park, VT-108, Stowe, VT 05672
44.5573, -72.7812 View on map
Highlights
- The notch's boulder field - the jumble of large rocks along VT-108 at the height of the pass, some large enough to have sheltered smugglers historically
- Sterling Pond - the alpine pond reached by trail above the notch, sitting near the top of the Sterling Mountain ski area
- Big Spring - a roadside spring at the notch where the road narrows, a common stopping point on the drive through
- Mount Mansfield's western flank - the views of Vermont's highest peak visible from the notch road and from higher points on the Sterling Pond trail