Those who get to know Lamoille via Smugglers’ Notch encounter an unusual combination of road and long-distance trail: the Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway was Vermont’s first officially designated scenic highway, and a section of the Long Trail runs along the road. The pass therefore offers two very different perspectives on the landscape.
Smugglers’ Notch: Road, Cliffs, and Long-Distance Trail
Smugglers’ Notch State Park encompasses a narrow mountain pass through the Green Mountains. Beside the winding road, cliffs rise almost 1,000 feet high. The 3.5-mile Scenic Highway corridor follows the seasonally accessible VT Route 108 through the towns of Cambridge and Stowe. Forests and striking rock outcrops accompany the route over a ridge of Mount Mansfield.
At the southern foot of the Notch, Barnes Camp Visitors’ Center is a first stop for information about the area’s scenic, historic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources. The season is also important for planning your trip: the road closes in winter. Check current road conditions before setting out.
Trails and Winter Experiences
Ice climbers are active in the Smugglers’ Notch area in winter. Other winter activities include several clearly described options: Stowe Mountain Resort’s Cross Country Center has 45 kilometers of groomed trails and more than 30 kilometers of backcountry terrain. Check its seasonal operating status before your trip. Official stops for the free Mountain Road Shuttle serve the center in both directions; schedules are seasonal and should also be checked in advance.
The Stowe Recreation Path runs 5.3 miles from the center of Stowe Village to a covered bridge. In winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing and used by snowshoers. The Long Trail State Forest offers a different scale, with hiking opportunities along more than 27 miles of the Long Trail. These details help distinguish the different trail options without presenting them as a single route.
Stowe Mountain Resort is also described as a year-round destination. It is surrounded by Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, and Spruce Peak. The seasonal trails and winter use of the Recreation Path are complemented by a resort whose offerings are not limited to one season.
Lakes, Wetlands, and Swimming Areas
Green River Reservoir covers 653 acres and has about 19 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline. It is designated as a quiet lake; permitted watercraft include human-powered vessels and boats with electric motors traveling up to 5 mph. Green River Reservoir State Park also has 27 remote tent sites accessible by boat. Elmore State Park, by contrast, has a beach with a designated swimming area.
Belvidere Pond, a 100-acre body of water with extensive adjacent wetlands, is also located in Long Trail State Forest. The Lamoille County Nature Center offers a different natural environment: this 40-acre nature preserve encompasses a variety of habitats. At Journey’s End Swimming Hole, a protected, half-mile stretch of wooded stream is one of the defining landscape features; it lies in the hills above Johnson Village. Public access from Plot Road is permanently protected. Birdwatching is also possible there.
Those especially interested in swimming areas will find two more options described in different ways: Beard Park offers a place to swim below the historic Power House Covered Bridge. Green River Reservoir, by contrast, is designated as a quiet lake with explicitly stated rules for watercraft. The water bodies therefore differ not only in size but also in the activities and conditions of use described.
History and Local Life
The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum collects, preserves, and celebrates the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont. Its collection includes about 8,000 individual items. The Noyes House Museum offers a different focus: the two-story Federal-style brick building showcases local and regional history. It includes exhibits in 17 rooms and a carriage house. Tours, historical programs, and special exhibitions round out its offerings; an annual open house is also held. Check the current program before your visit.
The Stowe Historical Society preserves two historic schoolhouses and a collection documenting life in Stowe from the early 19th century to more recent times. The Dr. Holcomb House, home of the Johnson Historical Society, is open by appointment only. For a glimpse of local community life today, the Morrisville Farmers Market offers the chance to shop directly from local farmers and artisans and talk with the producers. Market days are seasonal; check the dates before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Stowe, Hyde Park, Eden, Rutland County, Orleans County, Orange, Essex County, Caledonia.
For the broader travel overview: Vermont.
