Lamoille: Mountain Pass, Trails and Winter

Nearly 1,000-foot-high rock walls beside a winding road define Smugglers’ Notch, a narrow mountain pass through the Green Mountains. The Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway was Vermont’s first officially designated scenic highway. The 3.5-mile corridor follows VT Route 108, which is open to traffic seasonally, through the towns of Cambridge and Stowe. Forests and striking rock outcrops line the road as it crosses a ridge of Mount Mansfield. A section of the Long Trail also runs along the road.

Pass Scenery and Trails

Smugglers’ Notch State Park encompasses the pass landscape along the road, which is closed in winter. Check current access and road conditions before you go. At the southern foot of the pass, the Barnes Camp Visitors’ Center is a resource for information about the area’s scenic, historic, cultural, recreational and natural resources.

For longer hikes, Long Trail State Forest offers hiking opportunities along more than 27 miles of the Long Trail. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail offers a different scale: stretching 95 miles between St. Johnsbury and Swanton, it connects 18 communities. In Johnson, a trail access point is at Old Mill Park; the address is 22 Lendway Ln. 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.

Winter Activities and Seasonal Planning

Stowe Mountain Resort is a year-round destination, surrounded by Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, and Spruce Peak. Its Cross Country Center has 45 kilometers of groomed trails and more than 30 kilometers of backcountry terrain. Official stops for the free Mountain Road Shuttle serve the center in both directions. Operations and schedules vary by season; check the latest information before your trip.

The Smugglers’ Notch area is also used in winter: ice climbers climb there. This brings together a range of winter activities—cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Recreation Path, groomed trails and backcountry terrain at the Cross Country Center, and ice climbing at the Notch. Which activities suit your trip depends on what you plan to do.

Water and Natural 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 campsites accessible by boat.

Elmore State Park has a beach with a designated swimming area. Long Trail State Forest also includes Belvidere Pond, a 100-acre body of water with extensive adjacent wetlands. Lamoille County Nature Center is a 40-acre nature preserve with a variety of habitats.

At Journey’s End Swimming Hole in the hills above Johnson Village, a protected, wooded stretch of stream extends for half a mile. Public access from Plot Road is permanently protected, and the area is also suitable for birdwatching. Another swimming option is Beard Park, below the historic Power House Covered Bridge.

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 objects. The Noyes House Museum offers a different perspective on regional history: the two-story Federal-style brick building presents history in 17 rooms of exhibits and in a carriage house. The museum offers tours, historical programs, special exhibitions and an annual open house; check the current program before visiting.

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. At the Morrisville Farmers Market, you can shop directly from local farmers and artisans and talk with the producers. Market dates vary by season; check them before your visit.

When looking for a hotel in Lamoille, you can first decide whether pass scenery and winter activities, longer trails, bodies of water or culture will shape your stay. Then compare the locations of hotels you’re considering with the places you plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Hyde Park, Eden, Stowe, Essex County, Chittenden, Grand Isle County, Rutland County, Orleans County.

For the main travel overview: Vermont.