smugglers notch state park

We skied and skied and skied. It was a safe and fun atmosphere for the whole family. Didn't get in the car once...a true vaca

We were here for the Foliage Season from Australia. Incredible foliage and views, the like of which we never see in Oz.

Gorgeous year-round. Good for anything from leisurely drive in summer months (closed to vehicles in winter) to hiking up the long trail, rock or ice climbing, etc. Hike up to Sterling Pond is great for families that are in fair to decent shape. Great place to hike, snowshoe or ski with a dog in Winter (PLEASE pick up after your pets!)

The Notch has some of the best accessible rock climbing and scrambles in the area. There are moderate to difficult hikes up the mountains with beautiful scenery, waterfalls, forests, alpine lakes, etc. It does get crowded on weekends and busy times, and parking can be difficult.

We were in this area of Vermont the 3rd week in September and it was very pretty. We expected a bit more...coming from SD and Needles Highway and Ironman Road which have much more to see. In fact we drove by and went back again...and thought...is this all there is??

The drive is amazing but there are also many different areas to stop and hike that are perfect for the half day we did here. I wish we had longer to explore but the waterfalls and rocks we climbed were entirely memorable and amazing. We climbed the rocks like a jungle gym and for about an hour felt like kids exploring the cracks and crevices. It's hard to rate something like this that is just a natural wonder that you have to see for yourself. I hope I get to go back here again soon, I'd love to make it an overnight trip to hike all the trails this area has to offer.

The most enchanted forest with a beautyfull sinous road and bolders.Just like in the faery booksIt's a must see

I have heard many mountain passes called "notches" but this one takes the cake. Literally, you will squeeze between gigantic granite rocks that the road barely passes through. It is a beautiful drive between Stowe and Smuggler's Notch. You can stop and explore many beautiful trails and rolling creeks along the drive. At fall peak, this road offers some of the most stunning color in the Green Mountains. Beautiful!

Beautiful drive up the mountain to see this unique spot in the Fall- parking can be difficult but well worth the drive.

We drove through Smugglers Notch State park in the peak of the fall colours. There were many hikes that you could take, but we were limited on time so we didn't explore any of them. Someone was selling maple syrup at one of the parking lots. Some very narrow roads with tight corners. Drive it slowly and enjoy the trip. We enjoyed it so much that we turned around and did the trip a second time.

The ride up the mountain is very scenic. Road is curvy and narrow but well worth it! See the cave where they kept their stash.

Beautiful fall foliage views. Nice hiking trails and bike paths. The road gets a little tight at some points.m

If you're in the area, don't miss the drive through Smuggler's Notch! It is incredibly beautiful, and some of the most beautiful scenery we saw on our trip. We stopped at the Basin area and walked the trail to the big waterfall. We were told the Flume was even more gorgeous, but this was a better choice for me as I have foot problems and can't walk that far or over difficult terrain. This path was a fairly easy walk and gorgeous as it followed the meandering stream downhill to the falls.

The road is tricky for big vehicles but the rock formations are amazing . Just be sure you're not prone to motion sickness.

There is no misunderstanding why the smugglers choose this pass as their route between Canada and Vermont for contraband. There is plenty of places to hide and hard to traverse. Great, free, scentic.