Smugglers' Notch Resort

The state of Vermont claims five of the top ten spots for the biggest verticals in the New England region, including the number four drop at the Smugglers' Notch Resort. Smuggs, as the local park rats like to call it, is nicknamed after a mountain pass (notch) used by smugglers.

Located east of Burlington, motorists will use Interstate 89 to get into the region (Canadians can use 133 to connect to the Interstate south of Montreal, Quebec) before transferring onto Vermont State Highway 108 from other roadways. Those flying will find Burlington International Airport the closest airfield.

Three Mountains for One Resort

The Smugglers' Notch Resort is home to three peaks: Madonna, Morse, and Sterling. These mountains are interconnected by lifts and trails, giving the ski area a unified feel. A base elevation of 1,030 feet matches the highest summit of 3,640 feet to create the 2,610-foot vertical drop the resort is renowned for having. Guests have over 1,000 acres of terrain to choose from, including wooded glades, trails, groomed cruisers, gentle slopes, and steeps.

The Smugglers' Notch Resort receives an annual average snowfall of 280 inches. Snowmaking equipment covers about 62-percent of the three mountains, supplementing the 23 feet of natural snowfall that accumulates here each season. Nordic fans will enjoy miles of trails through fields and woods as they cross country ski or snowshoe these areas.

The Smugglers' Notch Resort is a family-oriented winter venue, offering unique activities like snow walks, ice skating, and snow tubing during the day or night. Younger guests can enjoy indoor activities like the Fun Zone 2.0, heated indoor swimming, sledding, and sing-a-longs. Adults might find the bonfires, magic shows, and live music to be to their tastes. A childcare center and babysitting provide supervision for little ones while the rest of the family hits the slopes, and clubs or lessons offer a learning environment for all ages.

Action on the Mountain Slopes

The Smugglers' Notch Resort maintains 78 trails that provide 27 miles of skiing and riding fun. Morse holds the majority of the beginner trails (rated green) that make up just under 20-percent of the slopes. Blue-rated terrain makes up half of the runs across all three mountains. The remaining 31-percent of the trails at Smugglers' Notch Resort resides, for the most part, on Madonna and Sterling.

The black diamond-rated Fab Five are some of the sickest runs in the region, and the venue is home to the Black Hole, the East's only triple black diamond. An uphill policy is in place here, and guests must familiarize themselves with it to safely enjoy the pow outside the boundaries.

The Smugglers' Notch Resort has six terrain parks, from Burton Treehouse Riglet Park for the little ones to The Zone's most challenging terrain features. These offer freestyling experiences that progress from simple terrain to complex features that allow guests to rip and shred. The Smugglers' Notch Resort has eight lifts across the three mountains, including six chairs and two surface lifts.