
Smugglers' Notch's summit reaches 3,638 feet, dropping roughly 2,608 vertical feet to a base at 1,030 feet across 78 runs spread over 1,000 acres near Jeffersonville, Vermont, across three interconnected mountains. Terrain splits 52 per cent intermediate, 26 per cent advanced, 17 per cent beginner and 5 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 232 inches. Eight lifts, all double chairs and surface lifts, including six double chairs, serve the mountain's Madonna, Sterling and Morse peaks alongside two surface lifts.
Smugglers' Notch has built a reputation as one of America's leading family ski resorts, anchored by award-winning children's programming developed over nearly three decades under a single dedicated owner. The resort's name and setting draw on genuine local history, with the notch itself serving as a smuggling route during the early 1800s trade embargo with Britain and later as a Prohibition-era conduit for Canadian spirits through hidden caves along Vermont's Long Trail.
Skiing at Smugglers' Notch dates to 1956, with the vision for a complete ski village realised in 1967 through the development of Morse Mountain, which completed the trio of interconnected peaks, Madonna, Sterling and Morse, that define the resort today. Stanley Snider led the resort's development through the 1970s before William 'Bill' Stritzler, initially a vacation homeowner who fell in love with the property, became managing director in 1987 and later acquired ownership in 1996.
Over the following 29 years, Stritzler's values-driven leadership built Smugglers' Notch's enduring reputation for family connection and authentic mountain experience, until Bear Den Partners acquired the resort in February 2026. The Stritzler family retains an ownership stake in the mountain, with Bill's daughter Lisa Howe continuing as an advisor. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 95 US dollars.
Smugglers' Notch is a three-mountain resort, Madonna, Sterling and Morse, with 78 runs across about 1,000 acres (405 hectares) near Jeffersonville, Vermont. The base sits at 1,030 ft (314 m) and the summit reaches 3,640 ft (1,109 m), a vertical of 2,610 ft (795 m). Blue square takes 52% of terrain, with 26% black diamond, 17% green circle and 5% expert. About 232 inches of snow falls in an average winter. Six double chairs and two surface lifts do the hauling, so rides are slower than at high-speed resorts.
Morse Mountain holds the gentle novice trails and family learning zones, while Sterling and Madonna carry the intermediate and expert terrain. The Black Hole is billed as a triple black diamond and the only one in Vermont, with Freefall and Madonna Liftline alongside as other demanding descents. Most skiers will find plenty of blue cruising between those extremes. Smugglers' Notch suits families who want a self-contained mountain, and strong skiers can still find a few steep lines to chase. Expect a relaxed, family-first atmosphere rather than a hard-charging one.
The 2025-26 season at Smugglers' Notch ran from 6 December 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly eighteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 232 inches across the resort's three interconnected mountains. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Smugglers' considerable 1,000-acre footprint. As an independently operated resort without major multi-resort pass affiliation, Smugglers' draws a devoted family-focused visitor base specifically seeking its award-winning children's programming and genuinely uncrowded slopes.
The resort's reputation as one of America's leading family ski destinations continues to anchor visitation throughout the season, supported by extensive on-site village amenities and activities beyond skiing. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given this deliberate, decades-long focus on children's programmes and multi-generational appeal.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Following Bear Den Partners' February 2026 acquisition from the Stritzler family, who retain an ownership stake and continue advising through Bill Stritzler's daughter Lisa Howe, Smugglers' Notch enters a new chapter while building on nearly seven decades of skiing history since 1956. The resort's family-first values, cultivated over 29 years of Stritzler stewardship, remain central to its seasonal identity.
Smugglers' Notch sits near Jeffersonville, Vermont, spanning three interconnected mountains, Madonna, Sterling and Morse, with a base elevation of 1,030 feet and a summit at 3,638 feet across a roughly 2,608-foot vertical drop over 1,000 acres. This setting places the resort within the dramatic Smugglers' Notch mountain pass, steeped in genuine smuggling history dating to the early 1800s.
Jeffersonville and the broader Lamoille County region offer local lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort, which also provides extensive on-site village accommodation given its status as a self-contained family destination. Stowe, a considerably larger and more developed resort town, lies on the opposite side of the notch itself.
Vermont State Route 108 provides access to the resort, though the road through Smugglers' Notch itself closes seasonally due to its steep, narrow character, requiring an alternate route during winter months. Winter driving conditions on approach roads can include snow and ice, and travellers should confirm seasonal road closures before planning a route through the notch. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Burlington International Airport, within a reasonable drive, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, making Smugglers' Notch accessible for visitors flying into northern Vermont.
Hotels and lodges near Smugglers Notch, powered by Stay22.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
Smugglers Notch's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 27 through April 11. That window is roughly 135 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Vermont, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
Smugglers Notch lists about 1,000 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 78 named runs (405 hectares alongside 1,000 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
Trail grading at Smugglers Notch breaks down roughly as 17% beginner, 52% intermediate, 26% advanced, 5% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
Smugglers Notch operates 8 lifts across 2 lift types. The fleet includes 6 double chairs and 2 surface lifts.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
Base elevation at Smugglers Notch is about 1,030 ft (314 m), with the summit around 3,638 ft (1,109 m), giving roughly 2,608 ft (795 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
Smugglers Notch averages about 232 inches (589 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$15 to US$95, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
SnowStash pulls together 2 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Smugglers Notch so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Smugglers Notch. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Smugglers Notch sits in Vermont, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.