Smugglers Notch
1,000 acres, 78 runs across three peaks. America's top family resort, historic Notch setting.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
135
Annual snow
232in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
2,608ft
Vertical
78
Runs
1,000 acres
Skiable
232in
Annual snow
The Terrain
78 runs across 1,000 acres skiable
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.
Terrain split
78
runs
78 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 17%
Intermediate41 runs · 52%
Advanced20 runs · 26%
Expert4 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Smugglers Notch
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.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
135
Days open
232 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Smugglers Notch
Daily snow reports at Smugglers Notch go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
9 in
Snowiest day
1 Dec 2025
6.2 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
78 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Smugglers Notch, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
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Latest News
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Smugglers Notch Lift System
Smugglers' Notch runs eight lifts: six double chairs and two surface lifts, serving 78 runs across 1,000 acres spread over three interconnected mountains, Madonna, Sterling and Morse. This lift network reflects decades of gradual development linking what began as separate peaks into a single, unified ski area.
The resort's ski history dates to 1956, though the complete three-mountain vision only came together in 1967 with the development of Morse Mountain, which physically completed the trio of interconnected peaks that define Smugglers' Notch today. Lift investment through subsequent decades, under Stanley Snider's leadership in the 1970s and later Bill Stritzler's ownership from 1996, connected and expanded access across all three mountains.
The six double chairs distribute skiers across the resort's considerable 2,608-foot vertical drop and intermediate-weighted terrain, while the two surface lifts support the extensive beginner and family-learning areas that have become central to Smugglers' reputation as one of America's premier family resorts.
Following Bear Den Partners' February 2026 acquisition of the resort from the Stritzler family, who retain an ownership stake, continued investment is expected to support this eight-lift network across all three peaks. Specific further planned lift projects beyond this recent ownership transition are not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's three-mountain lift configuration remains central to its considerable scale and family-focused terrain variety.
8lifts across 2 types
6
Double Chairs
2
Surface Lifts
Smugglers Notch lift system
Smugglers Notch is served by 8 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Smugglers Notch intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.