Up through the notch, to a pond on the ridge
Stowe, Vermont · 3 nights · June–October · up to 6
The road through Smugglers' Notch is one lane between boulders the size of vans, and it closes for half the year — the drive is as much of the trip as the destination. Cady Hill is forty miles of singletrack ten minutes from the village. The first week of October is when the hills turn and every room in Vermont is spoken for, so book it in spring or take late September instead. Three nights, with the middle day kept for the notch.
The ending
A small pond in a saddle on the ridge, up a steep mile from the height of the notch, spruce coming right down to the water and the whole climb behind you.
That is Sterling Pond, Smugglers' Notch. See how private it is and when it’s open.
Do
- Mountain biking Cady Hill
- Cold Hollow Cider Mill tasting + picnic
- Spa day at Topnotch
- Spruce Peak Spa champagne soak + facial
Eat
- Plate
- Edson Hill
Stay
- Topnotch Resort
- Mountain Road chalet
How steep is the walk up?
A mile with a thousand feet in it, on rock and roots. It is short and it is not easy, and that is exactly what keeps the pond empty.
Can we do this in winter?
Not this version. The notch road is not maintained through, and the state park it runs into is open from late May to the second Monday in October. We leave the trip out of those months rather than sell you a road that is shut.
The planner doesn’t build Stowe, Vermont yet — we can name the places here but not yet enough of them around it to fill 3 nights without repeating. Read this one, then build your own somewhere we can.