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Where to base yourself
Questions, answered
Do I have to stay in Stowe?
No, and you will usually pay less if you do not. Morrisville, Hyde Park, Johnson and Jeffersonville are all within 15 to 25 minutes of the Stowe or Smugglers' Notch lifts and cost noticeably less, particularly on winter weekends.
What is the best hike in the county?
Mount Mansfield if you have the legs and the weather, either from the Stowe side or up over the Long Trail. Sterling Pond from the top of Smugglers' Notch is the best short one, and Elmore Mountain is the easiest with a real payoff at the top.
Is the notch road really closed all winter?
Yes. VT-108 through Smugglers' Notch is gated from around late October until late May, which turns the short hop between Stowe and Jeffersonville into a 45-minute drive via VT-15. Satellite navigation systems still route people into the closed gate every year.
When does foliage peak up here?
Northern Vermont turns earlier than the south, so late September into the first week or two of October is the usual window, with the higher slopes of Mansfield colouring first. VT-100 through Stowe is the most photographed drive and the most congested.
Where to stay — Lamoille County
Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.
