Smugglers Notch Scenic Highway

Stowe to Jeffersonville

Northern Vermont · Vermont · United States

Key measurements

Distance

18.7 miles

Elevation gain

1,678 ft

Elevation loss

1,936 ft

High point

2,165 ft

Low point

456 ft

Net change

-258 ft (716 ft to 459 ft)

Surface

Paved

Route type

point-to-point

Route Overview

The Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway follows Vermont Route 108 for 18.7 miles from Stowe to Jeffersonville, climbing through the narrow mountain pass between Mount Mansfield and Sterling Mountain. From the Stowe valley floor, the road gains nearly 1,700 feet to a high point of about 2,165 feet at the notch before descending into the Lamoille River watershed.

The route changes character quickly, leaving the developed resort corridor around Stowe for the tight, heavily forested pass at Smugglers’ Notch, where glacial boulders, steep rock walls, and abrupt curves define the road. North of the summit, the terrain opens gradually into the quieter agricultural landscape around Jeffersonville and northern Lamoille County.

Key Segments & Geographic Transitions

Mountain Road Ascent to the Notch — Miles 0.0–12.6

Leaving Stowe, VT-108 (Mountain Road) tracks northwest along the West Branch Little River. The lower miles pass inns, homes, and mountain services before the road climbs past the base areas of Stowe Mountain Resort. Past the resort, the forest thickens, steepness increases, and the corridor tightens. Approaching the pass summit at Mile 9.5, the double yellow line disappears as the pavement squeezes between massive talus boulders, narrowing to alternating single-lane choke points carved directly into the mountainside.

Northern Descent to the Valley — Miles 13.9–18.4

Crossing the high point, the descent down the northern flank of the mountain features sharp switchbacks framed by dense northern hardwoods. As elevation drops toward the Brewster River basin, the tight rock formations relax into flowing, sweeping curves. The dense forest canopy yields to open pastures, farmsteads, and wider views across the Lamoille Valley as you approach Jeffersonville.

Jeffersonville Village Approach — Miles 18.5–18.7

Turning off VT-108 onto Church Street, the final quarter-mile settles into historic Jeffersonville, ending near the route's lowest point (456 feet) near the center of the village.

Seasonal & Environmental Context

This route crosses a high mountain pass that is strictly seasonal. The section of VT-108 through Smugglers' Notch is closed to traffic during winter and early spring—typically from late October or November through mid-May—due to heavy snow, ice, and unplowable terrain.

During the open season, conditions inside the Notch remain cooler and damper than in the valleys below. Dense forest shade and rock face runoff can keep the road damp long after rain has stopped. Peak autumn foliage brings heavy traffic, slow-moving tour vehicles, and crowded pull-offs along the upper pass.

Logistics & Services

Fuel, dining, and full services are available at both ends of the route in Stowe and Jeffersonville. No commercial services or gas exist along the mountain pass between the ski resort base area on the southern side and the foot of the descent on the northern side. Cellular service drops significantly inside the high stone walls of the Notch.

Important Considerations

Commercial trucks, RVs, and oversized vehicles are prohibited from entering the Notch section; however, stuck tractor-trailers occasionally block the pass entirely despite warning systems. In the narrowest upper section, traffic yields organically around boulder pinch points and tight rock cutouts. Hikers and tourists routinely cross the roadway on foot near the summit trailheads and park facilities.