When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Cold and muddy; the Notch road often stays closed through May due to ice and rock conditions.
Pack Waterproof boots, layers, and a contingency plan if the road is closed.
Summer
Cool and dramatic in the shadowed Notch itself; warm and sunny above treeline on the ridge.
Pack Rain shell, warm layer for the exposed ridge, water, and an early campground check-in.
Fall
Spectacular foliage fills the Notch walls from late September through mid-October before the road closes.
Pack Warm insulating layer, traction for frosty early-morning trail surfaces, and a camera.
Winter
The Notch road closes to vehicles, ending campground access. The area is a snowshoe and backcountry ski zone.
Pack Winter mountaineering gear, avalanche awareness, and confirmed road conditions before attempting approach.
Top things to do
Sterling Pond Trail
The park's most popular hike: a 2.4-mile round-trip climb to a scenic alpine pond at about 3,000 feet, one of the highest ponds in Vermont. Allow about 2 hours round trip and expect company on summer weekends.
The Notch itself and the boulder field
Route 108 through the Notch passes enormous boulders that have fallen from cliffs rising nearly 1,000 feet on both sides. Parking pullouts let visitors explore on foot and spot cave-like passages between the boulders.
Bingham Falls
A short gorge walk from a Notch-road pullout leads to a series of waterfalls and swimming holes on a tributary stream, one of the most popular warm-weather stops in the area.
Anchor the day around Sterling Pond Trail
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Smugglers' Notch State Park, make Sterling Pond Trail the non-negotiable, add The Notch itself and the boulder field only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Bingham Falls as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Sterling Pond Trail: The park's most popular hike: a 2.4-mile round-trip climb to a scenic alpine pond at about 3,000 feet, one of the highest ponds in Vermont. Allow about 2 hours round.
- 2Add The Notch itself and the boulder field: Route 108 through the Notch passes enormous boulders that have fallen from cliffs rising nearly 1,000 feet on both sides. Parking pullouts let visitors explore on.
- 3Use Bingham Falls as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn Smugglers' Notch's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Smugglers' Notch State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Smugglers' Notch State Park packing list
0 of 24 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Smugglers' Notch State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemBackpacking pack
- If overnightSleep and shelterBackpacking tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, 1 more
Checklist mode
24 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Smugglers' Notch
A stable daypack is the one purchase that organizes water, layers, food, first aid, and the small safety margin.
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THE DAY-HIKE PICK
Osprey Talon 22
- Volume
- 22 L
- Weight
- 2 lb 1 oz (945 g)
- Back Panel
- AirScape foam with ventilation channels
- Hipbelt Pockets
- 2 zippered
- Hydration
- Compatible up to 3 L reservoir (sold separately)
- Warranty
- All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair or replace)
The Talon 22 is the daypack you see on the trail more than any other for good reason: it packs in a padded hipbelt, adjustable torso harness, and dual hipbelt pockets into a 22-liter package that handles loads up to 20 lb without complaint. Owners across hundreds of Amazon ratings consistently cite its adjustability and durability as standouts.
- Adjustable torso fit covers a wide range of body sizes
- Padded hipbelt and dual hipbelt pockets at this size are rare
- At 2 lb 1 oz it runs heavier than ultralight rivals for the same volume
Best for
Hikers who want a proven all-around daypack with solid load support, plenty of adjustment, and a warranty they can actually use.
Gear for Smugglers' Notch
The buying guides that match what Smugglers' Notch asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
The park campground has 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos, all reservable through Vermont State Parks. The campground runs from the third weekend in May through the second Monday in October. Stowe is about 10 miles south on Route 108 with full services including hotels, restaurants, and gear shops. The private Smugglers' Notch Resort nearby offers a much larger lodging and amenity complex for families.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Reserve Smugglers' Notch camping through Vermont State Parks' rolling 11-month system.
The small campground fills quickly, especially for summer and fall weekends. Vermont's 2026 reservation system opens daily on a rolling 11-month window at 9 a.m. The lean-tos are particularly popular and go fast.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Rolling 11-month advance booking, new days opening daily at 9 a.m. through Vermont State Parks. Reservations accepted up to 2 p.m. on the day of arrival. Call center: 1-888-409-7579, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Only 34 sites total: 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos. The lean-tos are the highest-demand booking.
- Vermont's new 2026 policy releases reservations on a rolling daily basis rather than a single monthly drop.
- The campground and the Notch road both close in mid-October; confirm closure dates at vtstateparks.com.
Where to book or verify
Official Vermont State Parks reservation portal for Smugglers' Notch campsite and lean-to booking.
Park profile with trail information, lean-to details, and season dates.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Smugglers' Notch Campground
Details- Booking
- Rolling 11-month advance booking, new days opening daily at 9 a.m.
- Season
- Third weekend in May through second Monday in October.
- Sites
- 20 tent sites and 14 lean-tos; no hookups.
- The closest Vermont state park camping to the Long Trail and Sterling Pond Trail.
Getting there and practical info
Build the arrival around the reservation.
Entry windows, permit pickups, and drive time should be checked before the itinerary gets crowded.
Getting there
Get to Smugglers' Notch State Park with the required window already protected.
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- Vermont
Arrival note
Smugglers' Notch State Park sits on Route 108 between Stowe and Jeffersonville in northern Vermont.
Car strategy
From Stowe, drive north on Route 108 about 10 miles through the Notch to the campground.
Car strategy
Note that Route 108 through the Notch is closed to vehicles in winter and is steep and winding even in summer, not suitable for large RVs or trailers.
Pair this with lodging: choose the base that keeps the reservation or permit pickup from becoming the hardest part of the day.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
No state film office and no general filming permit; you deal with town clerks, and the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation permits commercial use of state lands.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Legal under FAA rules; commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: photographing people and property visible from public space is legal in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Smugglers' Notch?
The name comes from the early 19th century, when the narrow mountain pass and its cave-like boulder passages were used by smugglers running goods across the Canadian border during the trade embargoes of the War of 1812 era.
Is the Notch road open year-round?
No. Route 108 through the Notch closes to vehicles in winter, typically from mid-October or November until late spring, due to ice and rock hazards. The campground and Sterling Pond trailhead are only accessible when the road is open.
How hard is the Sterling Pond hike from Smugglers' Notch?
It is a moderate 2.4-mile round trip with a meaningful climb of about 1,000 feet to reach one of the highest ponds in Vermont at around 3,000 feet. Allow about 2 hours and expect company on summer and fall weekends.
How do you book a campsite at Smugglers' Notch State Park?
Through Vermont State Parks at vtstateparks.com, using the rolling 11-month reservation system introduced in February 2026, where new dates open every morning at 9 a.m. You can also call 1-888-409-7579 on weekdays.