Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Stowe is a small mountain town in north-central Vermont, set in a valley at the foot of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state.
Few places in New England change so completely with the seasons. In winter Stowe is a ski town, with snow-covered slopes on Mount Mansfield and cross-country trails winding through the woods.
Stowe also has a strong local character. Its shops and restaurants are mostly independent, its farms and cheesemakers supply many of the menus, and the town has kept much of its nineteenth-century charm.
The compact village sits where Route 100 meets Mountain Road (Route 108). Main Street is lined with old clapboard buildings housing shops, galleries, cafes and inns.
Housed in a historic former meeting hall on Main Street, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum tells the story of skiing in the state, from early rope tows to the rise of snowboarding, with vintage gear, photographs and films. It is a good rainy-day stop and takes about an hour.
The Stowe Recreation Path is one of the town's great assets: a paved greenway of a little over five miles running from behind the Community Church up the valley toward Mount Mansfield, mostly following the West Branch of the Little River. It crosses the stream on a series of wooden bridges and passes meadows, farms and mountain views.
The Stowe Recreation Path runs about five miles from the village toward Mount Mansfield. Photo: MJPlante1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
At 4,393 feet, Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont. Seen from the east, its long ridge resembles a human profile lying on its back, and its high points carry names like the Forehead, the Nose and the Chin, which is the true summit. The ridge holds rare alpine tundra, and the Long Trail runs along its crest.
Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont, rising to 4,393 feet. Photo: Original uploader was Calzarette (Joe Calzarette) at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Stowe Mountain Resort covers two mountains, Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, linked by a gondola. Mount Mansfield has steep, classic trails including runs known to experts across the East, while Spruce Peak has gentler terrain and the main base village with shops and restaurants. In winter, plan on full days on the slopes; in summer and fall the resort offers scenic lift rides and hiking.
Stowe Mountain Resort spreads across Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Photo: Phil8684, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
North of the resort, Route 108 climbs into Smugglers' Notch, a narrow mountain pass squeezed between cliffs and house-sized boulders. The road twists through tight hairpin turns and narrows to a single lane in places. It is said to take its name from smuggling routes used in the early nineteenth century.
Route 108 squeezes between cliffs and boulders as it climbs through Smugglers' Notch. Photo: Niranjan Arminius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Before you reach the notch, a short but steep trail off Route 108 descends to Bingham Falls, where the water drops through a narrow, moss-lined gorge into clear pools. It takes only about half an hour round trip, but the path is rocky and slippery, so wear proper shoes and stay back from the edges.
Bingham Falls drops through a mossy gorge in the forest off Route 108. Photo: Outdoor Craziness, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
On a hillside west of the village, the Trapp Family Lodge was founded by the von Trapp family, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, and it is still run by their descendants.
Trapp Family Lodge was founded by the von Trapp family whose story inspired The Sound of Music. Photo: Seasider53, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Southeast of the village on Covered Bridge Road, the Gold Brook Covered Bridge was built in 1844 and still carries traffic over a small brook. Locals call it Emily's Bridge, after a ghost story that has made it a favorite subject around Halloween.
The Gold Brook Covered Bridge, built in 1844, is also known locally as Emily's Bridge. Photo: Mfwills, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
North of the village off Route 100, Moss Glen Falls is a tall cascade that tumbles over a series of rock ledges in a forested gorge.
Moss Glen Falls tumbles down a series of rock ledges in the forest north of Stowe village. Photo: Dougtone, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Vermont's dairy and farm traditions shape Stowe's food. Look for sharp cheddar and farmstead cheeses, real maple syrup on pancakes and in desserts, apple cider and cider doughnuts in fall, and menus built around local meat, vegetables and eggs.
Many visitors combine a Stowe trip with the food stops along Route 100 to the south, between Stowe and Waterbury.
Popular dishes to try in Stowe
Stowe village suits travelers who want to walk to shops and restaurants and use the recreation path, with historic inns and bed and breakfasts.
Skiers who want to walk to the lifts should look at the base village at Spruce Peak, the most convenient and also the priciest option. Families and those wanting more space often rent condos or homes along Mountain Road or in the surrounding hills.
Where to stay in Stowe
Fall foliage season, typically from late September to mid October, is Stowe's busiest and most beautiful time. Colors usually peak first on the mountains and later in the valley.
Winter, from roughly December through March, brings reliable snow and the full ski season, with holiday weeks and Presidents' Day weekend the busiest.
The nearest airport is Burlington International Airport, about forty minutes away. Boston is roughly a three-hour drive and Montreal about two hours.
Amtrak's Vermonter train stops in Waterbury, linking the area with New York and Washington, and you can continue to Stowe by taxi or pre-arranged shuttle.
Explore the village, photograph the Community Church and visit the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. Rent bikes and ride the Stowe Recreation Path up the valley and back.
Drive the Auto Toll Road or ride the gondola up Mount Mansfield and hike the ridge toward the Chin. In the afternoon continue up Route 108 to Bingham Falls and Smugglers' Notch, then return for a relaxed evening.
Visit the Trapp Family Lodge for a morning walk and lunch with valley views.
Need a bike rental, a ski shop or a farm-to-table restaurant?
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