Stowe, Vermont is a small town nestled in the Green Mountains that is most famous for its world-class ski resorts. Stowe has been attracting skiers and snowboarders from around the world since the 1930s and is considered one of the top ski destinations in the Northeast.
Stowe’s Ski Resorts
The two main ski resorts in Stowe are Stowe Mountain Resort and Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Stowe Mountain Resort is the larger of the two and has long been considered the ski capital of the East. It features 116 trails across 485 skiable acres, with nearly a 3,000 foot vertical drop. Smugglers’ Notch is a family-friendly resort known for its extensive children’s programs and 78 trails across 300 acres.
Here are some key facts about Stowe’s two premier ski resorts:
Resort | Trails | Lifts | Skiable Acres | Summit Elevation | Base Elevation | Vertical Drop |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stowe Mountain Resort | 116 trails | 12 lifts | 485 acres | 4,395 feet | 1,400 feet | 2,955 feet |
Smugglers’ Notch | 78 trails | 8 lifts | 300 acres | 3,640 feet | 1,150 feet | 2,610 feet |
As the table illustrates, Stowe Mountain Resort is significantly larger than Smugglers’ in terms of skiable terrain, but both offer substantial vertical drops for New England. The two resorts complement each other nicely for skiers visiting Stowe.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe Mountain Resort is often ranked among the top ten ski resorts in the entire East. It has one of the highest average annual snowfalls in New England and typically has long ski seasons from November through April. The mountain has terrain for all ability levels, from gentle green circle trails to double black diamond runs down Mount Mansfield like the legendary Front Four and Goat.
In addition to its vast downhill skiing, Stowe offers:
- Miles of groomed cross-country ski trails
- A newly constructed Spruce Peak Adventure Center featuring zip lines, climbing walls, and an aerial obstacle course
- Luxury slopeside lodging at Stowe Mountain Lodge and Topnotch Resort
- Great dining options like The Cliff House restaurant perched atop Mount Mansfield
- A brand new $50 million base lodge facility
- State-of-the-art snowmaking capabilities
- Night skiing on selected trails
Stowe Mountain Resort has invested over $100 million in improvements over the last decade, cementing its status as a premier East Coast ski destination. It offers skiers an incredible mountain experience whether they are looking for expert terrain or family-friendly beginner areas.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Smugglers’ Notch, located just ten minutes from Stowe Mountain, offers a more intimate, community-oriented ski experience. While not as expansive as Stowe, it still boasts excellent intermediate and advanced terrain including the Black Hole and Madonna I & II trails.
What makes Smugglers’ truly special is its renowned children’s programs and family amenities:
- Top-rated ski and snowboard lessons
- The Treasures Day Care Center for kids 6 weeks to 5 years
- Family-focused condo lodging complete with kitchens and amenities
- Fun activities like nightly tubing, snowcat tours, and snowmobile rides
- Seven different terrain parks for all ability levels
Smugglers’ Notch has been named the #1 Family Ski Resort in North America multiple times by Ski Magazine. No other resort in the East can match its kid-friendly experience. Yet there is still abundant terrain for mom and dad to enjoy, especially off the Madonna I double chairlift.
Stowe Village
In addition to its famed ski resorts, the charming New England village of Stowe itself is a major part of its appeal and fame. Stowe Village is located just three miles from Stowe Mountain and gives visitors that quintessential Vermont experience.
Highlights of Stowe Village include:
- Historic architecture dating back to the early 1800’s
- Quaint inns, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés
- The Village Green with an old-fashioned white church and gazebo
- Galleries, craft shops, bookstores and the Stowe Theater Guild
- Stowe Recreation Path for walking, running, biking, and cross-country skiing
- Nearby Trapp Family Lodge and Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Stowe Village has the charm, hospitality, and community feel that represent the best of small town Vermont life. It provides the quintessential New England experience to complement the mountain adventure of the ski resorts.
Dining in Stowe
Stowe also has an excellent dining scene with farm-to-table restaurants, breweries, and cafés. Some highlights include:
- The Bistro at Ten Acres – Fine dining in an intimate 1830s farmhouse
- Harrison’s Restaurant & Bar – Creative American cuisine and handcrafted cocktails
- Doc Ponds Restaurant – Coastal fare with a focus on fresh seafood
- Plate – Artfully prepared comfort food in a casual setting
- The Bench – Offering craft beers, wood-fired pizza, and live music
Foodies visiting Stowe will not be disappointed with the diversity and quality of dining options to suit every taste and budget.
Stowe Events
Throughout the year, Stowe hosts fun community events that attract visitors from near and far. Some of the most popular annual events include:
- Stowe Winter Carnival – A 10-day winter festival featuring competitions, concerts, food, and fireworks.
- Stowe Derby – An annual downhill ski race since 1936, the longest running race in the East.
- Stowe Weekend of Hope – A free music festival in July to raise funds cancer research.
- Stowe Foliage Arts Festival – A popular fall event highlighting local artists and musicians.
- Stowe Chili Challenge – Area restaurants compete to cook up the best bowl of chili.
These signature events add to the small town character and charm that make Stowe a special destination all year round.
Natural Beauty of Stowe
Beyond its slopes and village, the magnificent natural beauty surrounding Stowe is another factor in its fame. Stowe lies in the heart of the Green Mountains, providing easy access to:
- Hiking trails up Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak
- Pristine waterfalls and swimming holes
- Beautiful lakes and rivers for kayaking, canoeing, fishing
- Moss Glen Falls, one of Vermont’s most photographed waterfalls
- The peaceful Green Mountain National Forest
Outdoor enthusiasts visiting Stowe will find endless opportunities to be immersed in the area’s natural splendor. No matter the season, the stunning landscape provides a picturesque backdrop for enjoying Vermont’s environment.
Fall Foliage in Stowe
One of the most spectacular times to visit Stowe is fall foliage season from late September through October. People flock to Stowe and Vermont in general to take in the vibrant autumn colors as the leaves change. The mountainsides burst into bright red, orange, and yellow hues that create a mystical wonderland.
Some of the best ways to experience fall foliage in Stowe include:
- Driving or biking the quiet mountain roads
- Hiking Mount Mansfield to view the colors from above
- Riding the Stowe Mountain Sky Cab for panoramic views
- Visiting local farms for apple picking and pumpkin festivals
- Joining a fall foliage tour or taking a gondola ride
Stowe in autumn is truly a bucket list destination for travelers from around the world. The brilliance of fall in Vermont’s mountains make it one of the best places nationwide to see the annual show of autumn leaves.
History of Stowe
Stowe’s rise to fame began centuries ago and has its roots in 18th century Vermont history. Some key points:
- Early settlers arrived in Stowe in the late 1700s after Vermont became its own state separate from New York and New Hampshire.
- The village was named after an English lawyer and politician with no actual connection to the town.
- It was originally an agricultural community focused on dairy farming, sheep herding, and brickmaking from local clay deposits.
- In the early 1800s, Stowe became well known for high quality merino wool production.
- The opening of the Stowe toll road in 1827 vastly improved access to the remote mountain village.
- The first ski rope tow was built on Mt. Mansfield in the 1930s, marking the start of Stowe’s ski industry.
Although it remained relatively obscure for over a century, Stowe’s fortunes changed with the advent of alpine skiing in the 1930s. Its farming background gave way to ski tourism and Stowe embraced its future as a winter sports destination.
Vermont’s Skiing History
Stowe played a pivotal role in the growth of downhill skiing in the United States. Key milestones include:
- The National Ski Association (now U.S. Ski & Snowboard) held its first National Open Championships in Stowe in 1937.
- The famous Nose Dive ski trail opened on Mt. Mansfield in 1940, paving the way for more challenging terrain.
- Lift-served snowboarding started at Stowe in 1987 after being banned for years, marking changing attitudes.
- Stowe hosted the U.S. Alpine Championships in the 1950s and U.S. Olympic trials in the 1960s.
- As one of the first world-class ski resorts in the East, Stowe helped popularize the sport in the region.
Stowe played a pioneering role in skiing’s early development and was the epicenter of the sport’s growth east of the Rockies. It cemented itself as the premier ski destination in the Northeast.
Famous People from Stowe
A number of famous athletes, artists, and authors have called Stowe home over the years. Some of the notable figures include:
- John Egan – Ski industry pioneer who developed Mt. Mansfield in the 1930s and championed competitive skiing.
- Jake Burton Carpenter – Founder of Burton Snowboards who helped popularize snowboarding and started the company in his Stowe barn.
- Hannah Kearney – Olympic moguls gold medalist who trained at the Stowe Mountain ski club as a youth.
- Tabitha and Napoleon – Famous circus elephant duo who retired to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.
- Joseph Citro – Vermont folklorist and occult author who focuses on the state’s ghost stories and lore.
- Richard Avedon – Renowned fashion photographer who had a summer home in Stowe.
Along with famous residents, Stowe has also attracted many celebrities over time. Stars like Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz, and opera singer Rene Fleming have all been spotted skiing the slopes incognito in Stowe.
In Popular Media
Stowe’s scenic landscape and pioneering ski culture have made it a backdrop for various films, TV shows, and books, including:
- The Trouble with Cali (2012) – An indie comedy shot in Stowe using local cast and crew.
- The Art of Skiing (1941) – A classic Goofy Disney cartoon short featuring Stowe.
- Multiple Warren Miller ski movies from the 1950s and 60s.
- Grace & Glory (2015) – YA novel focused on Stowe Mountain Resort.
- Featured on the Food Network’s $40 a Day show.
- Mentioned in novels by Dan Brown, Jodi Picoult, and Chris Bohjalian.
Stowe’s quintessential Vermont character and famous slopes continue to provide writers and filmmakers with an iconic New England setting.
Impact on Vermont’s Economy
Beyond its fame, Stowe’s ski industry has long provided a major boost to Vermont’s economy. Some facts on Stowe’s economic impact:
- Generates over $115 million in estimated annual economic activity supporting thousands of jobs.
- Brings in approximately 500,000 visitors each winter season.
- Stowe Mountain Resort spends $15 million annually on payroll and operations.
- Supports vital transportation links including Vermont’s Morrisville-Stowe State Airport.
- Infrastructure improvements by resorts improve roads and internet access regionally.
- Visitors support restaurants, shops, hotels, and local businesses.
Tourism related to Stowe’s ski industry provides a critical influx of consumer spending that powers Vermont’s economy, especially in winter. The resorts fill hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and gas stations with key customers.
A 2017 study found that Stowe accounts for:
- 11% of all skier visits statewide
- 37% of total ski resort economic impact in Vermont
- $275 million in annual tourism expenditure linked to the resort
Stowe punches far above its weight, driving tourism spending that benefits towns and small businesses across Vermont. The famous ski resorts are an engine of economic growth.
Conclusion
Stowe, Vermont owes its fame to the world-class downhill skiing and snowboarding found at Stowe Mountain Resort and Smugglers’ Notch Resort. These pioneering ski areas helped transform Stowe from a sleepy farming village into the premier winter sports destination in the Northeast. The charming New England character of Stowe village and the surrounding natural splendor of Mount Mansfield and the Green Mountains complete the idyllic package that draws visitors from around the globe.
Stowe’s ski resorts not only fuel winter tourism, but serve as an economic anchor benefiting communities across Vermont. The fame Stowe worked so hard to achieve in the early days of alpine skiing continue to pay dividends, making it both a household name in the ski world and community focused on maintaining its distinct Vermont identity and small town roots. Whether it’s glading through fresh powder in the Vermont backcountry or relaxing by a fire in a historic lodge, Stowe offers an unforgettable experience.