Lamoille: Cross-Country Skiing, Winter Trails and Mountain Landscapes

If you are looking for accommodation in Lamoille, you should first determine the focus of your trip. For cross-country skiing, winter trails and mountain landscapes, the region offers several clearly distinct points of interest. The Cross Country Center at Stowe Mountain Resort has 45 kilometers of groomed trails and more than 30 kilometers of backcountry terrain. At the same time, the seasonally accessible Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway, winter trails and cultural destinations can all be part of your itinerary. The right accommodation therefore depends primarily on which of these options you would like to combine during your stay.

Cross-Country Skiing and Winter Trails Around Stowe

The Cross Country Center is served in both directions by official stops of the free Mountain Road Shuttle. For daily planning with ski equipment, this is a specific factor to consider when choosing where to stay and when traveling to the trail center. Accommodation should not automatically be understood as being directly connected or within walking distance; check the connection to the respective starting point before booking.

Another winter point of interest is the Stowe Recreation Path. The trail runs 5.3 miles from the center of Stowe Village to a covered bridge. In winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing and used by snowshoers. This allows trip planning to be differentiated even when not all members of your group want to pursue the same activity.

The Smugglers’ Notch area is also used by ice climbers in winter. The Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway is a 3.5-mile corridor along the seasonally accessible VT Route 108 in Cambridge and Stowe. It leads through forests and distinctive rock outcrops over a ridge of Mount Mansfield. Smugglers’ Notch State Park forms a narrow mountain pass through the Green Mountains there; alongside the winding road, the rock walls rise almost 1,000 feet.

Traffic, Road Layout and Daily Planning

For excursions, the seasonal accessibility of VT Route 108 is an important planning consideration. The Scenic Highway was Vermont’s first officially designated scenic highway and includes a section of the Long Trail that runs along the road. At the southern foot of Smugglers’ Notch is the Barnes Camp Visitors’ Center. It serves as a first point of contact for information about the area’s scenic, historic, cultural, recreational and natural resources.

If you would like to combine your stay with additional trails, Long Trail State Forest offers hiking opportunities along more than 27 miles of the Long Trail. The area also includes Belvidere Pond, a 100-acre body of water with extensive adjoining wetlands. The 40-acre Lamoille County Nature Center adds a range of habitats to this landscape perspective. Such destinations may be of interest to a mixed travel group, without implying a shared route or a specific distance from the accommodation.

Alternatives to Trails and Mountain Activities

Water and nature destinations also expand the options for travel groups with different interests. Green River Reservoir covers 653 acres and has approximately 19 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline. It is designated as a quiet lake; human-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors of up to 5 mph are permitted. Green River Reservoir State Park has 27 remote tent sites accessible by boat. Elmore State Park has a beach with a designated swimming area.

Permanent protected public access to Journey’s End Swimming Hole is available from Plot Road. The protected, wooded stream section extends for half a mile in the hills above Johnson Village; birdwatching is also possible there. Beard Park offers a place to swim below the historic Power House Covered Bridge. These destinations are independent travel components and should not be understood as facilities or services provided by your accommodation.

Culture and Regional Orientation

For a break from winter sports, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum collects, preserves and honors the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont. It preserves approximately 8,000 individual objects. The Noyes House Museum presents local and regional history in a two-story Federal-style brick building, with exhibits in 17 rooms and a carriage house. It offers tours, historical programs, special exhibitions and an annual open house.

When visiting historic destinations, note the respective access conditions: Dr. Holcomb House, home of the Johnson Historical Society, is accessible by appointment only. The Stowe Historical Society preserves two historic schoolhouses and a collection documenting life in Stowe from the early 19th century to more recent times. At the Morrisville Farmers Market, you can shop directly from local farmers and craftspeople and speak with the producers.

You can choose Lamoille as the base for your stay according to your preferred daily itinerary: cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, a drive through Smugglers’ Notch, nature observation or culture. To compare other regional destinations, you can also look at Windham County, Rutland County, Washington, Windsor County, Bennington County and Orleans County. You can then compare the right starting point in the region with Stowe.

For the overarching travel overview: Vermont.