Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108)
Scenic drive · Vermont
Route 108 squeezes through Vermont's most dramatic mountain pass, threading hairpin turns beneath 1,000-foot cliffs between Mount Mansfield and Sterling Peak. The 3.5-mile stretch between Stowe and Jeffersonville closes each winter and peaks with maple and birch color in early-to-mid October.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 6–October 10
Color builds from September 24 · mostly bare by October 29
Sampled at Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108)’s own coordinates and elevation (670 m) rather than a regional average.
Vermont is sampled at 6 weather points, then moved 1 day earlier so the model agrees with 2 published peak dates from almanac.com. This year's weather has the peak running 1 day earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108)
Good color holds through about October 17, giving you roughly 23 days from the first turn to past peak. At 2,198 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108) on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Vermont, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108) peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 6–October 10 (best estimate October 8). Color starts around September 24 and is mostly bare by October 29.
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