Vermont’s Notch Road (Route 108)
Granite squeeze play that humbles the overconfident
Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch earned its name from Prohibition-era bootleggers who used this treacherous mountain gap to smuggle Canadian whiskey into Vermont. The road squeezes between massive boulders and cliff faces with hairpin turns so tight that RVs and trailers are banned year-round. At King Rock, the passage narrows to barely 16 feet wide with vertical granite walls towering 1,000 feet overhead.
This isn’t a technical 4×4 trail, but it demands respect — especially the descent from the 2,162-foot summit where guardrails are suggestions and drop-offs are real. Any vehicle can make it, but wide trucks will get intimate with the rocks. Open roughly May through October depending on snow. No permits needed, but bring your pucker factor and maybe skip it if you’re precious about paint. The reward is genuine Vermont mountain driving that’ll have you telling stories around camp for years.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Paved |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2162 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle under 8 feet wide |
| Nearest town | Stowe, Vermont |
| Land manager | Vermont Department of Transportation |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | vtrans.vermont.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can my full-size truck or van fit through Smugglers' Notch?
Only if it's under 8 feet wide — that's the hard limit. Large trucks, RVs, and wide trailers regularly get stuck or turn back; the rock walls don't care about your confidence. Check your vehicle's width before you go, not after.
When does Route 108 through the Notch open and close each year?
The road is seasonal, typically open May through October, and closes in winter due to snow and ice making the tight passage impassable. Exact dates vary year to year — check with Vermont DOT before planning a spring or fall run.
Do I need a permit or pay any fee to drive Notch Road?
No permit and no fee — it's a public state road managed by Vermont DOT. Just show up and drive it.
What's the hardest part of this route and what should I actually expect?
The crux is the narrow granite squeeze near the summit where the canyon walls close in and the road gets tight, rocky, and steep with limited room to maneuver. At moderate difficulty on pavement it's not a technical off-road challenge, but oversize vehicles and distracted drivers get into trouble here regularly. Go slow, know your width, and don't expect room to pass oncoming traffic at the pinch points.
Is there anywhere to camp along or near the route, or is this a day-use corridor only?
Smugglers' Notch State Park sits right along the route and has developed campsites — book ahead in summer because it fills fast. There's no dispersed camping in the Notch itself; Stowe is your nearest town for resupply and fuel before or after.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.