Vermont Route 100 Jeffersonville to Stowe Ridge Road

This forgotten piece of old Vermont connects Jeffersonville to Stowe via a gnarly ridge road that parallels the main Route 100 corridor but climbs into serious Green Mountain terrain. The route starts innocently enough behind the Jeffersonville hardware store, but quickly turns into a technical rock garden as it climbs toward Sterling Ridge. The notorious “Devil’s Staircase” section around mile 6 requires careful line choice through house-sized granite outcrops.

This is expert-level Vermont wheeling — expect mud holes, loose rock, and steep grades that’ll test your low-range gears and diff locks. Stock 4WD won’t cut it; you need real clearance, skid plates, and recovery gear. Best tackled May through October when the mud firms up. No permits required, but respect the working forest. The payoff is authentic Vermont backcountry and bragging rights on one of the state’s most challenging runs.